How to Succeed in an Interview

Our readers asked for some tips on succeeding in an interview... we hope this helps!

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Before the Interview:

Get a Good Night’s Sleep – If you show up to an interview exhausted, yawning, and red-eyed from lack of sleep, you will not make a good impression!

Eat – Hunger can be irritating and distracting, and you want to be relaxed and energetic for your interview. So make sure to eat something before your meeting.

Ask for Directions – You do not want to be late because you could not find the office. Ask for directions ahead of time, and make sure you know where you are going.

Be on Time – Actually, be early! This way you will not be late or rushed, but relaxed. Also, this will show your potential employee that you have a good work ethic.

Dress Appropriately –You only have a few minutes to make an impression, and if you dress inappropriately, you might fail the interview before it even begins! If you are not sure what to wear, call and ask someone in the office about the office dress code before the interview.

Don’t Arrive Empty-handed – Have copies of your CV/Resume and samples of your work or your portfolio with you. Also, bring letters of recommendation, references, or any other relevant documents with you, even if you have already sent them to your interviewer.

Be Prepared – Think about the kinds of questions you might be asked and prepare answers. Some common questions are: What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? Why are you leaving your current position? What do you hope to gain here? Etc.


During the Interview:

Be Honest – Do not lie about your education or work history, or your skills or professional knowledge. Even if you get the job, someone might find out that you lied, or you will not be able to do the job that you were hired to do.

Don’t be Afraid to Ask Questions – This is not only a chance for potential employers to ask about you, it is also a time when you can ask questions about the office, company, and/or position. By asking questions, you will show not only that you have done your research about the company and position, but that you are really interested in the job.

Keep the Discussions Relevant – Feel free to be yourself and to even share personal information with your interviewer – when it is appropriate. For example, if you see a picture of the Eiffel tower on his/her desk – feel free to mention that you were in Paris last summer. However, never talk about anything that is very personal and irrelevant – such as the cutest thing your daughter did that morning.

Be Respectful – Of course you should careful about what you say to your potential employer, but also be respectful of your current or former employer. Anything bad you say about a former or current boss might make your interviewer suspicious about how you will talk about them.

Be Attentive – Even if you are nervous, listen carefully! If you let yourself get too wrapped up in nerves, you might miss a question and look very foolish when you do not answer, or you might forget important information the potential employer is giving you.


After the Interview:

Thank the Interviewer – Send a short e-mail thanking the interviewer for his/her time, and letting them know that you will be happy to hear their decision as soon as they are ready to let you know.

Don’t Be a Annoying but Keep in Touch – If the interviewer says that he/she will get back to you within a week, do not call the next day to see if a decision has already been made. However, if a week has passed and you have not heard from them, do call to see if they have made a decision.

Learn From the Experience – After each interview, you will be more prepared for the next! So try to remember what you felt went well or did not go so well, so that you will be more prepared to succeed in the next interview!

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