The interview process can be intimidating! You only have a short time to sell yourself to others who will determine your fate. Earlier we shared a post on preparing for your interview. This post covers some tips that will help your interview run smoothly and help you land your dream Career Opportunity!
#1 – Have Positive Body Language
Let’s face it, most people are nervous or uncomfortable in an interview – and it can come across in your body language (“What do I do with my hands?”). Here are a few helpful tips: When you meet the Interviewer, stand up and firmly shake their hand along with looking them in the eyes and saying something like, “It is very nice to meet you.” After sliding a copy of your resume to the interviewer, put your hands in your lap or folded at the edge of the table. By folding your hands in your lap or on the table, this will prevent your hands from making too many distracting motions while you are talking.
Interviewers want interaction and a business conversation. Remember to be energetic, smile, shake your head when you agree with a statement and look the person in the eyes! They are a regular person just like you, so relax and be yourself.
#2 – Relax and Be Confident
Your voice tone and energy are extremely important. You are not a robot, so do not sound like one when you are interviewing. The interviewer is looking for someone they can connect with. If you are monotone in the interview, it is going to make it difficult for the interviewer to talk with you. Just relax, speak normally and put some excitement in your voice!
Be confident! Most likely you have performed a similar role to the one you are interviewing for. Make it known to the interviewer. Share your accomplishments in each role and why you would be a positive addition to the company. Remember, they chose to interview you for a reason, so do not enter the interview doubting your abilities and who you are.
#3 – Don’t Skimp on the Details
At Bridge we have a saying: “People who can’t speak with you in detail about a certain subject matter, don’t know what they are talking about”. When someone provides extremely brief responses to an interviewer, they could perceive it as a lack of knowledge. Don’t let your nerves get the best of you and make sure you provide enough detail to convey your expertise. If the interviewer is digging or asking numerous follow up questions, it could be you are not providing enough information. With that said, you also need to know the fine line between “too much” and “just right”. If you see yourself going longer than a minute to answer questions or the Interviewer is cutting you off, then slim down your answers a little.
#4 – Stay on Track
Be very careful not to engage in personal or social discussions unless the interviewer initiates the discussion. The last thing you want to do is shoot yourself in the foot due to a comment you made on an unrelated personal note. You are there to learn more about the organization and position, talk about your abilities and how you would be a great addition to the team. If the conversation drifts off to a more relaxed and personal one, still stay engaged, but keep your answers and statements politically correct. Do not push any personal or political views on the person, and please make sure not to air any of your dirty laundry!
#5 – Interview Them!
One thing people seem to forget when they are interviewing, is you need to interview the company and hiring manager as well – it’s a two-way street. Should you be offered the role, you need to be confident this is an opportunity that is going to better your life.
Before you go to the interview, reflect on your previous positions. What made you happy there? What did you want to change? What environment did you like the best? Which was your favorite role and why? What management style did you thrive in? By answering these questions, it should help you figure out what you are looking for in a company, manager, and culture! Ask questions to help you understand if this is the right place for you.
Post-interview tip:
Be sure to get interviewer’s business card and follow up with an email letter. Thank them for their time and reiterate that you are very interested in the position and the organization. This step takes all of 10 minutes, but only a small percentage of Interviewees send a thank you note. If you are one of those people, you stand out from the crowd.
Conclusion
There are many things to be aware of during an interview, but the most important thing is to be yourself!
Good luck!