Interviews are stressful. However, by preparing beforehand and understanding what to do during the job interview, you are much more likely to land the job. Familiarize yourself with the typical kinds of interviews (traditional, behavioral, telephone) and adopt the practices below to ensure you make a lasting, positive impression.
- To ensure promptness, arrive for the interview early (at least 10 minutes) but don’t go into the office until approximately 5 minutes before the interview. Otherwise, you may make the interviewer feel rushed.
- Be polite to all you meet no matter their position in the company.
- Give a firm hand shake at the beginning and end of the interview, making eye contact during the handshake and throughout the interview.
- Speak clearly and enthusiastically, but not too quickly. Avoid slang and verbal pauses such as “um” and “like.” Take a moment to think before responding to a question. This shows you are putting some thought into your answer.
- Provide examples of your skills by discussing and displaying your experiences and knowledge. In addition to oral answers, respond to questions by showing work samples from your portfolio.
- Project confidence and positivity. Always let your true personality show while exhibiting some of the behaviors that someone in the desired position would need, such as being passionate, precise, calm, etc. Don’t downplay what you’ve done, but don’t come off as cocky. Practice that balance beforehand so it feels comfortable during the real interview. Also, match the degree of warmth exhibited by the interviewer.
- Ask researched, prepared questions about the position and the company.
- Get a sense of your likelihood to get the job by asking, “On a scale of 1 to 10, where do I stand?” toward the end of the interview.
- Before leaving, ask the interviewer when a hiring decision will be made. Request contact information as well as when and how you should follow-up about the position.
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