Stress Free Interviewing
Tips to Help You Ace Your Next Interview, by Brian Alden
Stress Free Interviewing
Interviewing is either your most stressful or your most enjoyable part of the job search process. With a little bit of preparation and practice ahead of time, you will be able to go into the interview process focused, relaxed and confident.
There are two main purposes in any interview: 1) The company is determining if you are right for the job, and 2) you are determining if the company and the job is right for you. Since your time with the interviewer may be short, by doing a little advance homework and preparation you can you can take advantage of the time you have to make a positive and lasting impression on the interviewer.
Research the Company
Far too many people focus only on the first step of the job-hunt: earning an interview. All too many fail to prepare adequately for the interview itself. Find out as much as you can about the company, its history and its products. The more you know about the company, the better you will appear in the interview.
There are many sources of information on the Internet, especially if the company is publicly traded. Use any of the popular search engines to locate information, local business magazines websites or local newspaper websites to see if there are any articles on the company. If the company is publicly traded on the stock exchange, any of the free online quote services can link you to news, stock reports, press releases, analyst opinions and more. Additionally, make sure you visit the company’s website to learn about its history, the officers, philosophy and more. Also be sure to read any of the company’s press releases as these are items that the company feels are important.
Know what is going on in the industry you are interviewing in and what the competition is doing. In real estate it’s location, location, location in interviewing it’s Preparation, Preparation, and Preparation.
Get Some Practice Beforehand
Rehearse answers to common interview questions; get a friend to ask you the questions if you need practice. Prepare a short list of questions you can ask the interviewer either about the company or about the position itself. Memorize these questions, don't read them off of notes, this way you will appear more spontaneous and conversational.
Dress Professionally and Comfortably
A good rule of thumb is to dress one step above how the employees dress there currently. If you are working with a recruiting firm on a particular interview, go with the dress recommendations of the recruiting firm, as they know how the client company wants to have prospective employees dress for interviews.
First Impressions Do Count
Arrive early the day of the interview to fill out any application materials, forms or tests. Have up to date interview material with you when you arrive; resume, references, samples of work, portfolio etc. Make a strong first impression with everyone you meet at the company, giving a firm handshake, making eye contact, smile a lot and be sure to introduce yourself. Experts generally agree that people form an impression about you within 30 seconds so make those opening moments count.
Most Interviews Follow a Pattern
First you answer questions about your experience, background and qualifications, and then you ask questions about the job and the company. Remember that the interviewer is wondering how you can help the company and whether you “fit in” with the company’s philosophies, goals and culture. Your answers to his or her questions should illustrate how you can help the company achieve its goals. Think of your answers as painting a mental picture, so that the interviewer can "see" you in their mind's eye doing the job and doing it well.
Find out about the job and the company when it's your turn to ask questions. Ask the questions you prepared in advance. Feel free to ask for specifics about whom you would report to and the duties and expectations of the position. Save questions about salary and benefits for negotiations after a job offer has been made. Also avoid any types of controversial questions until a second interview.
Let Me Introduce Myself
When you are asked an open-ended question, such as, "Tell me a little bit about yourself," nothing can lose an interviewer’s interest faster than an over-detailed, rambling, poorly thought out response. A well-prepared and practiced introduction will capture an interviewer’s attention and leave them wanting more. Anywhere from 2-5 minutes is acceptable. Use descriptive statements that relate to your skills and achievements. Whether in an interview or just networking, a good initial presentation will set the stage for a positive and pro-active conversation.
Don't Talk Too Much
Being long-winded during an interview makes you sound unprepared and unfocused. Avoid this all too common mistake by keeping your answers to about 60-90 seconds or so during an interview (unless the answer really calls for a lot more detail). You can perfect this by practicing answers to typical interview questions ahead of time. Not only will you sound intelligent and polished, but you’ll also be less nervous knowing that you were prepared.
Body Language is Important
During an interview, the messages you convey non-verbally can be just as important as what you communicate verbally. Interviewers will take note of your non-verbal cues as they evaluate your skills and qualifications. Your facial expressions, hand gestures, posture, and voice tone or inflection all indicate your level of confidence and overall interest in the position. Prior to an interview, have someone you know ask you "mock interview" questions, and then have them offer feedback on any non-verbal habits that may be distracting or unprofessional. When practicing the “tell me about yourself” question, practice your answer in a full length mirror sitting down. Watch your hand movements, leg, head and overall body movements. You’ll be surprised at how much movement you actually will do when talking about yourself.
The Interview is a Sales Process
The key to selling yourself is by highlighting not only the knowledge, skills and abilities you bring to the company, but also your accomplishments. As you answer all interview questions, make sure you are in a sales mode. Is the interviewer (the buyer) getting the information they need from you (the salesperson) to make an informed decision to buy from you (offer you the job)? Don't forget to close the sale by asking for the job!
Take Control of the Interview
Sometimes you will get an interviewer who is more of a screener than an interviewer. Typically, these people are not as skilled at asking the questions needed to draw out your background and abilities. A screener typically asks fact based questions to see if you get to move on to the next process. Frequently, fact based questions are those minimum requirement type questions that were either unanswered in your resume or answered in your resume and this is the verification process.
If you run across an interviewer like this, be prepared to successfully guide the interview for them. Your overall objective should be to clearly and concisely communicate your skills and abilities to the interviewer, and feel confident that you have done so when the interview closes. You can strategically control the direction of the interview by asking targeted questions and offering additional information. Never leave an interview until you are certain you have fully promoted your abilities to the interviewer.
Close the Sale
Interviewing is about selling yourself to a prospective company. At the end of the interview, reiterate how your skills will benefit the company, and let the interviewer know that you are interested in the position. If an interviewer has a choice between two equal people and one says they are interested in the position at the end of the interview and one doesn't, whom do you think they will call back?
Closing the Interview
What’s the last thing that needs to happen in an interview? Close the sale! Ask the interviewer what the next step is? Look for buying words or phrases from the interviewer, like: “we want to get you in to meet so and so”, or “when could you be available” and even “do you have any pre-paid or pre-planned vacations coming up that we need to know about?” These types of phrases are buying and hiring phrases. Look for them and you will know how you did in the interview. Don't forget to thank the interviewer personally at the end of the interview.
The Thank You Letter
The interview is over, but there is still more you can do to make a good impression. Always follow up any interview with a thank you letter or email. This gives you a chance to once again reiterate how you would be a great fit for the company and to reiterate your interest level as well. Especially important is to draw on something from the interview that you both agreed upon, this will re-confirm in the interviewer’s mind about your "fit" for the company.
Never Turn Down an Interview
There are many reasons as to why you should never decline an interview with a potential employer or recruiter. Not only do you have the opportunity to practice your interviewing techniques, but you never know what kind of valuable networking contacts you may develop from the encounter. Maybe the current job opening isn’t "the one for you;” however, a few months from now, the ideal position could become available. The interview you had several months ago now becomes important and the interviewer may remember you and contact you to come in again. Making favorable impressions and networking with various people is an important part in moving your career in the direction you want.
View “How To” videos for More Info
Many “how to” videos like the ones found in the Job.com Career Video Gallery can teach you how to dress for success. Job.com’s “How To” videos offer comprehensive tutorials on subjects ranging from general interview preparation to obtaining and excelling in a career in a particular industry.
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