The Art of the Interview

Graduation season is upon us again and all the newly minted college graduates will be seeking job interviews – some of them for the first time. Of course, they have high hopes of landing that perfect job right out of school, and being prepared for the interview is an important step in the process. 

These tips apply to all those who are interviewing, but are especially helpful for those who may lack experience and are new to the process. If you have an upcoming college graduate, it could be helpful to share these tips for when they land that elusive job interview:

• First impressions count! Contrary to popular belief, dressing for success is still important. The interviewer will make an assessment of you within the first 3-7 seconds of meeting you. Make sure you have on clean and pressed clothes that are appropriate for the job you are interviewing for. Grooming is important. Guys, make sure you shave and have a fresh haircut. Ladies, professional hair style and wearing make-up for an interview will put your best foot forward.

•  If the interview is in person, get there 10 minutes early – on time is considered late. Give yourself time in case you get stuck in traffic or you are interviewing in a large office building and need to park in a parking garage. Getting there early allows you to take a few deep breaths and get focused before your interview.

•  Make sure you have a note pad and pen to write with. Although, you may like to take notes on your phone, this does not look professional for an interview setting. Showing up with nothing to write with shows lack of preparation and interest. I have conducted many interviews where the interviewee shows up with nothing to write with and it puts forth a very bad impression.

• Be familiar with the most common questions that are asked in interviews and have your answers ready. Role playing with a family member or friend prior to the interview can be helpful too.

• Make eye contact with the interviewer(s) and shake their hands when meeting them. This is a sign of professionalism and respect towards those that will be talking with you. In the world of texting and social media, many new college grads are uncomfortable with face to face conversations and therefore, avoid eye contact. In an interview setting, this shows a lack of confidence which will not work in your favor.

• Take time to research and know something about the person you are interviewing with and their job title. Do your homework on the company, what do they do, how large they are, locations/countries of operations.

•  Even if this isn’t your dream job, act like it is. You are chasing a job offer from the company. Your goal is to always get a job offer and then decide later if you want the job or not.

• Make sure you have at least 2-3 good questions to ask the interviewer. When they ask if you have any questions for them, you do not want to respond no, I’m good – thanks. This will make you appear uninterested in the role and lacking the desire to learn more about the company.

• Finally, send a nice email to each person you interviewed with thanking them for their time and confirming your interest in the role. For bonus points, send a handwritten note to each person you interview with. This will make you stand out from your competition.