Interviews can often times be stressful. Even if you have been on many, they never seem to get any easier. In the tough economic times we are in, and the lack of jobs to begin with, doesn't help. Owning two companies myself, I have interviewed many people and can offer some advice on what I look for in a potential new employee. Being prepared can ease the anxiety and give you a much better shot at scoring the job. Here are 5 tips on having a successful interview.
#1 BE PREPARED
Make sure you research the company and industry in which you will be interviewing for a job. Showing up and not having any idea about the company is a great way to not get the job. Practice answering question that you may be asked. Have a notepad, pen and paper with you for taking notes. This shows your interested and ready to learn. Turn off your phone to avoid any distractions during the interview process. Have an updated resume in a nice folder to present to the person who will be performing the interview.
#2 BE ON TIME
About a month ago, I interviewed a potential employee for a job. Everything went great. Nicely dressed, polite, eager, motivated, a great addition I felt. So I set her up for her first training to see if she could handle the job. Showed up 10 minutes late. This was after the interview a few days later. Needless to say, that's all it took. There are no excuses. Your better off being 15 minutes early than 1 minute late. When you show up for a new interview, and your late, just move on to the next and try again. In my opinion, a sure way not to get the job. You don't want to show up to early either. 5 to 10 minutes early is a great time frame. This shows your punctuality and eagerness for the new job.
#3 APPEARANCE
Make sure your clothes are neat and tidy. Your attire should be geared towards the type of job for which you are applying. Don't put on too much perfume or cologne. Make sure your hair is combed nicely and your breath is nice and fresh. That doesn't mean smacking gum during the interview. Drop a mint before you go in. Everyone knows the old saying, you only get 1 chance to make a 1st impression. Do everything in your power to make sure this happens. Smile! Be sincere and let your face show it.
#4 SHOW YOUR WORTH
Take the position your applying for and match your skills to that position. In other words, how can the skills you already have benefit the company in which you are applying. Give specific examples of past experience that can relate to the new position. Show them your value, don't just talk about it and give cookie cutter answers that everyone else is going to say as well. Make yourself stand out by highlighting your specific skills that make you valuable to the company.
#5 FOLLOW UP
Following up on the interview is a great idea. Just a simple thank you note for taking the time out of your day to sit down with me and give me an interview goes a long way.
These are just a few tips. I will post many more articles on this topic. I appreciate you taking the time to read our tips on the interview process. I wish you the best of luck and all the success in the world!
Sincerely,
Tony Giannini
