Your Checklist For A Successful Interview

By Karen Conole

Most of us will face an interview sometime in our lives, but—since they generally occur so infrequently—we seldom make time to practice and perfect the skills required to interview successfully.

You may think that these skills aren’t really necessary for your situation; that since you know what you want and what you have to offer, it’s fine to just show up and “wing it.” That way, you might think, the interviewer will get to know the “real you.”

Well, that way can be a costly mistake.

With anything worth having, there’s usually some effort involved in obtaining it—effort designed to separate out the ones who will work to earn it from everyone else—and that applies to jobs worth having, too. You can count on there always being at least one other person who is interested in the job you want, and who is willing to put forth the effort to make the best impression on the employer. Don’t help your competition.

Instead, do everything you can to present yourself in the best possible light to a potential employer, keeping this following checklist in mind:

 Show up on time. Better yet, arrive about ten minutes early (but not too much earlier, or you may appear desperate). Be sure you know how long it takes to get to the interview location (and to park, if necessary) for the time and day of your interview. Allow an extra 20-30 minutes for emergencies. You can always review your notes outside the building if you arrive early, but you’ll never undo that bad first impression if you make the interviewer wait for even a few minutes.

 Look and act professional and competent. Make good eye contact, present a firm handshake, stand/sit up straight and dress professionally. Even though the office employees may be dressed casually, you are not one of them—yet. You are a job applicant and, as such, your “uniform” is different. Since you have not yet proved yourself to this employer, you will need to look competent at the outset by wearing the most professional outfit you have and making sure you are well-groomed.

 Prepare as if you are going to a test, rather than to a meeting. An interview is really a test disguised as a meeting. You are being tested on who you are, what you know and how well you can present that information, so keep that in mind when preparing for it. Although you don’t necessarily know who will interview you or what questions you will be asked, there are some general queries that are nearly always presented, in one form or another, so be prepared when asked, for example, to tell something about yourself. Do not give a recap of your resume information, but rather have three to five prepared sentences that reveal valuable qualities not listed on your resume that you possess which can serve the firm’s interests. Also, do a little research on the firm’s focus and mission statement. Have two or three good questions prepared so that, when asked the inevitable, “Do you have any questions?” you can show that you have invested the time and effort to learn about the firm and how you might fit in. Do not ask questions that presuppose you have been hired. (Any queries regarding work hours, compensation, parking, etc. are best addressed after you have been offered the job.)

 Do not be lulled into thinking your interviewer is your pal. Remember: He is there to find out as much as he can about you in as short a time as possible—not to be your buddy. If he displays a casual, laid-back manner, it may be his personal style or it may be a way to put you off guard. Your best approach always is to maintain a friendly but professional demeanor, skipping the informal, “chatty” style. Always watch what you say and how you say it, especially steering well clear of slang, sexist, racist, ageist or profane speech. Remember, too, that you are there to present as much positive information about yourself in as short a time as possible—not to make a new best friend.

 Watch your body language. Defensive postures such as crossing your arms as well as your legs will lend you an air of insecurity, whether you feel it or not. Too much fidgeting, such as drumming fingers or bouncing a foot, will make you appear nervous. While it isn’t necessary or even desirable to sit perfectly still and ram-rod straight, your movements should be calm and relaxed, yet show that you’re engaged in the situation. For example, it’s always better to lean a little forward, toward your interviewer, than back in your chair. Overtly confident mannerisms may be misinterpreted as arrogance. Visual cues are potent, so be careful how you exhibit them. Long after the interview ends and your words have blended with those of countless other interviewees, it is often the employer’s mental image of you that endures. Make it a positive, compelling image.

 Don’t waste your interviewer’s time. She has allotted a finite amount of time for your interview so show you respect her time by not taking up too much of it with unsolicited comments. Keep your responses, as well as any stories you may share, brief and to the point. Bear in mind that—even though it is your interview—you don’t want to talk too much, because the more you talk, the more likely you are to stray from your prepared “script” of accomplishments and risk saying something that could damage the image you’re trying to present.

 Listen carefully to what is being said. This sounds obvious, but many job seekers are so intent on getting their message across that they fail to hear what is being asked of them and that can translate badly for most employers. When asked a question, be sure your response directly answers the question, as succinctly and as completely as possible. Take your time in formulating your answer and, if you need clarification, don’t be afraid to ask for it. Employers like employees who thoughtfully address issues and who ask questions when necessary.

 Psyche yourself into believing you are the best person for the job. Lack of confidence manifests itself in myriad little ways and is easily spotted by an experienced interviewer, who must then wonder, “If this person doesn’t have faith and pride in their own abilities, then why should I?” Athletes psyche themselves up to perform better all the time, as do professional negotiators, actors and anyone else who relies on performance-based results, so follow their lead. Take a private moment before the interview to tell yourself out loud, “I am capable and confident and worthy of this position.” The simple fact that you got an interview indicates that the employer already suspects this anyway, so now it’s just a matter of using your composure and calm self-assurance to confirm that suspicion.

 Leave them wanting more. Thank your interviewer for her time and consideration, using that same good eye contact and firm handshake that began your interview. Leave on a positive note, even if you think you did poorly—you never know what factor may turn the tide in your favor. Send a thank-you note that same day, reinforcing your interest in the firm. In addition to making a good, follow-up impression, it gets them to start thinking about you again. And though they are considered good form, as well as essential to a good job-search strategy, thank-you notes are still not commonly sent, which means yours will have all the more impact.

 Don’t sweat the losses. Odds are, you will not get every position you apply for, no matter how wonderful your qualifications, so don’t let your self esteem get derailed if another wonderfully qualified applicant gets “your” job. (That person might be the boss’s nephew, for all you know.) All great salesmen know that success is a numbers game, that for every acceptance you’ll have to go through a lot of rejection in the professional world, and that you should never take that rejection personally. They know that every “no” brings them closer to a “yes” and so redouble their efforts until they achieve success. As a job seeker, you’re selling the most important commodities you have—your time and your talents—so take a tip from the pros: Give it your best shot, learn what you can from your losses and keep your focus on achieving that ultimate “yes,” which will make all the effort worthwhile.