Interview Etiquette: the Key to a Job Offer

Undoubtedly, the job interview is the most important step in getting a job offer. Job skills and education alone are not enough to get you a job. There will be many candidates who are just as qualified as you for hiring companies to choose from. How you fit in with the company culture and employees will be a big deciding factor in whether or not you get the job offer.

Demonstrating good manners in the interview process will ensure you receive the consideration you deserve for the job. No matter how polite you think you are, it doesn't hurt to go over a few basic rules of interview etiquette.

Be On Time

It is imperative that you are on time to your job interview. This is the most important first impression you can make and if you are late, it speaks volumes about you. First, it implies you don't value the time of those you are meeting with. Second, in indicates you are not taking the opportunity seriously, which would make potential employers would rightly assume you would also not take the job seriously.

There are no exceptions to this rule. Make every effort to be on time. Plan to arrive 30 minutes early to your interview. This way, if unexpected traffic delays arise, you have a little extra time to spare. Consider driving to the interview location ahead of time so that you are confident with the directions, traffic patterns and parking restrictions.

Use Names

Introduce yourself by name and make an effort to remember the names of those you meet, including the person who greets you. Write the names down if you must, but there are several tricks you can use to remember names of people you meet. When someone introduces themselves, use their name right away by saying something like, "Nice to meet you Jane." You can also use word association to link a person's name to another word or name. If "Jane" is the name of the first person you meet and she has a nice smile, you could think "Jolly Jane". Finally, you can use the trick which helped Franklin Roosevelt become a master at remembering names: picture the person's name written on their foreheads.

Firm Handshake

There has been much written on body language what our physical actions are saying about us. A handshake can also say a lot about how comfortable you are, what type of person you are, and how you see the person with whom you are shaking hands.

You should offer a handshake when you are introduced to someone new. Extend your hand with the palm straight up and down meeting the other person's hand at the web of the thumb. Grasp firmly, but not too hard. Shake or "pump" 3 times and release.

For sweaty or clammy palms, keep a handkerchief in your pocket to dry off your hand prior to shaking. You can also, very subtlety, brush your hand on your trousers or shirt before shaking hands. If sweaty palms are a big problem, you might want to consider rubbing unscented antiperspirant on your hand before meeting someone.

Good Communicator

Someone with good manners is a good conversationalist. This is done by making the other person feel comfortable and putting them at ease. Don't dominate the conversation, use foul language or tell off-colored jokes. Don't use slang words and avoid too many "uh's" and "you know's".

Keep answers to interview questions succinct and relevant. Bragging or lying is a definite no-no and most interviewers will not be impressed.

Finally, while communication is important you must turn off your cell phone during an interview. If for some reason you forget to turn off your cell phone and it rings during an interview, turn off the phone and apologize to your interviewer.

Thank You Note

Send a thank you note to your interviewer as soon as possible after the interview. Whether the note should be hand written or typed is up for debate. Some swear by the hand written note, but others suggest that since it is a business communication, it should be typed. Either way, a thank you note shows your good manners and is a great opportunity for your name to get in front of the decision maker one more time. Use the thank you note to show appreciation for the employer's interest in you. Reiterate your interest in the job position and remind the interviewer of your qualifications, or even add something additional you forgot to bring up in the interview.