Hi Everyone!
I hope your week is going well — it’s actually going quite fast for me … A nice surprise.
Today, I’d like to share with you some of the tips and strategies I’ve learned over the years for having a killer interview — one that will guarantee you’ve done all you can to land the job!
I’ve had years of practice at this — I worked for a few years before I went to law school, and in my previous career I went through some extremely tough, multi-tiered interviews. And during and after law school I probably went to over 100 different interviews, between applying for internships, summer jobs, judicial clerkships, and then my “real” job interviews when I finished the bar exam. I made my fair share of mistakes over the years, but I learned the hard way what works and what leaves employers scratching their heads, or worse, running the other way! Here, I’ve compiled THE list of things you need to do to have the best interview possible.
Roll up your sleeves … let’s get started.
STEP I // PREPARE
Ok, so you submitted your resume, crossed your fingers, and …. you got the call. Your interview is one week from today, and you are ecstatic. Now what?
As with all things in life, those who are the best prepared, will perform the best. It’s a simple equation, so if you’re hoping to get the most out of the interview (meaning you get the job), then you better put some time and thought into preparing for it. So, where to begin?
Dress
I talk about the importance of dress in my “About” page, and if you haven’t read it, you should — here. Put simply, your appearance matters … a lot. Particularly on a job interview. First impressions are everything, and the very first thing the interviewer will use to make his or her assessment of you is your appearance. So … please — take it seriously.
Aside from the obvious — take a shower — keep your dress, hair, and makeup simple, classic, and on the conservative side. Even if the job is in a “creative” industry, until you’re invited to join the team you want to do everything you can to be taken seriously and to demonstrate respect for the interview process. Don’t short circuit that process by showing up dressed in jeans simply because that’s what you heard everyone else is permitted to wear. You have to earn the job, so dress like you’re trying to earn it, not like it’s already yours.
For more conservative environments, this means a suit. Pant, dress, or skirt is fine — the jacket is key. Make sure it fits and wear it. I’d keep the color palette clean and neutral. And I find black or blue looks stronger and more powerful than lighter colors. But this decision is dependent upon what kind of job it is, and what message you want to send. When interviewing for my current job at a large law firm, I wore a navy blue pant suit — tailored, pressed, and flawless. An ivory silk button down, black pumps, and a black structured handbag completed the look.
For creative environments, you can branch out a bit — maybe ditch the jacket, and inject a bit more color into your look. But don’t go crazy. I’d maybe add color with accessories — a scarf, my shoes, etc. I’d still keep most of my look neutral, and I’d forgo anything sleeveless.
Finally, and this applies to any interview, regardless of the industry (unless it’s at Hooters), please don’t let the hemline drift more than an inch or two above the knee, and please, please, please … no low cut tops or platform slingback sandals. If you want to be viewed as a professional, you have to look the part.
Research
You have you’re outfit, it’s ready! Now, you need to prepare for the actual substance of the interview. What do you know about your target company, and the industry? When you walk into that interview room, you need to know something about the company (who’s the CEO, what are some of the company’s biggest/most popular products, how has the company been performing recently) and the industry (what challenges is it facing, what direction is it going, etc.). Bust out the newspaper, do some research, and write down things that pique your interest. This step is critically important to the next two steps in your preparation process.
You don’t have to spend days researching, and I doubt the interviewer is going to ask you to recite line by line the company’s 10-K from last year, but just have a general idea of what the company does, what new products/services it’s pushing, and what challenges it’s facing in the near future. This is big picture stuff, so don’t get bogged down in the weeds.
And, for extra points, if you know the name of the person interviewing you, do some quick research on him or her. Don’t go all stalker, but at least know a little something about their background — where did they go to college, how long have they worked for the company, what is their actual title and job responsibilities. You can find all of this doing a simple search on Linkedin.
Why do you want to work at this company?
You applied so you must want to work there, right? Do you know why? Give me a 30 second explanation … GO! If you just gave it to me, you’re good, you can move on to the next step. If not, why not? If you applied there’s some reason why the job appealed to you — what is it? You need to think about it, and put it into a nice, neat, 30 second package.
Companies like to hire people who are excited to be there, who want to show up for work, and who are enthusiastic and positive. If you can’t even tell the interviewer why you want to work for the company, chances are you won’t be any of those things. Therefore, don’t be surprised when your resume goes straight into the trash after you walk out the door.
If you did your research thoroughly in the last step, surely there’s at least a few cool things you unearthed about the company that would make it a place at which you want to work. Does it make a product you feel passionate about? Does it have a reputation for recognizing and rewarding hard work? Does the company leadership truly value work-life balance, and have family friendly leave policies? Do they support continuing education? When you point out things like this to the interviewer it demonstrates that, 1) you know who you’re applying to work for, and 2) you’re excited about who they are and what they do — meaning you’ll likely be a positive and productive member of their team. Remember, the interviewer is taking a chance hiring you, give them a good reason to take the risk.
Compile a List of Thoughtful Questions
This is, yet again, another way to show the interviewer that you’ve done your homework, and you are genuinely interested in working for their company. But, it’s also a great way to tip the balance of power in the interview. If you ask meaningful, thoughtful questions, it reminds the interviewer that the company, and they, are being interviewed as well. And you should take that seriously. Ask questions to get answers that you can’t get from reading the company’s website or a newspaper. Ask questions to get a feel as to whether you really want to work at this company — is it a good fit for you?
And don’t be shy! Ask what you really want to know, within the bounds of appropriateness, of course. Don’t go digging up dirt on the company just so you can ask some juicy questions at the interview — but if an issue could potentially affect you as an employee, ask it, even if it may be difficult for the interviewer to answer.
For example, when interviewing for my current job, I asked a question about job security. During the 2008 market crash, the firm had laid off several attorneys, and I asked him whether that was something I needed to be concerned about in the future. He was taken aback by the question, but he was also impressed — he said, “wow, you’ve done your homework.” To which I replied, “I always do my homework.” The interview went really well all around, but within that 30 second exchange may have been the moment when I secured the job. Asking tough, thoughtful questions not only demonstrates interest in the company, it’s also a sign of confidence. Sure, you want to aim to please, but you also need to have a spine — ask the tough questions.
PART II // THE INTERVIEW
Ok, you’ve prepared, and now it’s the big day — here’s what you need to do to knock em’ dead.
Be Yourself
This sounds so cliche, but that’s because it’s true. Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not. The person sitting across the table has one job right now — to assess who you are. And one of the best things you can do to help your cause is to be genuine. It’s one of the most attractive qualities in a person, and a potential employee.
Make Eye Contact
Nothing demonstrates confidence like direct eye contact. It’s the most powerful form of nonverbal communication. It says, “I’m confident, capable, and I deserve to be here.” Looking down or avoiding eye contact can make you appear unsure of yourself, or worse, as if you’re hiding something. Neither are qualities that a potential employer likes to see.
Slow Down, Think Before You Speak
We all do it — when you’re nervous you tend to talk fast, your words run together, and you just look, well, nervous. You’re going for confident, not nervous, regardless of how you actually feel! The best way to combat that feeling (you know, the butterflies fluttering around in your belly), is to . . . slow . . . down . . .
Listen carefully to the questions that are asked, take a moment to gather your thoughts — a slight pause is not a negative, it demonstrates that you’re thoughtful and deliberate in your responses — and then answer the question asked and that’s it. Don’t go beyond the call of the question, or ramble. Just give a straight, clear answer. And, if it dovetails nicely with one of your prepared questions, go ahead and ask that too. This will make the interview more conversational, with a nice flow, rather than feeling like an interrogation. Peppering in questions throughout the interview also shows that you’re thinking, you’re engaged, you’re present — which shows you’re excited to be there and you’re excited to work for this company.
Use Humor (Sparingly, and when Appropriate)
Nothing breaks through tension like humor — it’s magic. It makes you feel good, it makes the interviewer feel good — it’s just all around good . . . when used sparingly and appropriately. This is a tough piece of advice to give because it’s really something that just happens on the fly. You can’t prepare for it, you just have to pay attention and use wit to your advantage. Don’t think up a list of jokes beforehand for the interview, they will sound rehearsed, and as a result, will fall flat. The best humor happens naturally, spontaneously. You just have to be ready for the right moment. Pay attention, and you’ll find it.
PART III // THE THANK YOU NOTE
Ok, I know the last time you probably took the time to hand-write a note or card was back in high-school, but it’s a habit you should pick up. There’s nothing more personal than a handwritten thank you.
The day after your interview, take five minutes to thank the interviewer for his or her time, and re-affirm your interest in the position. There’s no need to re-hash parts of the interview — this should be a short, sweet, three-four sentence note following this simple formula:
1) Mr/Mrs. (name), it was a pleasure to meet you earlier this week/last week …
2) Thank you for taking the time to speak with me about (fill in the position) …
3) I am very excited about the opportunity to work (with/on whatever team, project, etc. you’d be hired to work with/on) …
4) Please feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions or reference requests …
Sincerely, (your name)
Taking the time to hand-write a note will immediately set you apart from the pack — it’s crazy to me, but many people do … not … do … this! Why? I honestly have no idea. For the five minutes of time that it takes to pen a note, you just cut through all the other stuff going on in the interviewer’s mind since you shook his or her hand and said goodbye and, for a another moment, put yourself right smack dab in the center of his or her reality. If you made a positive impression during the interview, it’s now fresh in his or her mind again. That’s powerful, and it may just be the thing that tips their decision in your favor if the competition is tight.
OK, now comes the hardest part . . . the wait. It may only be a day, or it may be a week. Don’t get discouraged. Just know that if you did everything I’ve outlined here, you’ve done all you can do to get the job. Sometimes circumstances outside our control are the deciding factor — chalk it up to fate, rather than anything you may have done wrong. Or, it’s possible someone else was simply just more qualified. It happens. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep going. Take it from someone who’s been through numerous interviews — for each one you go through and don’t get the job, you’ll be that much better at the next one 🙂
Good luck – and let me know how it goes!
yours, Kristin
ESSENTIALS for the INTERVIEW
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