How to Nail a Job Interview

Most interviewers form their opinion of you in the first few minutes of a meeting. Here's how to make a good impression.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Business Cases
• Men's Suits
• Women's Suits
• Thank-you Greeting Cards
• Personal Organizers
• Spiral Notebooks
• résumé paper
• résumé software

1. In the days before your interview, talk to people who have worked at the company. If it's practical, hang around outside the building while employees are arriving and note how they dress and behave.

2. Learn the name and title of the person you'll be meeting with. Arrive at least 10 minutes early to collect your thoughts.

3. Take time to greet and acknowledge the secretary or administrative assistant; it's old-fashioned courtesy, and besides, this person may have a lot of influence.

4. Bring along an extra résumé and letters of recommendation in case the interviewer doesn't have them handy.

5. Be open and upbeat. Face your interviewer with arms and legs uncrossed, head up, and hands and face at ease. Smile and look the interviewer in the eye.

6. Know the company's business, target clients, market and direction cold.

7. Walk in prepared with a few relevant questions and listen carefully.

8. Subtly give the impression that you're already part of the team by using "we" when asking how something is done. For example, say, "How do we deal with the press?"

9. Conclude with a positive statement and a quick, firm handshake. Ask when you might follow up, and get a business card from the interviewer.

10. Send a thank-you note.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid asking about money at the start of the interview.

[markpurc]

on 7/6/2009 Good article--read a good article at www.naileditstore.com on behavioral interview q/a (link at top of first page).
Also, I would not write a "thank you" note, just an email is ok.

[willowman1]

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[Life-is-sweet]

on 5/17/2009 These are great tips, thank you very much!

[nissimziv]

on 5/14/2009 INTERSTING

[Becca]

on 3/19/2009 Great tips, I just wrote a similar article myself and came across a link to yours in the sidebar. Sending a thank you is an extremely important step that many people overlook.