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You've made it in the door, now it's your moment of truth. Interviews are easy! You just have to be prepared and have a good attitude. After all, this could the greatest opportunity you've ever had. Get yourself ready with these sure-fire methods for a successful interview.
Preparing for the Interview
- What to wear? This is a tough one. The days of dusting off your favorite interview suit are over. The Internet has revolutionized the dress code for the workplace. It used to be said that it was better to overdress for an interview than to underdress. Well, things have changed. Here are some guidelines we recommend for making a good first impression:
- Take into account what role you are interviewing for. The dress code will vary by position. However, be neat and clean. There's no excuse for ripped clothes or muddy shoes.
- For strategic professionals (account execs, marketing, sales, business development, or manager level positons), wear something nice. It might not have to be a suit, but something pretty close. When in doubt as a strategic professional, overdress.
- If you are a designer, it's perfectly fine to show up with those super cool plaid pants and striped shirt. Typically, there isn't a dress code for designers. (But remember, neat and clean)
- Developers are usually safe in anything but the most shabby clothes. To be safe, wear khakis and a decent shirt.
- If this has your head spinning, call us up and we'll make some suggestions for "proper" attire.
Be on time! Take into account traffic, bad directions and parking challenges. If you've never been to their offices before, take a drive out there ahead of time. It's a pain, but you can't change a bad first impression by uttering, "I'm sorry I'm late. I got lost".
Arm yourself with information. Before you head off to the interview, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the company's website, business model and their products and/or services. Knowing general information about the company will make you look proactive and genuinely interested in the position.
Check yourself in the mirror. Take a quick glance at your reflection before entering the office. Toothpaste on your upper lip or spaghetti sauce on your tie will distract the interviewer from hearing about your stellar background.
Have a good handshake. There is no excuse for a wet-noodle handshake. If you serve up one of these to your interviewer, you'll be branded for life. Test out a strong handshake on friends until you get it right.
During the Interview
Have a positive attitude. This is the most important requisite of a potential employer. You can have the best skills out there, but if you don't sound excited about the job and the company, they'll find someone else who is.
Maintain good eye contact. Positive body language is key in an interview because it is a telltale sign of your listening and communication skills. If you get nervous and must look away for a few seconds, act like you are pondering the question or a response.
Sell yourself, but don't be cocky. When discussing your successes, be sure to give credit where credit is due. Paint yourself as a team player and you'll be recognized for it.
Connect your skills with the job. When the interviewer talks about particular skills that a successful candidate must possess, take this opportunity to chronicle an experience that demonstrates how those skills have helped your obtain positive results in the past.
Fake thinking on your feet. Before the interview, come up with some "impromptu" ideas and/or recommendations that could improve the company's site design, content or navigation elements. If you are applying for a sales or marketing position, offer up suggestions about a viral marketing campaign or email promotion.
Don't speak ill of former employers. Even if you think you're not, you probably are. Interviewers love to encourage candidates to spill the beans about a former manager; stay on your toes before you say something you'll regret. It's ok to bring up general issues of an old company, but recommend solutions and end on a positive.
Stop fidgeting. You want them to notice your killer skills and positive attitude, not that you were picking imaginary lint of your pants during the entire interview.
Closing the Interview
Have one "remember me" statement. You need something to distinguish you from all the other candidates so spend some time and craft one very clever, unique and memorable answer. Candidates who are remembered are the candidates that get hired.
Ask questions. Any good candidate should come to the interview with several specific questions in mind. Be sure the questions are appropriate and specific to the company atmosphere as opposed to personal inquisitions. For example, ask the interviewer to relate a company experience that he or she believes has helped them professionally.
Have a timeline in mind. If you're right for the job, it's likely the interviewer will ask when you could potentially start the job. If you "don't know" or it could "be a month or so", you're ranking on the top candidate list could slip considerably.
Ask for a business card. Following the interview, it is customary to send a thank you note; request a business card from each person you met to insure when contacting them, you spell and pronounce their name correctly.
The Follow-Up
Be timely and specific when sending a thank-you note. Send an email thank-you within the first 24-hours following your interview. In addition, for each different person you met with, cite a specific detail or conversation blurb in your email to him or her. They'll know you were paying attention and will appreciate the personal touch.
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