After the pre-interview preparation, the first tactic to employ is the scheduling of the interview. The earlier in the day the interview takes place, the less competition you will have for the interviewers attention since there is more of the business day remaining to meet deadlines, react to the daily crises, and schedule urgent meetings. Moreover, everyone is more rested and alert earlier in the day. Afternoons are typified by sluggish post lunch doldrums and crash projects. Therefore, try to control the scheduling of the interview by giving the interviewer a choice of two morning times that are convenient to you. Second choice options would be during breakfast or lunch, in that order. Breakfast interviews are preferable to luncheon because they are less common and can be another device to help separate yourself from the competition. Third choice options would be before work or after work with an afternoon time the last choice.
The interview starts the moment you enter the reception area. You have opened the door approximately ten minutes before the appointed time so as to appear in harried, prompt, and in full control. You have allowed additional time to find a parking place, locate the company, and visit the restroom. The time you spend in the reception area allows you to scan an annual report to refresh your company research or to ask the receptionist friendly additional questions about the company and the interviewer. The primary objective of being ten minutes early to an interview is to avoid being late, which would start you of at an immediate disadvantage. Any earlier than that, however, and you may appear to be desperate.
Above all, realize that you are being observed in the reception area. Interviewers commonly ask their receptionist or secretary for an opinion of the individual's demeanor and behavior in the reception area. I once interviewed a young lady who seemed rather impressive until I conferred with my secretary. She informed me that the young lady had brought a friend with her to the interview (which in itself is inadvisable), and in the reception area she had bragged to her friend about having stolen something from a previous employer. On other occasions, my secretary has described to me people who, while charming in an interview, were rude or sullen in the reception area, including one memorable young man who constantly picked his nose. An employer once told me that he routinely eliminated all sales applicants who seemed ill at ease in the reception area, reasoning that they would present an equally uncomfortable image of his company to his company's clients. In another instance, the number one candidate for a job was quickly dismissed from further consideration when, informed by the receptionist of a slight delay upon arrival for the second interview, he uttered a mild profanity. Therefore, remember that everything that happens in the reception area is subject to scrutiny and evaluation. Treat the receptionist with friendliness and respect. His or her observations can be much more influential than you would normally assume.
If the receptionist asks you to fill out an employment application, politely avoid doing so. Besides the annoyance of repeatedly omitting applications, the danger of completing them before an interview is similar to that of submitting a resume in advance: applications can be used to disqualify you when they are completed in advance of knowing what background to highlight for the position in question, although such potential damage can be lessened by the advantages gained through the subsequent personal interview.
Therefore, to avoid the application, smile broadly and reply firmly to the receptionist, "Certainly, I'll take this with me and fill it out at home where I can do a more thorough and neat job, and I'll mail it back tomorrow." If the receptionist persists, smile, laugh good-naturedly and say, Tm not sure I am applying for a job as yet. I'll know after I talk with Mr. Smith and see what he has in mind. Then, if he's interested and I'm interested, I think an application will be in order. Besides, I don't want all that confidential information in everyone's files unless we're serious. My career could be ruined if word got out inadvertently that I was looking for a job." If the receptionist still insists, then graciously consent. Do not ruin the interview before you meet the interviewer.
When you are introduced to the interviewer, his or her evaluation of you begins with the handshake. Occasionally, when one of the interview participants is a woman and the other is a man, there is hesitancy over whether to shake hands and, if so, who initiates it.
Sufficient to say that in business situations executive women always shake hands; if the man fails to initiate it, the woman should. In any event make sure your handshake is firm, not bone-crushing, but never. Never limp. People with weak handshakes are perceived as having equally weak and nondescript personalities, being less competent, and generally less likeable. On the other hand, people with firm handshakes tend to convey impressions of extroversion, self-confidence, and strong capabilities. Mother danger is not ex tending your hand far enough and having the interviewer grasp only your fingers.
When Darrell Royal was recruiting high school players for his very successful University of Texas football teams, one of his key elements of evaluation was the player’s handshake. Most inter viewers will evaluate you similarly. So be aware of your handshake and its importance, and improve it through practice, if necessary.
Once inside the interviewer’s office you will be asked to be seated. Select a chair that you can draw up in front of the inter viewer's desk. Once seated, you can rest your hands, folded, on the desk and lean forward slightly or take notes easily. Such a position is comfortably aggressive and eliminates many body language decisions such as whether to cross your legs and what to do with your hands.
Forgo anything that might distract the interviewer such as smoking, drinking coffee, or chewing gum, even if offered. Remember to smile warmly at appropriate times.
