Career Advice

Tips for Interviewing

Congratulations, you got the interview! Now that your job search is paying off, do you know how to prepare for the interview? Sure, the hiring manager liked your resume and your skills and training are just what the position calls for. But, the face-to-face interview is how he will judge your compatibility, negotiation skills, your thoughtfulness, your punctuality and measure you against all the other candidates they'll see. With these factors in mind, the following tips are designed to help you put your best foot forward before, during and after your interview.

The How, Where and When – Preparing for the Interview

Whether you've received a telephone call or an email scheduling your interview, always be certain to write the company address and telephone number down. Also, confirm the day and time of the interview – either by phone or email reply.

Next, plot directions to your interview and print them. Take time to consider traffic patterns during the time you'll travel to your interview and make adjustments. If taking mass transit, allow for wait times as well as time for transfers if any. If using GPS, be sure to have it set up with the coordinates before you get started.

Plan to arrive a half hour early. It is customary to arrive a minimum of 15 minutes before your interview however, if you are commuting a distance or during rush hours, the additional 15 minutes will be a buffer if you encounter traffic or get lost – yes, it does happen, even with a GPS device. Arriving early will give you time to freshen up and collect your thoughts but it may also be used as time to complete any prerequisite paperwork. Punctuality shows the hiring manager or interviewer that you are time-considerate and responsible.

Interview Attire – No shoes, no shirt, no service

What you wear to your interview is just as important as how you conduct yourself and could play a big part in you being hired or not. Unless you've been given other direction, always wear a suit to your interview. For men that means a dark suit either navy or black, black dress shoes or brown if wearing navy, a clean and pressed dress shirt and basic tie. For women, pant-suits or matching suiting separates are as acceptable as a traditional skirt-suit. Black or navy with coordinating dress shoes and hose or tights are acceptable. Other than simple rings and ear rings and necklaces for women remember to remove any bold body jewelry you'd normally wear. Even if you know a company allows business casual attire or is fashion-forward, it is better to be over dressed than under-dressed for your interview. Save the trends for after you've been hired if the company allows them.

What if you don't have a suit or a budget to buy one? In this economy and with so many long-term unemployed job searchers on the market, it is absolutely understandable that your budget is set aside for necessities. A clean and pressed long sleeve button-down shirt and tie paired with dark slacks and shoes is appropriate for men while dark slacks or skirt and blouse combo or a nice knee-length dress, hose or tights and pumps will work for the ladies. Take your appearance seriously. How buttoned-up or down you are can be perceived as an indicator of your work ethic.

Do your Research before the Interview

Once you are invited for your interview and confirm the date, time and location, you'll need to do a little due diligence work. Research the company. Learn who play leadership roles within the company, find mentions in the press, learn more about the products they provide or develop, etc. Understanding who the company is will allow you to formulate interesting and original answers to your interviewers questions.

During the Interview

You may be nervous or you may be cool and collected. Whatever your demeanor, when the questions begin, take your time to fully think about your response and deliver clear and concise answers. If your interviewer asks your salary requirements, it's best to let the him know your requirements are open based on the position and compensation package. Or, better yet, tell him you'd like to know more about the position before discussing salary.

Don't...Just...Don't

Do not badmouth your current or previous employers
Not only is this bad in practice, the business world is smaller than you think and you never know who your interviewer may know – perhaps that boss you just trashed.

Do not forget to place your mobile on silent – your cell is off limits
Or worse, answer it during your interview… unless it is an extreme emergency.

Do not fudge the facts
Make sure you write down any employment dates, addresses, telephone numbers, etc. and bring them with you so that you can provide them at the time of your interview if necessary

Do not talk too much or not enough
Not letting your interviewer get a word in edgewise may tell him that you are not considerate of others thoughts and opinions. On the other hand, giving one or two-word answers may tell him you aren't an effective communicator.

Prepare your own List of Questions

The interviewing process isn't just about the hiring manager learning if you are a good fit for his company, it is also an opportunity for you to find out if the company is a good fit for you. Put together a short list of questions for your interviewer that are thought provoking. You could start by asking him what most attracted him to the company and why. Or, you could ask what has been his proudest accomplishment while with the company. Just as your answers tell something about you, his answers tell you a bit about him as well as the culture of the company.

Following Up – Sending your Thanks

In this digital world, some traditional forms of communication are very effective and appreciated. Based on surveys, 85% of executives say that a note of thanks has a great affect on hiring choices. After your interview, sit down and compose a short thank-you note expressing your appreciation for the interview and being considered for the position. Can you send an email? You could but it's nice to put pen to paper and to show your thanks. After all, you weren't interviewed by email, why should the hiring manager expect thanks by email?

Offering a heartfelt thanks (even if the interview tanks) for your interviewers time may not guarantee you the job but it will surely set you apart from other candidates.

Now that you have a good sense of what to expect during an interview, you're ready to put your new skills to the test and give the hiring manager every reason to offer you the job.

Of course this article is devoted to interviewing tips but we also discuss such job search essentials as 10 Resume Dont's, How to Write a Resume, How to Write a Cover Letter, and Negotiating Salaries as a part of this series brought to you by PCDI.

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