Things to do before and during an Interview

A recent study by the Daniel Yankelovich Group for the Association of Outplacement Consulting Firms found that:

Female job hunters tend to be younger than their male counterparts by about five years, with an average age of 90% of the men in the study were married, compared to 42% of the women.

Women in the study were more flexible regarding their career and tended to make faster and easier transitions.


Such visualizations, especially performed at night before you go to sleep, are extremely powerful in harnessing your subconscious mind to bring your best resources and personality to bear during your interview the next day. Following this practice on a regular basis will work like a tonic to put you in the right frame of mind and build your confidence.

Another similar exercise is to stand in front of a mirror and imagine how your body would look and feel if you were naturally and genuinely brimming with confidence, enthusiasm and drive. Get to know and feel comfortable with your own "success posture," and then, whenever you want to project an image of success and self-confidence, just assume that posture, whether you're initially feeling that way or not. You'll be surprised how the posture itself will trigger these positive emotions within you and thereby project a strong, confident image to anyone in your presence.

• Do your homework. Another great confidence-builder for any interview is to be sure you do your homework.

Gather as much information as you can about the company and the department where you may be working, and study it thoroughly, formulating intelligent questions. Few things will impress a potential employer more than a sincere interest in the company as demonstrated by intelligent questions. Your homework will also help you identify the possible problems, needs, goals or desires that you may uncover during your interview.

If it's a publicly-held company, be sure to read its annual report for its most recent fiscal year and even further back if you can get copies. (Hint: call the Investor Relations Department at the firm and ask for whatever material they can send you.) Read all such material over several times, identifying the corporate culture and dominant ideas you see expressed.
Also try to get a few copies of the company's internal newsletter. It will give you a good overview of how the company sees itself as well as the corporate culture.

If you know anyone who works at the company, supplies the company, or knows anything about it from any angle, try to get as much information as you can from them as well.

Respond to the company's advertisements and carefully review the material you receive. If practical, buy some of its products. Send for any information that the public relations department may be able to give you.

In addition, research the company's competition, a topic very much on the mind of every company.

Also check out the library and read whatever articles you can find on the firm. Many libraries subscribe to electronic data bases, such as Dow Jones and Nexis that can serve up a cornucopia of information about the company. Use these resources and see what you can find before going to your interview.

These steps will help you create a very informed list of questions that you can bring up at appropriate times in the interview. They will enable you to get a mile-long head start on many interviewees who will blurt out in the interview, “I'm really not that familiar with what your company does." Such a statement conveys a feeling of indifference and perhaps even arrogance to your potential employer whose life is wrapped up in his company's operations.

• But don't show off your knowledge.

While you want to be well-prepared for your interview, you don't want to flaunt your preparation or force your knowledge on the interviewer. Let it come out naturally and it will make a much stronger impression. It won't seem as if you're trying too hard, as if to say, "See how much I know about your company? Aren't you impressed?"

In raising questions, ask those which could not have been answered by research in the annual report. Ask only those questions in which you have a genuine interest and which your research couldn't answer.

• Little things mean a lot.

For example:

• Before the day of the interview, get a good night's sleep, so you can be well rested.
• Review the directions to the interview to make sure you're not going to get lost.
• Listen to the weather forecast in advance to see if you'll need an umbrella or boots. It won't help your image at the moment of your big interview if you look like a drowned rat the cat dragged in.
• Be sure you bring extra copies of your resume, as well as a pen and note pad, should you need them.
• Have change for phone calls, tolls, parking meters, etc.
• Never wear wrinkled clothes to an interview.
• Polish your shoes. Some people will judge your character by your shoeshine. Never wear shoes with worn-down heels. They may be the last impression you leave on your way out of the interviewer's office.
• Dress conservatively and tastefully. When in doubt, dress more formally rather than less.
• Go lightly on cologne, perfume and makeup.
• Of course, observe all the basics of good grooming.
• Try to arrange your most important interviews for Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Mondays and Fridays are the busiest days in an interviewer's week...and the days least likely to result in a job offer.
• Throughout your job campaign, and for the rest of your life, bear in mind that two of the best ways to project a strong, relaxed, confident image in all situations is to exercise every day and get a good night's sleep, going to bed before 10:00 p.m.