What do you want to accomplish in your next interview? Although most people know that the interview is important to both you and the employer, few job seekers have a clear sense of what they need to accomplish during those critical minutes. Later chapters describe interview techniques in more detail, but what follows will help you get a quick understanding of the most important things to do in an interview.
1. Make a Positive Impression Employers rarely hire someone who makes a negative first or later impression. These tips can help you make a positive impression before and during your interview.
Before the Interview
What happens before the interview is extremely important, although it's
often overlooked. Before you meet prospective employers, you often have
indirect contact with those who know them. You might even contact the
employer directly through e-mail, a phone call, or correspondence. Each of
these contacts creates an impression.
There are three ways an interviewer may form an impression of you before meeting you face-to-face:
1. The interviewer already knows you. An employer may know you from previous contacts or from someone else's description of you. In this situation, your best approach is to acknowledge that relationship, but treat the interview in all other respects as a business meeting.
2. You have contacted the interviewer through e-mail or by phone. E-mail and the phone are important job search tools. How you handle these contacts creates an impression, even though the contacts are brief. For example, both contact via the phone and contact via e-mail give an impression of your language skills and ability to present yourself in a competent way; e-mail also quickly communicates your level of written communication skills. So if you set up an interview with the employer, you have already created an impression, most likely positive enough.
You should call the day before the interview to verify the time of your meeting. Say something like: "Hi, I want to confirm that our interview for two o'clock tomorrow is still on." Get any directions you need. This kind of call is just another way of demonstrating your attention to detail and helps to communicate the importance you are placing on this interview.
3. The interviewer has read your resume and other job search correspondence. Prior to most interviews, you provide the employer with some sort of information or paperwork that creates an impression. Sending a note, letter, or e-mail beforehand often creates the impression that you are well-organized. Applications, resumes, and other correspondence sent or e-mailed in advance help the interviewer know more about you. If they are well done, they will help to create a positive impression. (For quick advice on putting together an effective resume, see Same-Day Resume, another book in the Help in a Hurry series.)