Job interview are never easy. The idea of presenting our best selves during a 15-20 minutes conversation makes even the most confident person nervous – especially if it’s a young adult who is fairly new at the interviewing process. As newly-minted graduates begin their job hunts, it’s important to keep in mind a few essentials that will make the interview process successful.
Follow up right away
Whether you want the job or aren’t at all interested, or whether you sensed is was a success or that it didn’t go as well as you had hoped, a thank you follow-up email is a requirement, not an option. You are creating a professional profile of yourself that will follow you everywhere you go, and if this job wasn’t particularly good for you, you never know when another opportunity might come along.
Be confident but not arrogant
Projecting confidence means promoting yourself, but sometimes self-promotion seems arrogant. The key here is to relate your talents to other experiences you’ve had. Rather than proclaiming ” I was the best intern at company A,” tell the interviewer why you were the best with an example of a project in which you participated and contributed a substantial amount. This can be a tricky one.
Be nice to everyone
Treat everyone you meet at a prospective job with courtesy and respect from the security guard to the receptionist, the assistant to the CEO. You can never be sure who listens to whose opinions.
When in doubt, overdress
Even if you know for certain that everyone in the office comes to work in jeans and flip flops, do not dress that way for the interview.
For men, a pair of slacks, an open-neck dress shirt and a sport coat are good options. No sneakers – invest in a pair of decent shoes – you’ll need them again, that’s for sure. And shave that 3 day stubble. you can always grow it back once you are hired.
For women, a simple dress or black slacks and a nice top are good choices, along with closed-toes shoes. Go easy on the makeup and keep your hair simple and neat.
Don’t be late
If there is the least bit concerned about traffic, trains running on time, getting an Uber or taxi or any other issues, it’s a good idea to leave for the interview at least a half an hour early, if not more.
Chances are there’s a Starbucks or other place to wait for a little while until it’s time for the appointment – but go easy on the coffee ! Having a few minutes to get composed and go over meeting notes ( more about that later ) can be calming.
Bring paper
The interview will have already read your resume, but it never hurts to bring hard copies to the appointment.
Along with resumes, a list of questions for the interviewer is a good idea to have handy in case of nerves or a black moment – which is very possible during a high stress experience like a job interview. It’s also helpful to have a pen handy – you never know when you might need to write something down.
Be prepared for the unexpected
Most the first interviews are made up of fairly straightforward and universal questions. It’s always a good idea to be ready for anything, especially when interviewing with companies that are not traditionally structured such as small start ups and creative environments.
