Let's face it, in today's market the chance to make your case in a face-to-face interview setting will be fewer and fewer. This means that when you do get in from of them, you need to make every moment count!!!
Putting your best foot forward
You have your best suit, you're shaved, showered and deodorized!!! You look great, you feel good, you are confident! You are guaranteed to get the job, right? WRONG!!!
Prepare, Prepare and than, Prepare for the Unexpected!
Thorough preparation can be one of the single biggest factors to impact your interview outcome. Proper preparation can make the difference during an interview, by having a great answer for everything they ask you can increase the “WOW” factor exponentially.
Get to know the organization, understand the culture, know the direction they are moving in, double check the figures you have. Is there any recent news that they are thrilled about and would be great for anyone to know? Understand who is who within the organization (as much as is feasible. Admittedly this is knowledge that has to be acquired through contacts or from the website, so be careful to understand the intricacies of corporate security). Most importantly, make sure you’re familiar with your own resume! As trite as it sounds, this is a great way to leave plunkies all over the carpet in the interview!
Finally, research anything and everything you can about the nature and types of interviews and the questions that can be asked. Have answers prepared that can cover as much as possible. You will not be able to anticipate every question, but just having taken the time to get this level of knowledge and comfort, will come across as confidence and this will go a long way to impressing the interviewer.
Question: What is the best way to beat a lie detector?
Answer: Tell the truth!
Individuals quit, get fired, move on to the next job regularly. This is not really a negative. In many instances the real question is, were these moments of growth and learning? What many employers want to see from candidates is evidence of growth in your professional and, to some extent, personal life. Your resume, is a snapshot of your professional life to-date. It is important that YOU remember the details, because they certainly will know them!
Ask Questions!
Remember, you are interviewing them as much as they are you! In this increasingly smaller, flatter world, where all sorts of information can be found, reputations and associations are key. Knowing what you can about an organization, from the candidates point of view shows: diligence, enthusiasm and a desire to succeed at your new position. But be careful, if your questions come across as too self-serving, you could be looking for another interview somewhere else!
Follow-Up
After an interview, follow up with a ‘thank you’ email that you appreciate the time they spent with you and how much you enjoyed meeting them and hearing about the position. If you’re really looking to stand out you can send a written note or a thank you card, however be cautious of over-doing it and coming on too strong. Always be professional.
Stand Out, More Tips
Don’t be shy – an interview is the one situation where it’s okay to talk about your accomplishments and achievements.
Don’t be modest – speak confidently about what you’ve accomplished in your career.
Be personable – don’t be afraid to engage in small talk before or after the interview to show off a bit of your personality. This could be the differentiating factor.
Bring extra copies of your resume with you in case an extra person joins you or the interviewer doesn’t have one. Attention to detail like this speaks volumes.
Remember the ABC's (Always Be Confirming yourself as THE candidate)!
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