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Step 1
In the internet age, there is no excuse for not researching a company as carefully as possible in advance. This means reading every article, spreadsheet, Vault.com entry and grocery list that company has made available. That means speaking to any former or current employees you can locate (not always possible). This means visiting the company before your interview, when possible, to get a good feel of the work environment and the mood of its staff. Are they walking around in a coma with sad faces? Do they look bored or angry? These are all signs of a toxic work environment you should avoid. And of course, the reverse is also true: the happy, laughing workplace is one you will at least want to explore.Patrick J. Lynch, a recruiter in Connecticut, says that it's important to understand who you are speaking with. "Always have a caveat when presenting your resume that you would like to be informed of the specific opportunity prior to presenting your credentials (you don’t want your resume winding up on your supervisor’s desk because someone was hungry to fill an opening)."That said, even a bad fit can result in a good networking opportunity--but make sure your interviewer is upfront with you at the outset.
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Step 2
Recognize your limitations, then exceed them. Linda Cades, a retired university career counselors, says "the average person feels that they have very little power," but there are ways to gain power. While she says that the interviewer still carries the "big stick," the job applicant should not feel she is in an entirely passive role. "People shouldn't approach this from a position of complete and total powerlessness," Cades says.
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Step 3
Walk in confidently, smile, offer a firm handshake, and have good posture. Listen to the questions being asked--be an active listener.
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Step 4
Ask questions the interviewer questions. The type of questions one asks have to do with what she is trying to ascertain about the position in question. If you want to know if the prospective boss is a control freak, study how much he or she lets you talk and ask about their management style. If you want to know if there is an unfair bias against women or gays, for example, in the organization ask about the last two employees, who they were and what happened to them. If they've been promoted it's a good sign. Same strategy as apartment hunting--you don't want to live in a building with a high turnover rate.
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Step 5
Ask for the job. Cades advises doing this even when one feels in her gut that it's not a fit. It's always better to make decisions from a position of power than weakness. Tell the interviewer you appreciate his time, you are excited about the job and the prospects there, and look forward to talking with them further. Ask politely when they will have their decision.
