Nailing the Job Interview

Do your homework! Get on the company's website and learn about the company's history, products, different locations, etc. A company's website can tell you a lot.

	How big is the company?
	Are they growing?
	How many jobs are open? Open jobs often signify growth, and growth equals opportunity.
	Has the company been in the news? What is the media saying about the organization?
	What are the benefits? A company's benefits often reflect its culture and how employees are treated by managers and co-workers.

Google the person you'll be interviewing with. You can often learn about someone's work history, where they are from, and if they have been in the media by Googling them. It may not be appropriate to share the information you've learned, but you can never have too much information about the company, or person with whom you're interviewing.

Prepare for the interview. Many interview questions are used repeatedly and can be anticipated. Some typical interview questions:

	Walk me through your resume and tell me about each job.
	Why did you leave each job?
	What makes you the right person for this job?
	Why are you applying for this job?
	What other jobs are you applying for?
	Where are you in your search?
	Do you have any pending offers?

Be ready for behavioral interview questions that require you to talk about how you handled a previous situation. Behavioral interview questions often start with, "Tell me about a time you…."

	Tell me about a time you got feedback at work and how you handled that.
	Tell me about a time when you had to manage a conflict at work. What did you do?
	Tell me about a time you had to manage multiple projects or priorities. How did you handle that?

Before the Interview

	We've all heard that you never get a second chance to make a first impression, and that people decide what they think about you within the first 30 seconds of meeting you. Your interviewer won't decide to hire you in the first 30 seconds of your meeting, but they may decide not to.
	Arrive at the interview 5 - 10 minutes early. If you arrive earlier don't go into the lobby until 5 - 10 minutes before your interview. And never, ever be late for an interview.
	Don't smoke or eat food that smells strongly - garlic, onions, etc. - before an interview.
	Don't chew gum or suck on candy during the interview.
	If you're interviewing to work in an office of any kind, wear a suit. This is regardless of the company's dress code.
	Wearing a suit demonstrates respect and that you are serious about the job.

During the Interview

	Upon meeting your interviewer, look them in the eye, shake their hand firmly, smile, and tell them how pleased you are to meet them.
	If offered a beverage, accept water, coffee, or tea.
	Don't be afraid to take a few moments to think and formulate responses before answering questions. A thoughtful answer is worth the wait.
	Don't over talk. Succinctly answer each question and then stop talking. Most candidates talk more and longer than they need to.
	Have a few questions prepared and ask them when the interviewer asks for questions.
	Be enthusiastic. Sit up straight. Smile. Be excited about what you're talking about. If you're not excited, the interviewer won't be either.

After the Interview

Send a handwritten thank you card or type-written note to everyone you meet with, not just "The Boss." Many candidates have stopped mailing a personal note and are sending emails instead. If you send a note you'll stand out from other candidates. Make sure your grammar and spelling are impeccable, and if your note is handwritten, be sure it's legible. Call to follow up. Persistence is the name of the game when looking for a job. If you haven't heard from the company a week after your interview, call the person you interviewed with and leave a message asserting your interest in the position and curiosity about where they are in the process. You can call once a week for three weeks. After that, assume that you are not being considered as a candidate or something has changed with the search. Companies should let you know when you've been eliminated as a candidate or something about the search changes, but some don't.

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