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How to Make a Good Impression at a Job Interview

Interviewing for a job can be intimidating and stressful, but with preparation, you can master the art of talking to recruiters and hiring managers during a one-on-one interview or a panel interview. Making a good impression requires the ability to articulate your skills and competencies, demonstrating your ease in answering questions and establishing a good rapport with your interviewers. It also requires conducting research about the business and the position you're interviewing for to show that you've done your homework and are ready to negotiate an offer of employment.

Instructions

    • 1

      Review your cover letter and resumé to review your past work history. Jot down significant projects you were responsible for and be prepared to describe them in sufficient detail. Describing your work history and responsibilities; you should include a statement about the duties, the skills and competencies you used to complete the task and a description of the outcome or results. If there were quantifiable results associated with the project, include them in your description. For example, if you increased sales by 25 percent, impress your interviewer by sharing tangible, measurable results.

    • 2

      Research information about the company and formulate questions to ask the interviewer based on your research. Access the company's website and learn all you can from it. If you have access to business databases such as Dun & Bradstreet or Hoover's, look up the company's financial and business information. You may be able to access these types of databases at no charge by going to the public library. If the company is publicly traded, read online reports about stock data and investment activity such as the fluctuation of its stock prices. Obtain annual reports at the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission website. Annual reports are in the public domain and are therefore freely accessible on the SEC website.

    • 3

      Select sample interview questions from online resources. Look for behavioral interview questions as well as situational interview questions. Tailor those sample questions to your qualifications and the job you're seeking. Practice responding to questions about your accomplishments as well as the level of functional expertise in your field. Ask a friend to help you rehearse giving well-constructed answers to interview questions and accept constructive feedback. Prepare a statement about your career plans, the type of employee development you want and your short-term and long-term goals.

    • 4

      Dress appropriately for the interview. The adage "dress for the job you want" is good advice -- even if you know the workplace is a casual environment, dress professionally. This is a business meeting and you should dress accordingly. Give yourself enough preparation time on the day of the interview; rushing to get ready will only make you appear nervous and you should exude confidence during the interview. Confidence comes from being in a comfortable state of mind and sure of your presentation skills. You must demonstrate your ability to respond to any questions the interviewer may ask. Arrive at your interview no more than 10 to 15 minutes early. If you get there any earlier, you may give the impression of being overly anxious.

    • 5

      Maintain eye contact throughout your interview. Be conscious of your body language. Avoid fidgeting or nonverbal communication that signals nervousness, disapproval or discomfort. Speak clearly and confidently. If you don't understand a question, ask for clarification and in some cases, you may need to repeat the question to make sure you understand what you're being asked. Repeating the question also gives you a moment to think about your response. When the interviewer asks if you have questions, it's acceptable to read questions from your list based on your previous research. Write brief notes from the interviewer's responses, but don't transcribe the interviewer's answer verbatim. Focus on listening, which is the most important aspect of communication.

    • 6

      Thank the interviewer for his time and ask when you can expect to hear more about your next interview or the selection process. Shake hands and tell your interviewer you enjoyed meeting him. Follow-up immediately with a thank-you letter to the interviewer to restate your qualifications for the job and to express your interest in moving forward in the selection process.

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