When going to an interview, it is important
to have the right state of mind and to focus
on what is important. The thing that is the
most important when attending an interview
is not how you answer questions. It is the
impression that you leave behind. That
being said, answering questions "correctly"
will of course impact on that impression.
The word "correctly" was put in quotes
because there are no perfect answers to
questions, although there are wrong answers.
Put things in perspective. By the time you
are called for an interview, the employer
will already have gone through your resume
and cover letter. He or she knows the
basics about you: your background, your work
experience, your general interests, why you
want to join the organization, etc.
Whatever the employer knows up to that
point, however, is only one-sided. The
employer only knows what you have decided to
reveal. Based on the information that you
have provided, however, he or she decided
that you were "worthy" of a meeting. This
is the employer's way to show an open mind.
"Here's your chance" he or she is saying.
"Show me what you've got" or "prove to me
that you are as good as you pretend to be."
This is partly how the stress builds up.
You are starting to feel the pressure to
"impress." Knowing that other candidates
have also been called for an interview, you
feel even more pressure. This is where you
realize that the application process in an
ensemble. Everything has to fit together.
Your resume and your cover letter have to
impress, yet truly reflect who you are so
that when you show up on Interview Day, you
can be yourself. (Tips on how to handle
stress during job interviews can be found in
another article on WorkBloom.)
The first thing about making a good
impression is to be positive. If you are
negative and over-worry, that will show.
Condition your mind to be positive and
optimistic about your future so that when
you see the interviewer for the first time
as he or she walks towards you, that smile
that is on your face is sincere.
First impressions matter. Why? Because
they create biases. If you make a bad
impression upfront, you will have to combat
that bias. It's like running uphill. On
the other hand, if you make a good
impression, you can ride on it. It's like
running downhill. That being said, make
sure to dress professionally, smile, give a
firm handshake, and introduce yourself
properly. How to dress properly for an
interview is discussed in further detail in
the "Interview Attire" section of WorkBloom.
As the interviewer walks you to the
interview room, he or she might ask you a
few questions about the weather or how you
got there... some small talk to put you at
ease. Accept the "invitation" and relax.
As the interview "formally" starts, make
sure to remember that interviewing is a
"communication process." This means that
you have to be "clear" when you talk.
Clarity entails that you "speak clearly" and
"answer clearly." Speaking clearly means
that you have to speak loud enough and
pronounce your words well enough so that you
are well understood. Think of news anchors
and how they speak. Answering clearly means
that you have to satisfy whatever was on the
mind of the interviewer when he or she asked
you the question. In order to do that you
have to practice your listening skills.
Yes, listening is part of communicating. If
you are not sure what was asked, ask the
interviewer to repeat himself or, even
better, rephrase the question in your own
words and ask the interviewer to confirm
that you grasped his or her question
properly. The next thing to keep in mind is
that questions are asked for a purpose. Try
to find the purpose underlying the
question. What does the interviewer want to
know and how can you best answer his or her
question?
Put yourself at ease as you answer questions
and undertake it as if it was a
conversation. To "converse" with someone is
the best way to "connect" with that person.
If you were not offered a glass of water and
feel that your mouth is dry, don't be shy
and ask for a glass of water. The
interviewer will be happy to do so. Don't
let those minor details bother you.
As the interview winds down, make sure that
you have showed interest for the
organization by asking a few relevant and
intelligent questions. Don't let your
guards down. The interview is not over
until you have left the building.
As you leave, give each interviewer a firm
handshake and thank them for meeting with
you. You can also ask for their business
cards if you do not yet have them. Having
your interviewers' business cards is
important for following-up purposes. You
want to spell their name correctly and you
want to send to each interviewer separate
e-mails. Remember, the last step in the
interview process is not when you leave the
interview room. It is when you follow-up
the day after the interview. Following-up
is not an option. It is mandatory.
To conclude, remember that you will be
chosen not based on any specific answers
that you give, but on the overall impression
that you leave behind. Trusting yourself is
the central and most important thing you
need to remember. If you don't trust
yourself, nobody will.
