- Pre-Interview
- Interview Opening
- Interview Development
- Interview Closing
- Post-Interview
Stage 1: Pre-Interview
While an invitation to interview is a well-earned accomplishment, it is not the signal to start celebrating and stop campaigning. On the contrary, notification of an interview should signal the needed efforts to assure your successful interview.
Arriving at the right location at the designated time is essential. Plan to arrive about five to ten minutes early so that you may relax for a few moments in the outer office, collect your thoughts, and be refreshed when you are called in to interview. Good time-planning requires mapping out the trip to the interviewing location, accurately predicting the travel time involved, and then adding extra travel time to account for unexpected tie-ups, emergencies, and delays.
If you arrive at the location with plenty of time to spare, do not use it "hanging around" the office waiting to be called. Hanging around the office may make you more nervous than you are and may give the secretary or interviewer the impression that you have nothing better to do with your time or that you are overanxious for this particular job. If you are too early, find a local coffee shop and have a cup of coffee or tea. Then, about ten minutes before the scheduled appointment, go into the office and introduce yourself to the secretary.
Arriving late for the job interview is one of the worst things you can do. If for any reason you must be delayed, call the interviewer and explain the problem and ask for permission to arrive a little later or on another day. If your explanation is reasonable and the problem is serious enough to warrant this situation, you should be granted your request. If you fail to call and explain and simply show up late, you may not be seriously considered further. Reliability is a critical employee trait that is first demonstrated by your punctuality on the job interview.
Look businesslike when you arrive at the office and carry an attaché case or briefcase that includes your job-getting documents, paper, and pen. Introduce yourself courteously to the secretary and state the purpose of your business. If you are not absolutely certain of the pronunciation of the interviewer's name, ask the secretary. The name may have an odd spelling or a pronunciation that you have never heard before. In applying for a job, you will probably have to fill out a company application blank at some point in the screening procedure for each company you are considering.
Here are some tips on filling out this form:
- Fill it out legibly. Type it if possible; otherwise, write clearly.
- Do not leave any empty spaces on the form. If a question does not apply, write "N/A." If you would prefer to discuss an item in the interview, write 'To be discussed in interview." Instead of leaving a blank space, write in some brief explanation to show that you have not skipped over anything.
- Spell all words correctly.
- Make sure all information is accurate and complete.
- Intentional omissions or misrepresentations on application blanks can lead directly to disqualification.
- Attach a copy of your resume to the application blank.
Stage 2: Interview Opening
In your greeting, use the interviewer's name and apply a firm handshake. If you learned the correct pronunciation of a hard-to-pronounce name, your interviewer may feel complimented. Once in the office, wait to be asked to be seated; this is common courtesy, for you are the visitor. While you are being greeted and seated, the interviewer will be reacting to your appearance and grooming, formulating a first impression. A favorable first impression can help a great deal in the interview. On the other hand, an unfavorable first impression can hurt. A dirty habit is smoking. Do not smoke in the interview, even if asked to do so.
Show the interviewer that you recognize and respect his or her authority and position by allowing him or her to open the conversation. The interviewer may attempt to put you at ease with ''small talk" about your trip, some news events, or the weather. Respectfully react with agreement or appropriate thoughts of your own on the subject. Or, the interviewer may directly launch into business with a question about you. If so, this is the time to begin applying the techniques you learn in this article. The interviewer may start telling you about conditions, needs, or problems around the company. Listen closely to this valuable information for a few minutes. Then, as soon as the opportunity allows, begin to inject your thoughts into the conversation.
Stage 3: Interview Developments
After a few minutes of opening remarks, you should begin to develop your sales presentation and score points. You have limited interviewing time in which to present your case. Therefore, find an appropriate opportunity to begin talking about those things you want the interviewer to hear.
Throughout this stage of the interview, maintain a positive frame of mind and demonstrate your grasp of the job-getting interview techniques presented in the remainder of this article. If your interview is scheduled for thirty minutes, twenty to twenty-five minutes of that time will be spent in making your presentation, so use that time well. This is your time to advertise what you bring to the table, and this presentation may make or break your job-search, so be prepared.
Stage 4: Interview Closing
Be aware of the element of time. As soon as you sense the interview coming to a conclusion, start to close out the session on a ''high note.'' Use these last few minutes to (a) summarize a few key credentials in a final statement, (b) express enthusiasm about working for the company, and (c) express appreciation to the interviewer for an interesting time.
The interviewer will probably tell you the next step in the procedure. If nothing is mentioned by the interviewer, however, you may raise the subject by saying, ''What is the next step?'' or "I would like to continue our discussion again soon if you feel there is a basis for another meeting!" Such closing comments encourage commitment. You may hear, "Yes, I would very much like to continue this talk. Let's see if we can arrange another meeting, perhaps early next week, "or "Well, I think we do have something to talk about. What are you doing for lunch at noon tomorrow?" or "You can expect to hear some word in two to three weeks; in the meantime, we'll give your application serious consideration."
The interviewer may offer you a brief take-home project, such as the writing of a short job proposal or report showing your solution to a company problem. If offered such a project, willingly and graciously accept it, for this is a sign that the interviewer is interested in you and your thoughts. Also, this type of brief project keeps you in the running as a serious contender.
Before you leave the meeting, be certain that you have all the correct information concerning the next step in the selection procedure: Where, when, and with whom is the next interview? When can you expect to hear any word? Or, when is your brief project needed, if one is requested?
Stage 5: Post-Interview
Immediately following an interview, record the key points of the discussion-important and interesting remarks made by both you and the interviewer. Also, while your memory is fresh, note the names and key comments of all other people you met and talked with while you visited the company.
On another sheet of paper, evaluate the success of your interview. Note your strengths and weaknesses. What things said by you interested the interviewer, and what things bored, irritated, or disappointed him? How could you improve your next interview presentation based on this session? Keep this evaluation sheet, and in your future interviews try to avoid weaknesses detected here and build on your positive experiences.
Five to seven days following the interview, send a "thank-you" letter to the interviewer. In it express appreciation, comment on key points of the discussion, allude to others you met in a complimentary manner, reiterate key credentials, and if new events have occurred during the intervening period, provide a brief update on these accomplishments. Such a follow-up letter shows thoughtfulness, perseverance, and motivation, qualities in great demand.
