Interview Advice

Make a Good First Impression

Remember that this is the first time anyone in the company sees you in person, so make sure that you look professional, that you are well groomed and that you dress appropriately. Greet your interviewers with a friendly smile and a confident handshake. Keep eye contact at all times and do not sit back in a relaxed casual position, lean forward with your hands on the table or on your lap. This gives the interviewer the impression that you are prepared for anything.

There are also other ways to make a good first impression. You should always ask intelligent questions. Asking intelligent questions shows your interest and also conveys how knowledgeable you are about the company. Questions about corporate culture, about the job itself and anything that you are curious about are fair game. But stay away from questions about salary during the first interview unless the interviewer brings it up. You should show excitement about the company and don’t be too presumptuous and ask about financial compensation early on, because that rubs some interviewers the wrong way. Also, when asked questions that require some thinking or solving, it is always a good idea to ask for a pen and paper and walk the interviewer through your thought process.

Avoid Common Mistakes

In addition to what you should do, there are things that you should not do during an interview. Do not talk too much. When asked a question, answer it clearly and concisely. If you talk too much then you give the impression that you are either uncertain or exaggerating.

You should also keep in mind not to talk negatively about past employers. If you don’t have anything good to say about past jobs, then attribute your departure to a difference of opinion. Talking badly about previous employers sends out the wrong message to potential employers: it says this person is not loyal and may one day talk about your company in this negative way.

If you follow this advice, you should be more prepared than most when sitting for an interview. When the interview is over, it is always a good idea to follow up with a phone call or an email that is polite and straight to the point. Make sure that you get closure and clearly understand what the next steps are or when you can expect to hear back from the company.