Successfully Interviewing for a Job

If you are reading this, there is a good chance you got past the initial stage of the employment procurement process and have been asked to come in for an interview, so congratulations on making it to step two-the interview process. This is generally the stage that can make or break your ability to ascertain employment so it is necessary to be as prepared for the process as possible. The fact that you have been asked to come in for an interview means the employer has read you resume and is interested in you and is now looking for reasons on why not to hire you so with that being said, do everything in your power to keep that list of reasons not to hire you as short as possible. Interviewing for a job is a fine art that requires many skills to perfect but with time and practice you can turn yourself into the walking perfect interview. Let us look at a few tips and guidelines for interviewing for a position within a given company.

One of the most important things you can do in preparation for a job interview is to study the company you are interviewing for. This includes learning what industries they specialize in, the specific jobs to be performed as part of the position at hand, as well as what the specific employer is looking for in an employee. There are various ways to procure this information so remember that anything or anyone can be a resource or asset. How did you find out about the job? was it through an acquaintance that works within the company or perhaps through a temp service? If so, feel free to use them as information sources. Ask your acquaintance about the job environment, the employees, the hiring manager, what they are looking for, etc... This will help you prepare for the interview and give you an insider's look at what the company is wanting. Did you get the interview through an employment service? If so, the job coordinator more than likely has information on what the interview process is like for that specific company. Is it a traditional interview with one hiring manager or will it be a group interview with 20 prospective employees and multiple interviewers. Knowing info like this will prevent any surprises and give you the upper hand when you walk into the situation knowing what to expect unlike the other applicants.

Appearance is almost as important as what you say so make sure you look the part of a professional. don't go over the top with your chosen outfit though as you want your outfit to accentuate you as opposed to overshadowing you. Think about it-do you want the hiring manager to walk out of the interview once it is over wondering how you were able to walk in those heels or how much that tie cost or do you want them to walk out ready to tell the Human Resources department to get the hiring papers ready? Dress conservatively and traditionally so that your appearance compliments you.

Make sure you arrive to the interview early as opposed to on time. Leave your house early so that you can prevent anything from making you late such as traffic. Get to the interview a half hour early and start walking into the premises 20 minutes early so that by the time you get into the building and situated, you still have 15 minutes to spare. If you smoke, as much as you want to, prevent yourself from smoking on the way to the interview as the only thing worse than smelling like smoke is smelling like smoke unsuccessfully masked by perfume or cologne. When you get into the premises, treat every person you see with the upmost professionalism and courtesy as you never know if that door man, secretary, or maintenance man is the relative or close friend of the interviewer and someone the interviewer will ask their opinion of you after the interviewer.

Now when it comes to the actual interview itself, there are a few things you want to take into consideration. When the interviewer is speaking, never interrupt them. Allow them to talk until they are blue if necessary and use the time they spend talking to formulate your responses to their questions. If they ask you a question that confounds you, make sure to ask for clarification as opposed to answering the question blindly as this will make you appear incompetent if your answer is irrelevant to the question posed. Pay very close attention to your non verbal cues as they are actually more important than what you say as the brain processes what you say leaning towards how you say something as opposed to what you say. Don't fidget as this is a sign of unease or weakness. Make good eye contact but don't piercingly glare at the interviewer. You should make sure your posture gives off a sense of confidence so don't slouch or lean forward to far as slouching shows signs of laziness and leaning forward too far can be misconstrued as a sign of aggression.

When it comes to what you actually say, make sure you speak properly and forgo any use of slang or colloquialisms. Enunciate your words clearly and properly and speak at a consistent rate that isn't too slow or fast. When referencing previous employers or bosses, make sure you don't speak on them negatively. If the interviewer asks you technical questions pertaining to the job at hand, make sure to not overstep your area of knowledge as it is better to use jargon you can comfortably use in the proper context than attempt to sound more learned and misuse technical terms. Speak with confidence but don't come across as arrogant.

As your interview comes to a close, find out what the next step in the hiring process is and who you can expect to hear from. This not only allows you to remain prepared but also lets you feel out the interviewer and gauge how successful the interview was. Thank the interviewer for their time and reiterate your enthusiasm about the company and the position. At the end of the interview make sure to gain eye contact and offer a firm handshake as well. If you follow these tips you will have a better chance of receiving a job offer as you will have successfully navigated the interview with confidence and professionalism.