MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION
Double check the time of appointment. Arrange to be five minutes early, before the scheduled time. Do not be too early…(you shouldn't be hanging around their lobby for half an hour).
Give the appearance of self-confidence and energy when you first enter the room: Smile, Be Yourself. Give a firm handshake. Be relaxed. Maintain eye contact.
Have extra copies of your resume with you. Have your reference list available, including names, address, and phone numbers. Also, be sure that your references expect phone calls or other inquiries about your job search.
Be genuine, but not overly friendly with the interviewer.
Wear clean, well-pressed clothing appropriate to the job you are seeking. Arrive well-groomed from head to toe.
Before answering a question take time to pause and plan an adequate response to the question. Try not to fill silences with nervous responses.
Keep your responses positive. Prepare positive answers to the most frequently asked interviewing questions. Prepare positive responses to cover an irregular or problematic work history.
At the end of the interview, thank the interviewer(s) for his (her or his/their) consideration and time. Close! When do I start?
Write a thank-you letter to the interviewer(s) immediately following the interview. Thank him/her (them) for the interview, recap what you learned from the interview, and reaffirm your interest in the job (ask for the job!) This can even be e-mailed or faxed later the same day!
ATTITUDE
Attitude is one of the most important things an interviewer relies on. The more motivated worker will do the best job.
- Show your enthusiasm. Let them see your energy.
- Relate your previous experience to the job you're seeking.
- Talk about your goals and where you want to go in the future.
- Talk about what you like about the company, their goals, their operation, their services or products.
STAY COOL UNDER PRESSURE
You are literally on the "hot seat" when you enter an interview situation. The way you answer the hard and stressful questions in an interview can show how you handle stressful situations. Keeping your cool, being calm and answering after careful consideration will show you're reasonable and likely to do well in stressful situations.