| How To Survive Interview Day |
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Be early
Make a winning impression by showing you are reliable and organized. Get directions in advance and take a test drive if you are unfamiliar with the area. Also, check out the parking situation or public transportation schedules. Allow enough time for traffic and unexpected delays.
It's all about you |
| Dress to impress Follow this simple rule of thumb: "It's better to be over-dressed than under-dressed." Even if the work environment is casual, your appearance still must be neat, clean and professional. Unless the interviewer specifically tells you to dress casually, a classic suit is always your best bet. Also, limit your use of jewelry, makeup and cologne or perfume. |
| The name game Make sure you know the correct name and pronunciation of the interviewer. Listen carefully when the interviewer states his or her name and repeat it back when you say hello. Before you leave, ask for a business card from each person you met. This gives you the necessary information to write thank-you letters. |
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Hand it over |
| Body language Appear confident by sitting up straight and maintaining good eye contact throughout the interview. Poor posture may translate to low self-esteem. Refrain from fidgeting or chewing gum or candy. |
| Be nice You never know who you'll meet in the parking lot, elevator or lobby, so be polite to everyone from the receptionist to the CEO. After all, they could have an influence in the hiring process. |
| Short and sweet Avoid long-winded answers. Practice in advance and you will sound more focused and polished. |
| The sounds of silence While it may be golden, silence can be uncomfortable. However, jumping in with irrelevant comments just to fill up airtime will only make you look nervous. If you are experiencing trouble forming an answer to a question, wait a few seconds before responding. The use of "um, uh, like, well, err ..." sounds well, um ... stupid. Take your time and think before you speak. |
| Cold hard cash Although salary is an important factor in your job search, don't let it be the driving force behind your choice. In interviews, it's more important to talk about why you're the right person for the job. Do not bring up salary unless the interviewer asks. For more on how to handle the money issue in interviews. |
| Practice makes perfect Rehearsing is not just for actors. Take time to review what you want to say by asking a friend to play "the interviewer." By practicing your responses to typical interviewing questions, you will significantly reduce your stress level and improve your chances of making a winning impression on the interviewer. |
This page was created on Monday, May 14, 2001
Last updated by Andrew Lopez, RN on Monday, March 2, 2009
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