Let's be real, interviewing for employment can be an intimidating task. Nervousness and anxiety can cause even the best qualified candidate to fumble miserably.
Practicing is essential, but you don't want to sound too rehearsed, the key is to communicate in a natural organic tone where your answers and energy flows naturally, not forced.
As an award winning professional Human Resources executive, career development leader, business executive, and member of the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM), I wrote this article to impart my recommended 'best practices for interviewing' to equip adult job seekers and recent college grads with expert tips on how to best prepare for your upcoming interviews.
- Make sure you confirm the correct date/time/location of interview.
- Make sure you confirm the person (or persons) you're schedule to interview with.
- Research the company.
- Research to people you're scheduled to interview with to see if you have any common interests or if there's something notable about their background that you can mention during the interview (i.e., a recent promotion, a recent accomplishment, etc.)
- Take a test drive to the interview location to budget the appropriate time to arrive on time.
- Write down important questions you'd like to ask the interviewer.
- Lay out your cleaned and pressed interview attire the night before.
- Make sure you're well rested and groomed the night before.
- Practice how you'll respond to general interview questions.
- Be prepared to talk about your experience, accomplishments, education and special credentials, and why you feel you're the right fit for the position you're competing for.
- Do your research on salary ranges for your profession and position title based on geographic location, industry compensation, level of education and the experience and accomplishments you bring to the table; here are two great resources:
- Arrive at least 15-20 early to your interview. DON'T BE LATE!
- DO NOT BRING FRIENDS, KIDS, OR OTHER RELATIVES WITH YOU TO THE INTERVIEW!
- Listen attentively to what's being said or asked of you, to respond accordingly.
- Bring extra resumes.
- Greet everyone with a pleasant hello, including the secretary.
- Answer questions with direct straight to the point answers.
- Lean slightly forward while listening/talking to your interviewer, it conveys a posture of attentiveness and engagement in the conversation.
- Use your resume, if you have to, as a cheat-sheet to help you answer questions to stay on track.
- There will come a point in the interview when the interviewer will ask if you have questions, ask only relevant questions. Don't ask questions just to fill up time, that's wasted effort and a waste of time.
- If the question of salary comes up, state your realistic/preferred range, e.g. "$60k-$80k annually."
- At the end of the interview, ask for the job.
- Follow any post-interview instructions you are given.
- Within 24 hours, write and email a "Thank You" letter to everyone that you interviewed with.
- In the email, ask for the job.
- If you haven't heard anything in 10 business day, contact the employer to inquire about a status update on your candidacy. NOTE: If the employer rep gave you instructions not to call, DON'T CALL.
Let me know your thoughts on my list of interview prep tips, I can be reached at:
Director, Community Outreach & Hiring
Temple University Lenfest North Philadelphia Workforce Initiative
