As recruiters, we at JustinBradley spend a significant part of our day interviewing job seekers, and we understand that most people approach the interview process with a combination of excitement and nervousness. Here are some tips that will help you with your upcoming interview…

First things first

1. Visit the company’s website prior to the interview. Be prepared to ask one or two positive questions about the organization (they’ll appreciate that you took the initiative to look into them).

2. Make sure that you have the exact street address, including suite number, and the phone number for the person with whom you are scheduled to interview. If you find that you have arrived very early for the interview, don’t announce yourself to the receptionist until 5 minutes before the interview. Employers will consider a very early arrival to be just as rude as arriving late.

3. Bring extra copies of your resume and references so that you can fill out any application they provide timely and thoroughly. Complete every section, although the information may be duplicated by your resume. Employers will consider shortcuts (i.e. “see resume”) and the time taken to complete your application as a reflection of your work style. Never misrepresent or falsify information.

The day of

4. Dress professionally, neatly, and conservatively – in a suit.

5. Remember that your first opportunity to make a good impression starts with the receptionist, as his/her input could go a long way with the company. Refrain from taking or making any personal calls once you have approached the receptionist.

6. Give a firm, positive handshake at the beginning and end of the interview. Remember to smile and be upbeat. Be relaxed and natural, show energy and enthusiasm, and make eye contact. Companies want to hire and work with positive people.

7. Avoid anything that might offend the interviewer - Jokes, profanity or negative comments are inappropriate.

8. If they offer a drink or other refreshment, it’s best to decline. Eating/drinking will distract you from listening to them and increases the risk of problems (spilling something, talking with your mouth full, etc.).

In the interview

9. When answering their questions, err on the side of being concise rather than lengthy. If they don’t ask follow up questions, you’ll know that you’ve said enough.

10. When asked about why you left previous positions, focus on what was attractive about the next position that you took. Avoid complaining about prior bosses, prior employers.

11. When talking about your experience, naturally drop a few technical buzzwords into the conversation. Even if they aren’t familiar with all of them, it will give them a sense of your level of expertise.

12. Avoid trying to tell them everything that you’ve done and every skill you have in one long monologue. Let it come out naturally during the conversation.

13. Be prepared to talk about your strengths and have several to talk about. If they ask about weaknesses, give them only one and make it something that:

• You have overcome: “I lacked supervisory experience, but I gained that in my last position.”
  
• Is really positive: “I work too hard”, “Sometimes I set expectations too high for the people who report to me.”
  
• Or, is irrelevant to the position: “I haven’t had any ADP experience,” when the company does not use ADP.

14. They are likely to ask if you have any questions. In a first interview, your questions should focus on them and their needs. Examples include:

A. “Tell me about the company and its current strategy.”
B. “Tell me about the ideal background and experience you hope to find in the person you hire.” (Then respond with how you fit what they’ve just said).
C. “What will be the top priorities for the person you hire?”
D. “What personal characteristics will be important for someone to be successful in this position?” (Again, respond with how you fit them).

15. Elaborate more on just the tasks and functions for which you’ve had responsibility. Tell them what you’ve achieved (processes improved, errors eliminated, savings identified) and be as specific as possible.

16. If you have weaknesses in your background (e.g. short tenure, employment gaps, involuntary terminations, lack of degree or credentials), don’t raise the topic. The interviewer may not consider it important.

17. If the interviewer does ask about a weakness in your background, be prepared. Address their concerns as briefly as possible, before turning the discussion to positive aspects of your background. The longer you spend talking about it, the longer they will spend thinking about it.

18. Try to avoid discussions about compensation during the first interview. If they ask what you’re looking for, tell them that you’d rather focus on whether there’s a good fit for both of you and that you’re confident that, if there is, mutually acceptable compensation will be worked out later.

Lastly

19. At the close of the interview, let them know that you’re interested in pursuing the position. Say things such as “I’m very interested in this opportunity. I hope we can talk further”, or “From what you’ve told me, I’d like this job.” Even if you are uncertain, express positive interest. You can always say “no” at the very end of the process, but if you say “no” or show a lack of interest early in the process, there’s rarely a chance to change your mind later.

Be sure to ask what the next step is. This draws the interview to a close and ensures everyone is on the same page moving forward.

20. Within 48 hours, send a brief thank you (by email is acceptable) to each person with whom you interviewed to thank them for their time and reinforce your interest in the position. Use spell check to be sure you’ve used correct grammar and spelling before sending.