Your Arrival
It is vital that you arrive on time, and preferably 15 minutes early. Regardless of your reason for being late, it is almost impossible to recover if the first impression gets off to a poor start.. Plan for the unpredictable; such as being unfamiliar with the location, trouble parking, late babysitter, etc. If you’re not sure of the location, check it out the day before the interview. However, you should also be careful not to arrive too early. If you arrive too early, kill some time by going for a cup of coffee or driving around the block. Try not to arrive more than 15 minutes early or you may make the receptionist and interviewer uncomfortable.
When you arrive at the office, introduce yourself to the receptionist and give the name of the person you are scheduled to see. Be courteous to everyone you meet within the organization and strive to make a good impression on each one. Employers are known to consider the reactions of others, such as secretaries and receptionists, toward interviewees prior to the final hiring decision.
Greeting the Interviewer
When you greet the interviewer, be sure to stand tall and take a step toward the interviewer. You should look confident, alert and energetic. Then shake the employer’s hand firmly. If you are sent to the room where the interviewer is standing, walk toward him or her and shake hands. If he or she is seated and does not look up, stand up, or offer a handshake, wait a moment and then sit down. However, wait for the interviewer to initiate the conversation.
Establishing common ground/icebreakers
When a person is invited for an interview they are already presumed to possess the basic qualifications for the job, such as education and work experience. The goal of the interviewer at this point is to look for other characteristics of the possible employee to determine how they will fit into the organization. Some of these qualities may be honesty, credibility, intelligence, competence, enthusiasm, spontaneity, integrity, friendliness, and likeability. In the end, employers hire people they like and who interact well on an interpersonal basis with the rest of the staff. Therefore, you should communicate that you are a likable candidate who can get along well with others.
Drawing out information through the exchange of questions and answers
During this part of the interview, you need to be prepared to answer a variety of types of questions. Keep in mind that the employer is trying to find out what you will bring to the company/organization. Your job is to convince him/her that you are the best person for the job. Gear your responses to what you have to offer. You may be asked specific questions about your education, work experience, career goals, etc., or you may be asked general, open-ended questions. One of the most interesting questions I experienced in an interview was, “If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?” Be prepared for the unexpected and try to respond to the underlying question.
Summarizing information and understanding
The end of the interview is often an awkward time for both the interviewee and the interviewer. You are worried about the overall impression you have made on the employer. You may feel you forgot to communicate important information about your strengths. At the close of nearly every interview, the interviewer verbalizes some variation of, “Glad you could come by today. We have several other people to interview. We’ll be in touch.” In response, most interviewees shake hands, thank the interviewer and leave. Don’t do this!
At this point, try to briefly summarize your strengths as they relate to this job. For example:
“I’m really glad I had the chance to talk with you. I know with what I learned when I reorganized the accounting department at XYZ Corporation, I could increase your profits too.”
Closing/Indicating next step to be taken
You need to keep in contact with the employer during his or her final deliberations. This can be done by closing the interview in a particular manner. Ask the interviewer when he or she expects to make the hiring decision. If the response is “Friday of next week,” then ask, “If I haven’t heard by Monday, may I give you a call?” Almost everyone will say you may, and you will have solved your problem of wondering when you will hear about the final decision and what to do next. If you haven’t heard anything by the time the designated Monday arrives – do call. |