Job Interview Tips

How to Go on a Job Interview

Going through an interview can be a pretty stressful experience. How do you prepare? What should you wear? Your head might be buzzing with questions about how to conduct yourself and what to tell the interviewer. Luckily, a lot of this anxiety will disappear if you prepare and know what to expect. Whether you’ve already found an application or are preparing to get moving on your job search, these interview tips are extremely helpful.

Reducing anxiety:

• Doing a little bit of research on your potential employer can go a long way to reducing your stress about an upcoming interviewer. It can help you get answers to questions before you ever step foot in the interviewer’s office. If you’re curious about job duties, hours of operation, and a number of other things, you can probably find them online. That way, when you’re in the interview, you don’t need to waste time with a lot of easily answered questions and focus on the more important ones. You can actually find information on more than a thousand employers right here on our page.
• Preparation also does wonders to reduce your anxiety. Whether you practice in the mirror or get a friend to ask you some of our sample interview questions, answering the questions early will make you more prepared and keep you from being caught off guard by the interviewer. You may also be able to predict other questions the company might ask you. Thinking up these questions and answering them will make you more comfortable if the interviewer asks something you weren’t immediately prepared for. Acting out the process helps you remain comfortable and confident when you’re in the real interview.
• Make sure that you’ve taken care of any prior commitments. If you’ve got to work, take that day off or ask for a few hours to go to the new interview. Being honest, open, and calm will really help you out. Friends and current employers will understand if you need to be a little late to get through this interview.
• Make a plan. Know exactly where you’re driving to, leave early, and have copies of your resume and any questions in your car or a bag you always carry. If you arrive more than twenty minutes early, consider preparing one last time or grabbing a coffee. You don’t want to seem too desperate or like you were unsure what time the interview was scheduled for. If you’re stuck in traffic or know you’re going to be late, call ahead to see if they can reschedule you or if they’re willing to wait.
• Appearances are incredibly important. First impressions are usually right, and employers know this. This is a great chance to show the company you’re professional and care about how you present yourself. If your dream is to work as a reporter, you wouldn’t show up in a swimsuit and football helmet but would probably wear a conservative suit. Clean up your hair and face, dress well, and iron your clothing if necessary. Even if you’re only trying to work in fast food, this is still a great time to show you care about your interview.
• Go alone. Nothing will make you more anxious than worrying about a friend getting bored, trying to make another meeting, or wondering if your kids and dog have destroyed the car. If you can’t possibly leave them alone, try to get a caretaker to watch them for a few hours. Knowing they’re safe and out of trouble does a lot to keep you calm.
• There are a couple of things you might want to bring to your interview. It’s helpful to have a clean and concise resume with references to show your potential employer. For tips and tricks, see our section on writing a resume. You also want to have a notepad with you to jot a few things down, just don’t spend the entire interview writing. Finally, you ought to turn your cellphone off before any interview. If you’re expecting a call more important than the interview, you probably need to reschedule the interview. Still, you may want to take your phone with you in case you need to exchange contact information with the company. They may provide you with a call back number.
• Make eye contact during the interview. This is key to showing you’re confident about the employment process and you actually belong in this interview. Now isn’t the time to be shy or overly modest. On the other hand, it’s also not a staring contest. Be confident, calm, and polite. Eye contact is just another way to show you’re paying attention and really interested in what the interviewer is saying. If you have trouble with anxiety, try to pick a spot on the wall at eye level behind the interviewer and look at that.
• In the internet age, almost all of us have pages on Facebook, Myspace, or Twitter. Expect your potential employer to do their homework. If these profiles weren’t created to get you the job, make sure they’re set to private and friends only. There are far too many stories about employees or applicants dropping the ball because they mentioned something undesirable in a status. Avoid this pitfall by simply making sure the employer can only see as much as you want them to.

Use any remaining anxiety to your advantage:

• Even with all the preparation in the world, you may still feel a little anxious about your interview. Luckily, you can transform this nervousness into energy to keep you positive and upbeat throughout the interview. Anxiety is just extra energy. Use it to give you focus and project confidence throughout the interview.

Confidence:

• Interviewers will pick up on low self-confidence. It makes them question whether or not you’re the right candidate. They might wonder if you’re as qualified as you claim to be or why you’re desperate for the job. Real confidence comes from practice and knowing the kinds of questions they’re going to ask you. Relax and take a deep breath. Know yourself, your strengths, and resume. Prepare. These interview tricks give you an aura of confidence whether or not you realize it. Your posture will be straighter and more relaxed, your body language will be more comfortable, and you’ll be less nervous.
• Greet the employer with confidence. A handshake shows that you’re friendly and care about appearances. Be sure not to be too light, but don’t crush their hand either. A quick, firm handshake says a lot about you as a person. Smile and look them in the eyes and try to say their name. They’re already forming an impression about you the second you walk in the door. Although the interview may last a few minutes or a few hours, the interviewer will make up their mind about you fairly quickly. Sell yourself as quickly, calmly, and confidently as possible.
• Actively listen and get clarification. Everyone likes a team player who will make sure to get things right. Rephrase what they’re saying in your head to make sure you completely understand what the interviewer is asking or sharing with you. If you don’t entirely understand what they mean, ask. Asking ensures that you know exactly what they meant and tells them that you’d rather be clear than do a task more than once.

Upbeat and positive statements:

• This interview tip goes hand-in-hand with confidence. You have to project a positive self-image. If you’re positive, it shows the interviewer that you’re in your element and comfortable with your surroundings. It also proves you’re genuinely interested in working for the employer. Even if you’re unsure about working for the company, projecting an upbeat and positive attitude gets you one step closer to being hired.
• This is an excellent place to showcase your knowledge of what the job might require and what previous work experience may be beneficial. Don’t ever talk about bad bosses or disagree with previous employers, focus on what lessons you’ve learned and what you can bring to the company. For example, if you’re applying for a job in retail and you were head cashier at your last job, let them know you have a large amount of retail experience, work well with customers, and can be trusted in stressful situations.
• You also want to be outgoing and happy, but don’t overdo it. An interviewer with a sense of humor is a good sign, but this is not the place to tell jokes or laugh excessively over their jokes. Be polite and smile. Don’t take it too far, and you’ll be fine.

Knowing what to say:

• Asking specific questions about the employer can be a great way to get the interviewer talking. It shows you care about where you work and want to know what you’re doing. Interest and ambition are an excellent advantage in the hiring process. This is where research comes in. Don’t ask questions you already know the answer to, stay polite and relevant, and don’t be too eager to get out of work. Check out our page on interview questions and FAQs for a little more in-depth information.
• Be conservative about what you share. This is not the place to be opinionated or talk about religion or politics. A good interviewer will never ask you about these things. Even if you happen to get on one of these topics, answer quickly and vaguely and move on. Furthermore, there’s a reason you already set your social networking profiles to private. You shouldn’t want to hide things from a prospective employer, but that doesn’t mean you need to tell your interviewer you were gaming until 4:00am last night.
• Stay on topic. This goes along with being conservative about what you tell the interviewer. You want to make sure anything you say is relevant to the employment process. Unless you’re applying to work at GameStop, don’t talk about your video game consoles. If you’re not trying to work at Saks Fifth Avenue, don’t talk about fashion. Make sure what you say is helping you get the job. You don’t have to be stiff or all-business, just make sure you stay focused on the interview for your next career.
• Encourage the interviewer to share information about the company. Along with asking questions, this proves you’re truly interested in working for the place and want the job. It also shows you’re picky about where you work. There’s no shame in making sure you’re finding the right fit for employment. Every interviewer wants the best person for the job who will stay with the company and help it grow in the long-term. Being interested in the way the company works and handles things is just a sign of your desire to succeed.
• Finally, be calm and polite. Don’t forget to smile. These add to your projected image of self-confidence and prove you’re comfortable with the idea of working at this new office, store, or restaurant. Every interviewer knows you’re going to be a little bit nervous and accepts that. Try to relax and present yourself as well as possible.

Follow up:

• Follow up a few days or weeks later. Depending on the job listing, company, and the level of the business, you might have to wait only a few days or up to a couple months to learn whether or not you got the job. With retailers and restaurants always hiring, it may be best to call back in a few days to let the company know you’re really interested in working there. That motivation can definitely mean a job in the future or a call back the next time they hire. On the other hand, larger corporate companies with salaried positions are different. They have a much longer hiring process and will contact you when they’ve made a decision. You can always ask during the interview when they plan to make a decision and whether or not you should contact them after the decision is made.
• Thank you notes aren’t always appropriate, but they are the little extra touch that gets you the job. This tip is usually reserved for long-term career prospects. Very few people who apply to work in their local McDonald’s will ever do this, but it might be a good idea for a Fortune 500 company. If you decide to do this, know where to address it to and to whom. Make sure you send it to your interviewer and be as polite and up beat as you were during the interview. Don’t add any extra information, even if you forgot it during the interview. Just keep it clean, concise, and pleasant.

From start to finish, applying online or in person through the long wait for a call back, the employment process can be rough. Preparation and good information help you along the way. Regardless of where you’re putting in an application or resume, these tips can help.
Visit the other areas on our site for possible interview questions and advice for writing your resume before you head in to the interview. Remember, do your best, remain calm and honest, and smile. Good luck!