We've all been in the position where we had to do an interview. Some of us may have been the interviewer. This blog was designed to give tips to interviewees based on what I look for while interviewing. In my office and in many others, preliminary interviews are conducted first with a candidate either over the phone or in person as an initial meet and greet for the employer to determine whether or not they believe someone would be a good fit for a position available in their office.
1. Give clear and concise answers. The preliminary interview is designed to be short, to allow an interviewer to see many candidates without spending too much time with them. Providing clear answers to the questions asked will show that you are well spoken and practiced. Understanding nerves, the more you practice before your interview, the more the answers you give to questions will sound more concise rather than nervously floundering for the answer you know you have.
2. Research, research, research. Everyone says it. Do your research! Most companies will at least have a website for you to check out and get a little more information on what the company values. Many businesses now have ties in social media which will typically be linked to their company websites. Google searches are also an excellent way to research everything about the company you're interviewing with. This knowledge helps you learn more about the company but also helps you sound informed about company culture, position, and their future plans. Doing your research can help you determine questions you may want to ask during your interview. You'll know what was covered on the website and what was not to keep the interviewer from repeating information you could have gathered yourself.
3. Dress professionally! I can't stress this enough. First impressions are everything, if you walk into a company your hoping for a job at and you look unprofessional or disheveled, you have a lot of making up to do in your interview. You want to stack the cards in your favor. This tip ties along with the previous tip. If you do research on the company, you can usually prepare how to dress. Another way to find out proper attire would be to ask when scheduling your interview or calling the company again to ensure that you'll dress appropriately. If you are unsure what they mean when they say "business casual" or "business professional", ask! You may think you'll look stupid, consider how stupid you'll look if you show up inappropriately dressed. Also, each company may have a different interpretation of what "business casual" and "business professional" look like. You can never be too dressed for an interview.
4. Arrive early. As a recruiter and interviewer I always noticed when people arrived. It told me a lot about how seriously they took the opportunity to interview with my company. If they arrived early I immediately knew that they were looking for a position, they saw my time as valuable, and they took my company seriously. I also noticed when people arrived just on time or late. First impressions are everything and that wasn't the way to make a first impression.
5. Bring at lease one copy of your resume. You probably submitted a resume to the company for their review which gained you the interview. Bring at least one copy of your resume to the interview as well so the interviewer(s) can reference it before they take you in and afterward when they are considering you for another interview or the position. Also, ensure that you take extra time to print your resume and account for any printer trouble you may encounter. It's unprofessional to you ask them to print it for you, particularly when they ask you to bring a copy with you. This is a first impression flaw that can be avoided.
6. Don't be afraid to ask for clarification. If you don't understand a question, ask the interviewer to repeat it or say it differently. This shows your concern for answering the question properly. Avoid trying to answer a question your unsure of, ask for clarification instead of answering it in a way that doesn't add to your interview or value as a candidate for a position.
7. Avoid explaining your life long story. If asked a question that requires personal explanation, include only the details that will contribute to your story, not every detail. I've done interviews where people tell much more than they need to. For me it won't immediately disqualify them but if the consideration comes down to a candidate that told too much versus the candidate that told enough, I will always choose the latter. Those doing interviews are busy, they have many things to accomplish in a day and filling their time with needless storytelling won't win you any points in the interview process.
Consider these tips when you go on your next interview. Remember, presentation is key. Dress appropriately and professionally and present yourself well. You want a new position and you don't want to cut yourself short on your attributes. Practice, research, and ask questions for every interview.
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