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Being called in for an interview does not mean that you will get the job. Before that can happen you will need to give your potential employer the confidence that you can do the job. But more than that, you need to show that you are interested in the company and will be an asset to the team. There are some simple steps you can take to make your best impression.
- This is essential because a potential employer will assume that if you can't arrive on time when you are trying to impress, it is doubtful that you will arrive on time for the job.
- Make sure that you know how to get to the interview location. If possible, drive the route the day before in order to make sure your directions are correct. While you are doing this, you can see if there is a nice place to get a cup of coffee if you arrive more than 15 minutes early.
- Dress for an interview a few steps above the standard dress for the job. Wear business dress, be well-groomed, use a lint-roller or lint-brush before you leave the house, and have some mints or gum on hand.
- The interviewer should have already seen your resume, but may not have her copy on hand. It is also common for other employees to be brought in to meet you if the interview is going well. It is courteous to have extra copies and shows that you are prepared.
- Have a good idea of what the company does, what its focus is as compared to its competitors, and how you can help the company.
- As you research the company, write down any questions that you have. Use specifics which show your interest in the company, such as "Have you seen any impact from the move toward organic foods?"
- It is not possible to prepare for every question that an interviewer may ask, but you can expect to be asked about the basics such as your strengths, weakness and how you could be an asset to the company.
- Were you fired from your last job? Do you have a gap in your work history? Prepare to answer these questions honestly, but in a way that shows how you have grown from any challenges that you have had in the past.
- Regardless of why you left (or are preparing to leave) your previous employer, do not badmouth him or the company involved. The interviewer will empathize with the employer and be concerned about that you do not "work well with others."
- Sit forward and make eye contact to show that you are engaged in the conversation. These subconscious clues will have a strong effect on the interviewer's impressions of you.
