Job Interview Tips: 3 Opportunities to Make a Great Impression in the Interview
In your job interview, the details matter. The big picture is often the same, in terms of the process, but how you handle each individual step tells the interviewer a tremendous amount about you and how youâll approach the job. Here are 3 opportunities for you to stand out from your competition:
Presentation
Make a great first impression by dressing well for your interviewâusually that means you should try to aim for conservative but stylish. What you want is to look like youâre on top of the trends while avoiding things that could potentially offend an interviewer (like a tattoo) or distract from your message (like strong scents or a low-cut blouse). I think pants are fine for women to wear, though.
Watch your body language, too. Lean forward, smile, be calmâno nervous, fidgety gestures.
Overall, you want your confidence and professionalism to shine through. If youâre unsure about how youâre coming across in an interview situation, make the investment in a personal interview coaching session.
Preparation
You know youâve got to do your research on the company before your interviewâdo you know why? Itâs because (1) you donât want to waste your allotted interview time on things you can find out on your own; and (2) it helps you formulate in-depth, knowledgeable questions (asking questions is important), come up with targeted answers for typical interview questions, and create your 30-60-90-day plan.
Go through your brag book and highlight things that you think will really play well with this interviewer at this company. When the time is right in the interview, youâll be presenting job-relevant informationâitâs evidence that counts.
Planning
Create a 30-60-90-day action plan for what youâll do in the first 90 days on the job. It doesnât have to be complicatedâ¦it just has to show that youâve thought about the position and how youâll be successful at it for this particular company. But remember, itâs not a one-size-fits-all document: a 30-60-90-day plan is most effective when you include company-specific details that customize it.
Donât forget to coach your references! Give your references a heads-up that youâre going for this interview, and maybe even remind them of particular instances or qualities that will be especially helpful for this position. Good references can be the finishing touch that convince the hiring manager to offer you the job.
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Author Byline: Peggy McKee
Author Website: http://www.career-confidential.com
Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.