How to Interview for a Job

"You never get a second chance to make a first impression." Many people have heard this quote, and most people know what it means. In the world of job interviews, it should become even more important to a potential employee, like you. An employer's first impression of a potential employee counts for over half of a job interview's success; therefore, proper appearance is extremely important to your success in the interview process. Despite the importance of appearance, you should be concerned with other aspects of the interview as well. In order to succeed at a job interview you must follow specific steps before, during, and after the interview.

As a future member of the workforce, you must do several things before attending an interview for a job. First, you should learn some general information about the company with which you have the interview. Learning about the company is helpful because you can demonstrate your enthusiasm to work at the company. In addition, it never hurts to know about the company you will work at. Furthermore, you should learn about the company so you can show how you may possibly fill the company's needs. For instance, if the company has a strong management team, your answer should mention that fact and show that you would like to be a part of that team.

Next, you must decide what position you would like to fill at your intended company. Many employers will ask you why you want to work in that position or how it appeals to you. If you have not even decided which position you would like to fill, you cannot answer such a question. In addition, you should know the job description of your anticipated position because you need to show that you have the abilities or talents needed to fill the position. Undoubtedly, one of the most common questions that an interviewer asks is "why do you want this position and why would you do the job better than anyone else?"

The next step you must complete before an interview is to prepare to answer common questions. One of the most stressful parts of an interview is answering questions. In order to alleviate some of the stress, I recommend that you practice answering some common interview questions. Think about how you would answer such questions as "what could you add to our company?" or "what is your biggest weakness?"

Put yourself in the interviewer's position and think about what questions you would ask someone who wanted to work for you. Write down about ten to fifteen questions and think about how you would answer them. Practice answering them in front of the mirror. Remember to keep eye contact when answering a question; it should be easy to do in front of the mirror so get in that habit before the interview. You can continue to practice these steps until the day of the interview.

On the day of the interview, you must do several things. First, you must be completely neat and clean. If you are a man, you should shave or at least trim your facial hair neatly. If you are a woman, you may wear make-up, but beware of too much make-up; you want to be fresh and real during the interview. Regardless of gender, you should shower, brush or comb your hair, brush your teeth, and dress appropriately.

As stated before, your appearance is one of the most important elements an employer considers. Because appearance is so important, you should dress formally and neatly. Formal dress includes dress slacks in a neutral color, a solid-colored button-front shirt with a tie for men or a solid-colored button-front blouse for women, and nice, clean dress shoes. Under no circumstances should you wear jeans or a t-shirt to a job interview. Employers who see a candidate in a pair of jeans or a t-shirt believe that the applicant does not seriously consider the job.

Now that you are clean and dressed appropriately, it is now time to go to the interview. You should arrive at the company at least five minutes prior to your interview time. Arriving early will give you time to relax a little and this gesture will show the interviewer that you really care about the job. When you enter the office or wherever the interview will take place, you should greet the interviewer in the following manner: you should state your name clearly, shake his hand firmly, make eye contact, and thank the interviewer for the opportunity to meet with him.

You should be enthusiastic and confident, but do not jump around, cheer, or otherwise scare the interviewer. Once you have introduced yourself, the interviewer will probably ask you to sit down. Walk calmly to the chair and sit down. Your interviewer will now begin asking you around ten to twenty questions. These questions are the questions that you have already practiced. Remember that you most likely did not practice all of the questions that he will ask you. First, listen to the interviewer's question carefully while maintaining eye contact. Second, pause to think about your answer because it will show sincerity in your answer. Next, maintain eye contact, answer the question honestly using correct grammar and complete sentences. This process will probably last for around half an hour. Once the interviewer stops asking questions, he may ask you if you have any questions about the company. This is when you may show what you know and show additional interest in the company. Finally, the interviewer will tell you that the interview is over and you may leave. You should stand up and shake his hand firmly, thanking him for the interview. You should address the interviewer by name. You may now leave the interview location and proceed home for the final step.

Most people call this final step the "follow-up." This step is your final opportunity to express your gratitude for the interview and show your interest in the job. You should wait at least two days before completing this step. Once you have waited two days, you may call the company at which you attended an interview or write a letter to the company. Do not call and write the company! If you decide to write a letter to the company, remember to type the letter in formal letter format. Most computers have a word processing program that will help you with formatting a formal letter. In your letter, you should state who you are, what job you applied for, when you received an interview, and express your continued interest in the job.

Finish your letter by thanking the interviewer for his time, address the letter to your interviewer, and mail the letter the following day. If you call the company, you should call during late morning when the company is less busy. When someone answers, ask to speak to your interviewer (do not say "my interviewer," use his actual name). When he answers, state your name and tell him that you are calling to check on the status of the position for which he interviewed you. He will probably tell you that he will contact you within a few days. Thank the employer again and end the call. Regardless of your method of contact, you should know within a few days whether you have a job.

If you follow my steps for interviewing before, during, and after your interview, you should be throwing a party because you will probably get the job you want. The employer will most likely hire you, because, after following my steps, you will be courteous, respectful, enthusiastic, and prepared for your job interview. I will not claim that my process is foolproof, but I will say that it is helpful and many have tested it. Remember, however, that you only get one chance at a good impression and it will be during your interview.