Successful job interviewing can be a skill onto itself. It is especially daunting for the new college graduate who may not have any experience in the professional world. The following article serves as basic guide to make the whole process a little easier.
You’ve done it. You’ve worked and studied hard and have been rewarded with your diploma. What’s even better is that you’ve been lucky enough to land a choice interview with a company you’d give anything to work for. You’re nervous…and you should be. Because despite how stellar your resume may look and regardless of what your GPA was, the decision to offer you a job depends a great deal on how you present yourself in an interview situation. The following is a list of job interview techniques that will help you put your best face forward when it counts the most.
Do come prepared
When you meet with an interviewer, make sure that you know something about the company and the work that they do. The Internet can be a great resource for looking up information on a company or business. Take notes and study any information that you think is relevant. If you fail to do your homework, you risk looking like someone who doesn’t really care what they do or where they work. In showing up for an interview you should also, of course, come with several copies of your resume and a list of references that they can call if they decide to pursue you as a viable candidate.
Do arrive on time
Not only does this mean don’t be late, it also means don’t be too early. Your interviewer most likely has a tight schedule and needs to stay on track. Arriving late will only make you look immature and irresponsible and arriving too early will make you appear overeager and puts pressure on the interviewer to accommodate you. To make sure you arrive right on time, map out your directions well in advance so you know exactly where you’re going and how to get there. Give yourself an extra 20 minutes, just to be on the safe side, and if it turns out you arrive too early, take that time to read over your notes and compose yourself.
Do speak up
A job interview is not a cross-examination. Speaking only when spoken to will only serve to make you more nervous and your interviewer uncomfortable. Think of a job interview simply as a conversation. Ask questions when applicable. Offer information about yourself when appropriate. If you just sit in your chair quietly the only thing you will accomplish is to make yourself look unprepared and uninterested. Just remember, this isn’t just their chance to interview you, you should also be interviewing them.