7 Tips to Improve Your Interview Quality
Your best opportunity for snagging a job offer comes through
your interview. Here are some things to keep in mind to make the best possible
impression.
1. Make a good impression before your interview. When you get the call to
set up an interview appointment, use that opportunity to make a great first
impression. Be polite, pleasant and professional. If at all possible, tell the
caller a little about yourself and why you’re interested in the job. Your
favorable impression on an assistant who called the candidates may help sway the
decision in your favor.
2. Often the first interview is by phone. If at all possible, have this
interview on a land line and not a cell phone for better reception. Don’t treat
this any differently than one where you go into the office. Be prepared. Do your
research before the call to find out details about the company: new projects or
acquisitions, product and sales information, any news items about the company,
etc. Even though the interviewer can’t see you, it’s really important to use the
same body language you would in a face-to-face situation. The energy comes
through in your voice, so sit tall, lean forward and project your voice into the
receiver.
3. Plan your wardrobe for a face-to-face interview ahead of time. Don’t
wear anything flashy. Conservative always works, even if you’re interviewing for
an artsy job. You can always relax your style once you’re hired. It’s better to
be overdressed than underdressed. Conservative also means limited jewelry: a
watch for men and a watch or simple bracelet and small earrings for women. If
you have piercings, fewer adornments are better for the interview. Planning
ahead means that if your suit or dress needs to be cleaned, you’ll have time to
either take it or make another choice. Have polished, unscuffed shoes and carry
a notepad for taking notes.
4. Be on time for your interview. That means being 10 minutes early! If
you don’t know where you’re going, see if you can have a dry run to see where
the building is, how long it takes to get there and, if you need parking, where
a convenient parking lot is. You don’t want to be rushing in at the last minute,
out of breath. Plan to arrive in time to visit the restroom to freshen up before
your meet your interviewer, then take a few minutes to sit quietly and get a
sense of the organization. It’s amazing how much information you can pick up
just by sitting and listening to what’s going on around you.
5. Have a firm, but not bone-crushing hand shake and offer your hand as soon
as you meet. Take a cue from your interviewer. If s/he offers a weak shake,
mirror it back. You might be meeting someone with arthritis whose hands hurt and
won’t want to be squeezed too firmly. You don’t want them to remember you
because you gave them pain. Smile and introduce yourself. If you have an unusual
or difficult name to pronounce, acknowledge that it might be difficult to
remember and repeat it.
6. Be ready to ask questions. Many people who conduct interviews don’t
have much experience hiring people. Be ready with some questions you want
answered about both the company and the job. Think about what’s important to you
about the particular job and then formulate some questions ahead of time. Write
them down so you can easily refer to them when you’re having the interview.
You’ll probably be a little nervous, so writing them down will help you remember
them. You’ll also impress the interviewer when you take out a piece of paper
with questions already written down. It shows you’re prepared and done your
homework.
7. Practice interviewing with a friend, colleague, career advisor, even your
cat. If you’re going on an interview for a job you really want, you can’t be
too prepared. Practicing asking questions and giving answers will go a long way
to making you more relaxed. You’ll give a better impression if you’re not too
tense and practice helps take away some of the anxiety.
After your interview, be sure to write a note to anyone you met, thanking them
for their time and interest – and ask for the job. This is no time to be shy. If
you want the job, ask for it – politely of course. Also, this note should be
hand written and sent through the mail, not e-mail. This means you’ll need to
get the correct spelling and address of anyone you interview with. This is easy
if you ask for their cards before you leave their offices.
Interviewing is a skill that anyone can learn. Make yourself different by
knowing how to conduct a good interview. And good luck!
Jan Cannon, MBA, PhD, has over 10 years of experience helping clients to
find work that they enjoy through career coaching and resume preparation. She
was an online expert with CIO.com and jobfindtoday.com and currently provides
online content to the Career Connection of the Boston Herald (
http://print.jobfind.com ).
Jan speaks to groups and leads workshops on making career choices, networking,
finding jobs, and staying motivated. She teaches courses on entrepreneurship
for those interested in starting their own businesses. Jan has Myers Briggs™
MBTI™ and FirstStepFastTrack™ certifications and offers Inscape™ DiSC
assessments.
Jan's book on senior job search will be published by Capital Press in
April 2005.
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