Yesterday, we discussed some of the basics for job hunting, a process most of us will have to go through at one point or another in our lives. With these hints, plenty of solid job searching, and maybe just a little bit of luck, you should find yourself facing the next step in the job filling process: an interview! If you’ve never had the pleasure of attending a job interview, or you simply would like to brush up on some of the basics, here are a few pointers to keep in mind.
First, before the day of the interview, be sure to check with the interviewers as to what they want you to bring. In most cases, they will already have copies of your resume and references, as well as any other information you have sent to them previously, but it’s usually a good idea to have some extra copies ready, just to be safe.
Also, before the interview, do some research on the company, especially if you found the position on a job board and don’t recognize the company name. Learn who they are, what they do, and how your job will fit into their corporation. Almost all companies have enough basic information posted online that you should be able to learn quite a bit about them before even stepping in the door. If there’s anything you’d like to know about the company in general, be sure to take a note of it and ask, if it isn’t covered during your interview.
When preparing for your interview, be sure to dress appropriately. Depending on what sort of work you are applying for, this could mean anything from jeans and a T-shirt to a suit. When in doubt, dress fancier than called for; if you show up for a position that requires a suit and you arrive in jeans, you’ll definitely lose points with the interviewer. In addition to the proper outfit, make sure you bring some items with you to the interview: the aforementioned extra copies of your resume, a few copies of your reference list, a tablet and pen to make notes, and any questions that you have about the company or the specific position.
Try to arrive at the interview site early, but not too early; fifteen to twenty minutes before the scheduled interview time will come off as punctual, but still respectful of the interviewer’s time and other possible duties. Make sure you are well groomed and presentable, then sign in at the visitor’s entrance of the company and follow the instructions you are given. Depending on the company, you might be met by someone from Human Resources, you might be given some paperwork to complete before the interview, or you might be told to sit down and wait for your contact at the company to arrive.
During the interview, look alert, respectful, and interested in what the interviewer is telling you. During periods when he or she shares information with you about the company and your position in particular, jot down a few notes, particularly if there’s anything that puzzles you. When you are questioned, answer truthfully, even about your shortcomings. (But try to portray shortcoming or previous mistakes positively, as learning experiences or areas where you wish to improve yourself.) The more confident and certain in your answers you appear, the better.
When it comes time for you to ask questions, bring up anything that still puzzles you from your research and the information the interviewer has shared. Just be careful that you don’t ask about anything that was already covered, as it will appear that you were not listening. (Asking for further clarification on a specific point is alright, just no broad, ‘So what exactly do you do here?’ questions.) On the first interview, it’s generally considered bad form to ask about your salary or other compensation, although if you have someone from the Human Resources department explaining the benefits you would receive (as has happened to me a few times), you could ask for more detail about any of the programs mentioned.
In general, the more questions you ask and the more of a connection you build with the interviewer, the better. Besides making it more likely that you will be hired, being friendly and personable will also make you more attractive for future positions, should you not get the first position for which you interview. Everyone would rather work with someone with whom it’s easy to talk.
When you finish the interview, say your goodbyes, shake hands, and head home. But we’re not quite done yet; when you are at home, you should prepare a nice thank you letter for the interview, and send copies to the interviewer(s). (If sending more than one thank you letter, do your best to personalize each one; if it looks like you just printed out a form letter, the thank you note will lose a lot of its impact.) Send them out as soon as possible (preferably within a day of the interview).
Finally, follow up on the interview in the coming weeks, calling the week after the interview to see if your thank you notes have arrived, as well as determining if you have been selected for the position (or at least a follow up interview). In some cases, it may take quite a while for a decision to be made, in which case you should continue to follow up on the job filling status regularly. (In one case, I ended up making a weekly call to one recruiter for several weeks while the company I was attempting to join did not give her a decision; I ended up not getting the job.) Eventually, you will know for certain whether you got the position or not.
Follow this advice, and you soon should find yourself invited back for a second interview, or even being offered the job. That’s really all there is to it; be polite, be prepared, ask questions, and thank your interviewers, and you’ll be on your way to a good job.
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