You have a big interview coming up. You need to be prepared to
ensure you are ‘on top of your
game’. This is the opportunity for you to
present your qualifications and achievements, and ensure a
potential hiring manager knows that you can deliver. Here are some
tips to help you with the dynamics of the interview.
Know Thyself: Before the interview, spend time
reviewing your own résumé. You need to be
prepared to talk about your background and reference details about
the positions you held – some of which may have
been some time ago. You don’t want to be caught
without an answer to a question regarding a position you held five
or six years ago. It won’t take long to brush up
on your background. I can assure you, you will be happy that you
took the time to review your history so you are prepared to answer
questions and reference achievements throughout your professional
tenure.
Use Time Wisely: Arrive at the interview about
15 minutes early. There is nothing worse than arriving exactly on
time with no time to get the house in order. You want to be relaxed
for the interview, not harried and nervous. Arriving a bit early
will allow you to hang your coat, visit the facilities if you need
to, and coordinate any documents that you are going to give to the
hiring manager.
Inhale, Exhale: There is no need to rush
through your interview. During the exchange of information, it is
ok to take a deep breath and think about your answers. Loose lips
sink ships, as they say. Pausing for a second before responding to
a question will allow you to formulate your answer. You
don’t need to immediately blurt out an answer.
Filler words like “ummmâ€,
“likeâ€, and “you
know†can be avoided by simply taking a moment to
collect your thoughts. You will come across more poised and
relaxed, not to mention the improvement to your personal brand.
Interview the Interviewer:
That’s right; the interview is a two way street.
This is the opportunity for you to find out about them too. It is
not solely a situation where they are determining if you are right
for the company, but also the opportunity for you to determine if
they are the right company for you. Ask thoughtful questions that
will give you information about their market place position, and
mission, values, and vision.
Make your Point: Don’t
ramble during the interview. You need to strike a balance between
answering the question in a clear and precise manner and also
generate camaraderie between you and the interviewer. You want to
answer the question, but also provide a sense of who you are as a
person.
Promote you Personal Brand: Establish who you
are in the interview. Maintain a positive and lively approach.
There is a fine line here, of course; be yourself, but present
yourself in a focused and proactive way. You want to connect your
enthusiasm to the job and to your overall personality.
Shhhh: Be an active listener. Do not stop the
interviewer while he is talking. Let the person finish a thought or
sentence before you chime in. There is nothing more annoying than
being cut off. This will not win you points, but rather irritate
the hiring manager. Active listening will allow you to ensure you
understand the questions you are being asked so you can provide
highly valuable and targeted answers to ensure you hit the
mark.
Key elements to ensuring a strong interview is to leave a
positive and lasting impression. How you position yourself is up to
you – be prepared and positive to ensure your
interview goes well and results in that highly coveted follow-up
call. In this case, preparation is definitely the key to
success.
© 2009