Job search and interviewing is honestly like dating. You are trying to figure out if a company matches you and your values, and your potential employer is looking to see if you will fit in at the company as well. Interviewing can be the worst part of job search for a lot of people. Today’s post is part of my first series on the blog, “Interviewing with Intention”. In this 3 part series, you will learn how to (1) prepare for an interview, (2) present your best self during an interview, and (3) complete proper post interview etiquette. Check out Part 1: 3 Things You Absolutely Must Do Before a Job Interview here!
Welcome to part 2 of my “Interviewing with Intention” series! In this post, we’ll discuss the 5 most important things to remember during a job interview.
1. Professional Courtesies
Don’t forget your basic professional courtesies, no matter how nervous you get during interviews. Act professional. Shake hands when you meet your interviewer and also before you leave. When you introduce yourself, try using “I am…” statements rather than “My name is…” statements, which will make you appear more confident in yourself.
Dressing professionally and appropriately for the environment is also important. Make sure your interview outfit fits and is something you feel comfortable in. Depending on the place you are interviewing, you may have some flexibility with what you can wear. For example, you could get away with wearing more colorful and “in style” outfits when interviewing for a more creative and/or artistic job, but you’d want to stick with something more conservative for a technical or legal position. Regardless, you can’t go wrong with a black blazer, slacks, and nice shoes!
2. Be yourself & be positive
It sounds cliché, but the most important thing you can do during an interview is to be yourself. Trying to pretend to be someone that you aren’t in order to “fit in” with the company will not end up well for either you or the company. Remember – you are interviewing the company just as much as the company is interviewing you. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t feel pressure to take the position! It is equally as important for you to fit in the company as it is for the company to fit your values.
Staying positive during an interview will speak volumes to your character. Chances are you will be expected to speak on past challenging experiences. Avoid complaining and/or speaking negatively on past experiences/coworkers/companies/managers/etc. If something didn’t work out and your interviewer wants details, speak to the facts and keep a positive attitude about it. Showing that you can see a bright side to difficult situations will go miles for helping you show your character to your interviewer.
3. Highlight your achievements, but explain how you will benefit the company
While it is important to focus on your achievements and explaining what experiences you have during an interview, you want to make sure you clearly explain on how you can benefit the company.
Like I mentioned in part 1 of this series, answering questions in the “STAR!” method will really help you do this. By listing out the situation, task, action, result, and impact that you had, you can show your accomplishments while also highlighting how they benefited your last organization (& ultimately the organization you’re looking to get into now).
4. Ask Questions!
One of the worst ways to end an interview is by saying you don’t have any questions at the end. Having no questions tells your interviewer that you are not interested in them, the position you are interviewing for, or the company at all. Here are a few more interesting end-of-interview questions you can ask your interviewer if you get stuck:
- What is your favorite part of your work location?
- Can I get a tour of the facility?
- How long have you worked at this company? What has been your favorite position?
- What projects are you currently working on?
- What are the next steps in the interview process? (this one is actually a “must ask” in my book – you don’t want to end up leaving the interview and not knowing if you’ll ever hear from them again)
5. Get your interviewers name & contact information
Probably the most important thing you must remember to do during your job interview is get your interviewers name and contact information. If you are in a panel interview, you will want to try to get each interviewer’s name and contact information. This is key for any follow up that you will do after the interview (stay tuned for next week’s post on post-interview etiquette!).
It can be really easy to introduce yourself at the beginning of the interview, and then forget your interviewer’s name after the adrenaline rush you get while they’re asking you questions. One way I like to combat this is with my standard end of interview practice:
- Shake their hand at the end of the interview.
- Say “Thank you for taking the time to speak with me about the position. Here is my business card. Can I get your contact information?”
- Exchange business cards if they have one. Otherwise, jot down their email address and name in a notebook or Padfolio (that you brought with you to the interview).
Job interviews can be nerve-wracking, but there are a few things you don’t want to forget to do during the interview! Remembering these 5 tips will help you secure your dream job.
Stay tuned for next week when we will wrap up the series with post job Interview etiquette!
What tips do you have for managing nerves during job interviews?