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Arrive early!
Greet everyone you meet with a smile and a firm handshake. Three words should describe your attitude and behavior while you're at the interviewing location:
- Positive
- Enthusiastic
- Confident
Be positive and make others feel comfortable. Don't make negative comments about current or former employers. Relax. Think of the interview as a conversation, not an interrogation.
Show self-confidence. Make eye contact with the interviewer and answer questions in a clear voice. If you are being interviewed by more than one person, make eye contact with everyone in the room on a continuous basis. Be enthusiastic and smile. Lean in toward the interviewer while answering questions.
Listen. Communication is a two-way street. If you are talking too much, you may miss what the interviewer feels is important. When the interviewer describes the position, the first few job functions he/she discusses are probably the most important. Reflect and organize your thoughts before answering a question. If you are unsure how to answer a question, ask for clarification or elaboration.
Talk about your strengths and skills.Your preparation will allow you to talk freely and confidently about your skills and strengths without sounding arrogant. Have 5-6 strengths in mind because you will be asked about them in many different ways. For every strength, have an example or story to prove it. Use testimony from others to lend credibility ("my past supervisors will tell you that I'm very creative. For example…" ) The information on your resume, including your skills, should be second nature to you and flow freely when questioned about it.
Ask Questions. When it is your turn, ask your questions about the company and job position you could not find in your research. Do not ask questions that raise red flags. Ask, "Is relocation a requirement?", and the interviewer may assume that you do not want to relocate. Too many questions about vacation may cause the interviewer to think you are more interested in taking time off than helping the company. Keep questions focused on the position and company, not on you.
Show you want the job. Display your initiative by talking about what functions you could perform that would benefit the organization, and by giving specific details of how you have helped past employers. Ask about specific details of the job position, such as functions, responsibilities, who you would work with, and to whom you would report.
Avoid negative body language. An interviewer may want to see how well you react under pressure. Avoid these signs of nervousness and tension:
- Frequently touching your hair or covering your mouth
- Gnawing on your lip
- Tight or forced smiles
- Swinging your foot or leg
- Folding or crossing your arms
- Slouching or leaning too far back in your chair
- Nervously clicking a pen
- Using hand and arm gestures too much
- Avoiding eye contact
Establish rapport. By establishing a rapport with your interviewer, you build "common ground". It is important to listen and be sensitive to the interviewer's style. This can make communication easier and the interview more comfortable. Make some friendly observations about
the interviewer's office. If the interview is conversational, make small talk about your interests, hobbies, or what you did last weekend. Be positive and upbeat.
Listen to the interviewer for cues on how you should act. Is he/she being formal or informal? How loudly is he/she speaking? What sort of information is he/she trying to solicit: general, professional, or personal? Once you've determined where the interviewer is "coming from", you can follow his/her lead.
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