Preparing for an Interview

From: Karen Silins

It's all paid off! You got that call or e-mail, and you're going in for an interview. Congratulations! But the hard work isn't over yet. You need to make sure, now that you've crafted the perfect cover letter, that you're ready to put your best foot forward. A successful interview will help you accomplish that. After all, this is the chance you've put so much effort into creating. You want to do everything you can to make it count!

First, write down the interview date and time. DON'T FORGET! If you miss an interview without cause, the company will NOT call you again.

Second, you'll need to speak intelligently about the company, so make sure you do a little research beforehand. Go online, and visit the company's website. If you have their brochure, thoroughly read it. Review your job search notebook, including the job description, your specific application to the company, notes you took, and research you did. For helpful tips on how to find everything you need to know about a particular organization, check out "How to Find out Anything About Any Company," my guide to researching companies!

You'll want to jot down some questions about the company on a piece of paper. Interviewers generally give you some time to ask questions, so prepare your inquiries ahead of time. Employers are impressed by a candidate who asks thoughtful questions.

Know exactly what the job requires. Remember, the interview is not so different from the cover letter itself. It's an opportunity to show that you have exactly the skills, knowledge, and credentials for superior job performance. During the interview, you don't want to bring up information that's irrelevant to the position in question.

Third, prepare yourself physically. Whether a man or a woman, if you don't own a good-quality, conservative-looking suit, think about investing in one. If you can't afford to buy a new one, go to a goodwill or thrift shop. You'll find exactly what you need there for a minimal investment.

You should look like someone the employer wants to hire. This is a cold, hard fact of the job-hunting process. No matter how well-qualified or well-spoken you are, if you show up in jeans and a t-shirt, a flowery dress, or dress pants and a polo shirt, you're not likely to get a second look.

I never advise "dressing down" for interviews, as it's too easy to dress inappropriately. Professional is professional, regardless of the job environment. You can easily adjust your style of clothing to the company's dress code once you have the job. Dress for success; you'll never go wrong.

Finally, prepare yourself before you actually head into the interview. Take 30 seconds to make sure your hair is combed, shirt is tucked in, shoes are clean, lipstick is on your lips rather than your teeth, tie is straight, etc. While you're in the waiting room or riding the elevator, breathe slowly and deeply to calm your nerves.

As you enter the interview room, stand up straight, smile, firmly shake the interviewer's hand, and make eye contact while you're talking. (Repeat the interviewer's name to help you remember it.) Remember, you've been called in because the company admires your qualities and thinks you have what it takes to excel in the position. Be confident!

Karen Silins has been a professional resume and cover letter writer for 16 years and is the acting president and executive board member of the Association of Online Resume & Career Professionals

For more information about writing a cover letter that will grab the employer’s attention, please visit: http://www.breakthrough-cover-letters.com/