In a typical calendar year, I will interview between eighty and one hundred twenty candidates for positions at our firm. With that many interviews over the course of my career, I’ve picked up on some things that might benefit you in your next interview experience. So, I thought I would share a few tips that will help you stand out so that you can rock your next interview.
Pet Peeves:
- Time Your Arrival: Everybody knows that you don’t want to show up late. Traffic in Atlanta is terrible, so you want to plan accordingly; however, you also don’t want to show up too early. It actually puts a little bit of pressure on the person that is interviewing you. So, get there early, but sit in your car. Read a book. Prepare for your interview. Get online and research the company or the person you are interviewing with. This is a great way to do it. Plan to walk in the door about five minutes early and you’ll be set.
- Talk Yourself In, Not Out: You don’t want to be too talkative, or too communicative or ramble on too much during the interview. Be cognizant, be confident, and be concise with your answers.
Do’s & Don’ts:
- Less is More: Don’t show up smelling like you just stepped off a cologne counter. You never know what environment you are stepping into or what allergies that may cause for somebody.
- Eye Contact: You want to be careful not to avert your eyes and to make sure that you make great eye contact with the person you are interviewing with.
- Slang: Keep it professional. Be careful not to use any slang or street talk. One thing that I have noticed having teenagers in my house is talking in text language. Don’t say “LOL” or use abbreviations.
- Honesty: Be honest and truthful. Don’t try to hide the truth.
- Follow Up is Key: I think
your follow up is just as important as your interview. It is important to send an email or even a written thank you note after the interview as to really communicate to the person or company that you’re very excited and you’re really interested. It’s also a great opportunity for you to ask more questions. Often that will set you apart, by the way.
The Important Questions:
Think back to your first day of work. What do you know now that you wish you’d known then? Those are the types of questions you should be asking.
- What are your day-to-day responsibilities for this position?
- What are some of the most important qualities that you are looking for in this position?
- What would be a career path in this role? What would the team aspect that I would be in?
- What is the company culture? How do you engage employees and include them in the culture?
So, there you have it. A couple of quick tips. I hope that this helps you in your next interview. I wish you all the best. Good luck!