Interview Your Way to Success

You are what you are before you step into the office! Research and preparation are essential before the interview.  So are appearance and presentation.  They go a long way in making a favorable impression on your prospective employer. Here are a few guidelines to see you through the interviewing process. 
 

I. Getting Ready: Research
 
The key to speaking well is knowing what you want to say.  Know enough about yourself and the potential employer to answer questions intelligently. Study yourself Know your skills, values and interests, your goals, strengths and weaknesses, etc. This information will help you answer your employer’s questions about your abilities and goals. 
 
Find printed and online information about them, and also ask friends for information.  Learn about the company’s services, products, number of employers, financial situation, employee benefits, etc. 
Determine the companies you want to work with. 
Review  information (job description, interview letter, etc.) about the position(s) you are interested in, and see how you qualify. 
Match Yourself and your objectives with those of the company. Know where you fit in. Get Tips from friends who have been through interviews for similar positions.

II. Get Set: Getting your tools together
Think  about your Past Work Experince that might be of interest to the prospective jobs. Read Through Your Resumecarefully.  Be prepared to answer questions related to material in it. 
Find out what other documents or materials you need. (Photos, ID, certificates, etc.) 
Bring Extra Copies of Your Resume and a list of references of people you worked with earlier. Go to a Career Counselor for help in preparing your resume and other documents. 
Mark Your Checklist to see you have everything you need for the interview: 

Interview Checklist
 
Attire: appropriate dress and footwear. 
A watch. For women, minimal jewelry and makeup, light perfume. 
A printout of your resume, coversheet, and other documents you might need.
Address and phone number of where you’re going.
A note pad and pencil or pen. 
A list of questions you want to ask the employer.   
 

III. Preparing Questions and Answers 
 
Practice makes perfect. Many career counselors offer workshops, mock interviews or one-on-one coaching.  But do avoid being over-rehearsed. 
Online  career sites also provide preparation information.  Check them out! 
Think of possible questions and your answers to them. Check your resume and know it well; many questions pertain to points made in the resume. Read the most frequently asked interview questions here!
Practice  having an alert and upright posture, and clear presentation and speech for the interview. 
Prepare a 30-45 second introduction (a “personal commercial” to promote yourself as a valuable resource to the company).  This would help respond to the favorite opening question “Tell me about yourself.”  Knowing your answer will help overcome the initial nervousness. 
Prepare Questions you would like to ask the employers. Check out our 22 questions you can ask in an interview. 
Ask Family and Friends to Interview You and practice your answers with them. Go!! 

IV. Arrival 
Allow plenty of time to get to the interview. Make sure you don’t have to rush to it. 
Be there at least 5-10 minutes early. It makes a great impression! If you’re late for your interview, you might be late for the job! 
Inform the receptionist of your arrival. 
Sit upright and alert when asked. 
Browse through any available company literature while waiting. It will prevent nervousness and help prepare you for the interview. 

V. During the Interview 
Greet your interviewer with a smile and a firm handshake. 
Communicate verbally and nonverbally. Speak clearly, listen closely, and show receptiveness through your gestures and facial expressions. Respond to smiles and nods. 
Listening is the key to answering well. Pay attention to what is said rather than on how you are doing. 
Pause to give yourself time to compose a thoughtful response. 
Be honest with yourself and your employer about what you can/not do. Lying would injure your credibility and land you in a job you might not like. 
Be confident but not overly so; you are aiming to impress rather than intimidate. 
Don't cover up mistakes. Instead, focus on what you learnt from them. Show positivity. 
Closing the interview.  The interviewer may give you a first sign of closing by asking you if you have any questions. Make sure your questions reflect your professional values. 
Before leaving you may ask for clarifications of previous statements if needed. You might want to briefly mention one or two additional skills that further match you to the organization. 
Leave a positive impression. Don’t show discouragement even if you think you didn’t interview well. Convey your interest, even if you’ve heard things you do not like. 

VI. After the Interview 
Ask the employer, if you have not been told, about when the selection of candidates will be made. 
Shake hands and thank the interviewer for his or her time. If they are a member of the opposite sex, wait for them to offer their hand. 
Thank the receptionist or the secretary on your way out. 
Take notes  on your performance and how you could improve at the next interview. 
Write a thank you note or email to your employer as soon as possible. Include key points you made in your notes. Try to do that within 24 hours from the interview. You may add brief information that supports your standing which you neglected emphasizing or mentioning in the interview. You should also mention something you talked about that could help them remember you. 
Proofread  your thank-you email or letter. It is as important as your resume in making a final impression, so make sure that it is professional. Review our sample follow-up letter here for guidelines. 
Call. If you do not hear a response on the appointed date, feel free to call the organization about the status of your candidacy, but do not nag. 

VII. Responding to the outcome 
Always respond in writing to an offer as soon as possible. Even if the offer was made over the phone or at the interview, repeat the offer in writing as was understood. 
Always thank them sincerely for their offer. 
Ask if a time extention is possible if you are waiting for offers from other companies. 
If you are going to refuse an offer, do so promptly. Be polite and diplomatic; you may be doing business with the same company in the future. Explain that you found the offer attractive but you are making a decision in correlation with present career goals. Use our offer rejection sample letter here for reference.