You’ve filled in a million applications, you’ve replied to a thousand craigslist ads, and you’ve had hundreds of unanswered emails; but you’ve finally hooked a potential employer and your interview is coming up.
Don’t be nervous, just follow these simple tips and soon you’ll be reaping the benefits of employee covered health insurance and all the free pens you can handle.
Do – Show up on time. There is nothing worse than turning up late, it sets a terrible tone for the interview and it will give the impression that you’re unreliable. Get to the location 30 minutes early, grab a coffee and go over your notes, then 10 minutes before “go-time” stroll into the office. You’ll be prepared, unrushed and most importantly, suave as hell.
Don’t – Bad mouth your previous employer. It doesn’t matter if your last employer had you down the acid mines 23 hours a day and paid you in bottle caps, you don’t talk smack. Put a positive spin on it, say your boss was “encouraged by hard work” and “goal orientated”; chances are the interviewer will be able to see right through this thinly veiled corporate mumbo-jumbo but they’ll appreciate that you don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
Do – Research, research, research…oh and some more research. The more you know about the position and the company the more engaging this conversation is going to be. The more engaging the conversation is, the more likely you’ll land the job. The interviewer will be able to tell you have put time and effort into studying and that shows you are hardworking and willing to go the extra mile. Employees love that shizzle.
Don’t – Be a Debbie Downer. If you start complaining about something mid-interview it’s going to create some negative vibes, and negativity tends to feed off itself creating a conversational downward spiral. By the end of the interview you’ll both be in tears and considering entering into a suicide pact together; while this may be good for comradeship, it won’t land you the job.
Do – Come with questions. An interview can be a pretty one-sided affair, change that up and stick the interviewer on the spot every now and then. Ask about the office culture, what other employees have done to succeed in your position and what the interviewer enjoys about working at the company. Not only will you seem confident and inquisitive you will also get valuable information on the company you’re about to work for.
Don’t – Have an “interview persona”. You’re more than likely going to spend a significant part of your life in work, so it’s important for your employer to know the real you. Don’t go overboard; you don’t have to tell them about the rager you had on the weekend or your love/obsession for “My Little Pony”, but make sure they get a good sense of your personality. After all, you don’t want to be keeping up this this fake character 6 months after you’ve started.
