You have a killer resume and great references. You’re at the head of the pack and have just received a call for an interview. Just ace the interview and the job is yours. Unfortunately, acing the interview is not easy, and sometimes the opposite (bombing the interview) is just as likely to happen.
The on-site personal interview is definitely the most stressful part of job hunting. You need to put a lot of effort into doing your best in the job interview, because it is the culmination of your job search. Mess it up here, and all your previous efforts will have been in vain.
Here are three tips for interview success: 1. Make a great first impression
Always dress your best for the interview. Avoid clothing that is out of style like a vest or double breasted suit or pinstripes. Check out a conservative fashion magazine or merchandise catalog and make sure you look good. Navy blue and charcoal colors are both professional and timeless. Even if the company employees wear jeans and T-shirts, you still need to dress up for the interview. Also, don’t forget to shine your shoes.
2. Do your homework
One of the best ways to impress the recruiter is to do a little research on the company you are applying for. Know the company’s products and services, where it’s offices are located, whether it’s a publicly traded or a private company, and recent financial history. Yahoo Finance, the company’s web site, and Google are all important places to check out when doing company research.
When you do your homework, that will give you an advantage answering the recruiter’s questions. For example, if you are interviewing in New York, but you know from your research that the company also has offices in Boston and Philadelphia, then you can expect a question regarding whether or not you would be willing to take short trips to Boston or Philadelphia, or if at some point you might consider transferring to Boston or Philadelphia.
Another thing to consider is how well your skills fit the goods and services that the company offers. If you have studied the company, you will find it a lot easier to answer the recruiters questions about how your skills can benefit the company. Look for opportunities during the interview to ask questions based on the items that you learned during your research. For example, “What skill sets are you looking for in order to build your new XYZ division that was announced 3 weeks ago?”
3. Always tell the truth
Avoid telling lies or embellishing your answers. Experienced interviewers will quickly figure it out if you are blowing smoke. If they think you are being less than honest, you will never get the job offer. Even if you are not very experienced, don’t try to hide that fact. Sometimes recruiters are looking for inexperienced employees, because they have junior level positions to fill and can usually get an inexperienced individual at a lower salary and train them in exactly the right way to do the job. The employer may even pay for expensive training that allows you to obtain certification.
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