How to Ace an Interview
An interview is a performance. You prepare just as if you are going on stage, knowing your lines and having a clear strategy for winning.
- Prepare. Know everything possible about the person you are seeing. Research the company and be familiar with its history. Be aware of any p roblems and concerns at the present time, and be able to talk about this.
- Get ready to handle any difficult questions you might expect. Practice and rehearse the answers.
- Look and act the part. Dress appropriately for the level you are interviewing for, and be able to articulate your background and experience in such a way that makes you an excellent fit with the organization. Present yourself as a successful person
- Act the part of a consultant. Be a p roblem solver. Let them know you are resourceful.
- Rehearse your lines before you go to the interview. Be totally comfortable with how the conversation is going to go.
- Be prepared.
- Have more than one thing in the works, so you won't be depending solely on any one interview.
- Remember that the purpose of a first interview is not to get a job-it's to get the next interview.
- You are trying to give and to get information so that you can get that next meeting.
- Part of the interview process is being prepared, but the other part is having the right attitude. They must be able to sense your self confidence.
- Be sure to find out where the company is in their hiring process.
- Find out about the competition and where you stand.
Interviews come from four sources: ads, search firms, networking, and direct contact. These are techniques for getting meetings, not jobs; and all avenues need to be explored.
Go early to an interview, and scope out the territory. Get a good feel for the people and the environment. A good rule of thumb is that you should dress one to two levels above the job you are interviewing for.
Make eye contact a part of your listening posture, and always project a positive self image. Listen carefully at all times, never letting your mind wander. Carry 3x5 index cards in your pocket with: a summary about yourself, a summary of the job you may be talking about, any questions you have, a brief history of the company, and a list of any questions (with answers) that you are afraid they will ask.
Pay attention to any objections the interviewer may have to your candidacy. Write down questions that are asked. You must be positive and upbeat. This is showtime. Develop a Star is Born attitude and hold on to it. Keep your enthusiasm level high at all times. It really pays off.
People hire people. Ultimately anybody who is hired is because someone really liked them. The chemistry in an interview is crucial.
Keep an open mind. Don't accept or reject an offer in your mind until you have one. Remember: you aren't chasing jobs, you are chasing companies. If you get an offer, and you don't want the job, you can always use it as leverage for the job you really want.
Always follow-up with an influencing letter after an interview. Be gracious and remember to say thank you. Address any issues that came up in the interview.
Get that next meeting. Remember always that the interview is the start of the job search process, not the end.
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