A lesson in interview etiquette

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A lesson in interview etiquette

January 14, 2013

Did you get the interview? Awesome – that’s great news.

All that hard work has finally paid off, but you’re not finished yet. You’ve got to use this interview as your last chance to sell yourself to your potential employer.

The key thing here, folks, is that you need to prove to them that you’re not just a “good fit,” you’re the “best fit.” If you follow these tips, you should be well on your way to a confident and successful interview.

1. Dress for the part!

Now this is important. Scope out the place beforehand, even if it means casually walking by to get an idea of how people dress. If you’re interviewing for an office job, please don’t show up in jeans and a wrinkly shirt. The interview will be over before it even begins.

2. Be on time!

I’ve heard that you should show up 15 minutes early for an interview, but that’s a long time to be sitting and waiting. The employer may feel rushed too, which is not a great first impression. Show up no more than 10 minutes early. It will allow you to relax, decompress and focus your thoughts.

3. Make a good first impression!

That means smile, shake hands and maintain eye contact. Don’t chew gum or fidget excessively. Also, turn off the cell phone. One time I was in an interview and felt my phone vibrate mid-sentence. It’s just awkward and throws you off.

4. Be prepared!

This goes beyond researching the company, which is a given, and means preparing your own questions for the interviewers. It shows you thought about this job and the environment that you want to work in. Bring additional copies of your résumé, as well as at least three references on a separate sheet of paper.

5. Listen up!

Practice active listening. This means you shouldn’t just listen to the words they say, but how they say things—subtle hints that may suggest what answer they really want to hear. Sometimes questions seem easy, but they’re geared towards finding out how you behave or if you can think on your feet. Whenever necessary, ask for clarification.

6. Say thanks!

This is a good idea in many aspects of your life, but it’s especially critical in an interview. When it’s time to go, politely leave and don’t linger. It may also be a good idea to send a thank-you note to express your gratitude. Every little bit helps in keeping you top-of-mind when they’re debating the “best fit.”

A lot of this seems pretty much like common sense, but I can speak from experience when I say that sometimes your interview etiquette can completely slip your mind when anxiety and nerves kick in. Make a conscious effort to practice interview etiquette. You’ll be grateful you did!

Any other tips on interview etiquette you’d like to share? Post them in the comments section.

Rob

Comments

Theodora says,
January 21, 2013

While all these tips are useful & worth taking under consideration, I would add also: take notes. This gives a positive impression of a mature person and candidate, making him/ her standing out of the rest of candidates.... Thank U for taking the time to read my input!

Rob says,

Hey Theodora,
That’s also a great tip. In previous interviews, I always ask at the beginning if it’s ok that I take notes. Sometimes interview questions have multi-layers. For example, “Tell me about a time you worked with a team. What was your role? What did your team accomplish?” Technically there are 3 questions within that one question. Taking notes helps keep you on point and ensures you answer all the questions being asked.

Great tip! Keep commenting!