There aren’t many jobs out there lately, and with this job market, you need to be ready to impress. There are a few things that you should know when going into an interview:
Dress for Success.
In order to make a good first impression, you need to look good. Jeans and a t-shirt are not going to cut it for an interview. Rather, go for a pair of slacks or a skirt and a nice button down shirt or blouse. Men should tuck their shirts in, girls should be sure to sure to dress modestly. Employers won’t be impressed by showing off the goodies, and if they are, they’re not someone you want to be working for. And don’t forget the shoes—sneakers and flip-flops aren’t going to make the cut, you need to wear something closed toe that will compliment your attire.
Be Prepared.
Even if you’ve already sent in a resume, you should bring one along just in case. This shows that you are responsible and think ahead, besides, even living in the information age, you need to remember that not all technology is as reliable as you think. There is always the possibility that your potential employer did not receive your e-mail and your resume is floating out in cyber space, cold and alone. If you have a copy on you, you’re good to go.
Resume Need-to-Knows:
If it’s more than two pages, no one is going to read it. Potential employers go through a dozen resumes a day looking for the right new-hire, and you don’t want to be skipped simply because they cannot be bothered. Keep it short, and to the point. Don’t bother with a cover page or references in your first version. Just list the need-tos, and if they ask for a complete resume, give them the entire package: cover page, references, accomplishments, everything. This is the version of the resume you should bring with you in hand when you go to your interview. Anything mailed in or handed in prior should be simply, sweet, and to the point.
Be Cool
Freaking out will only make your potential employer feel that you are not confident, and that will be detrimental to your chances. Maintain eye contact (not overmuch though, or they may think you’re trying to stare them down), answer your questions to the full length of your abilities, try not to stutter or hesitate, and make sure to wear deodorant. The most important of these is to try to have a pleasant exterior. Your employer wants to see that they are hiring a confidant, kind person who is hard-working, and creative when it comes to problem solving.
Be Confident, NOT Cocky
It can sometimes be hard to differentiate between the two, but no one is going to want to hire a jerk. The worst thing you can do is act as though you already have the job. Going in there and assuming that you know more than those already in the employ of the company is a mistake. It’ll cost you the job for sure, and may prevent future job opportunities at that company. Keep in mind that even if you do not make it through the first interview, you can always try again, so long as you have a memorable encounter. But if you make a jerk of yourself, you can kiss that job good-bye. Be sure to be confident, relaxed enough to be open and pleasant, but not so much that you’re sloppy.
Tell the Truth
Many people think that telling the employer what they think they want to hear will surely land the job, because you answered everything right, but this isn’t so. Employers want to hire someone who is real, not someone who is just feeding them meaningless words because they sound good. Tell the truth as much as you can without ruining your image.
Tips For Answering Questions.
The employer is likely to ask you a lot about past jobs, to get a feel of what you have done in the past, and what you can bring to their company. For these, all you need to do is tell the truth, talk to them about responsibilities you had at a previous job and what your day to day life was like in that position. Don’t talk their ear off, mind you, but when it gets to the tougher questions, such as, “Describe a difficult work situation/project and how did you overcome it?” The thing to remember, is that there is no right or wrong answer to questions like these. They are behavioral assessment questions designed to gage your capabilities in these sort of situations.
Give concrete examples of difficult situations that actually happened at work. Then discuss what you did to solve the problem. Keep your answers positive and be specific. Itemize what you did and how you did it. The best way to prepare for questions where you will need to recall events and actions, is to refresh your memory and consider some special situations you have dealt with or projects you have worked on. You can use them to help frame responses. Prepare stories that illustrate times when you have successfully solved a difficult situation.
These sort of answers, and more, can be found in any number of job finding self-help books. Here is a list of some useful books that will help you land a job:
“Suddenly Unemployed” by Helen Kooimanhosier
“101 Answers to the Toughest Interview Questions” by Ron Fry
“How To Write a Winning Resume” by Deborah Perlmutter-Bloch
“E-résumés: A Guide to Successful Online Job Hunting” by Pat Criscito
“1000 Best Job Hunting Secrets” by Diane Stafford and Moritza Day.