So now you’ve researched the company whose representatives you will be meeting with. You show up for your interview. Of course, you are a little nervous, and that’s normal. But you’ve done your homework. Take a deep breath and let it begin.
Make sure you are friendly to everyone you meet. You’ve probably heard the story about the person riding in an elevator while complaining about the experience only to find out the person with them in the elevator was the hiring manager.
Be nice to the receptionist.
Use your best manners.
Let your body language exude confidence but not arrogance.
Look the people you meet directly in the eye.
When shaking hands, make sure your grip is firm but not bone-crushing…or wimpy.
There will be some small talk before you are asked the first question. You may think it doesn’t count….but it does.
You are already being judged.
Do you have the right chemistry?
Do you seem like the kind of person that people would want to work with?
That’s why I suggested earlier that you research the company and the people you will be meeting, which will help you with these first minutes together.
Consider these points:
- Six in ten managers say an interviewee’s dress sense has a significant impact on their employability (source: monster.co.uk survey)
- 33% of bosses say they know within 90 seconds whether they will hire someone (source: Classes and Careers)
- It can take someone about a 1/10 of a second to form an impression of your trustworthiness – and that impression rarely changes later (source: Psychological Science)
- Looking your interviewer in the eye can help to raise their perception of your intelligence (source: Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin)
- More conservative colors such as blue and black are a safer bet in interviews, according to one survey of over 2000 hiring professionals. Orange is the worst! (source: CareerBuilder)
- Be positive
- Always be truthful. Lies will catch up with you
I know you might be tempted to embellish your skills, but hiring managers would be happy if you were honest rather than stretching the truth. In This digital world, most of your accomplishments are verifiable online.
The next step will be to answer the questions you are asked. I’ve researched the most commonly asked questions in interviews, and I have spoken to hiring managers in various organizations to find out what they want to hear from candidates. I share that information in my course, “Job Interviews: What Employers Want To Hear.’ We go through each question, and I offer advice on what you should say and how you can use your experience to enhance each answer. Check out the course here.
Dave Edwards Media 