Learn About the Company
A potential boss wants to make sure any job recruit at least knows the name of the business and what they do. This will help weed out any candidates who are less than serious about the position.
Go into any interview with basic knowledge of the company. Know what they do, know their mission and for extra points, learn about any awards or commendations received in the last 5 years. There is no need to memorize them all. Simply pick a couple that are relevant to the position being sought.
Be Prepared for Tough Questions
Nothing makes an interview go downhill quicker than a lot of stammering or overuse of the sounds 'uh' or 'um'. This can turn a potential employer off of even the most qualified candidate. Management loves to throw curve balls during interviews. Things are going seemingly well and then out of nowhere tough interview questions start flying:
What is your worst quality?
Tell me about a bad boss you have worked for in the past.
What are some examples of people you are unable to work with?
Questions like these don't have to be tough. Just prepare for these questions ahead of time and answering them can be as easy as talking about the weather. Remember to stay positive. Turn a bad quality into a good one. Being over helpful can actually be a bad quality, but in a work situation it will turn an employee into a shining star. Preparation is key when it comes to acing tough interview questions.
Dress for Success
This catchy phrase never goes out of style because it is so true. Dress properly for all interviews.
For men it is best to be have a shaved face with no five o'clock shadow. For beard or mustache wearers, make sure they are trimmed and neat in appearance. Even if the business itself has a very casual dress policy it is still imperative to dress nicely for the interview. A button down shirt, khaki pants with a belt, dress shoes and a fresh haircut can make a very good first impression. Wearing a watch is a good idea, too. It is a good sign of responsibility.
For women, it is important to keep make-up and accessories low key. Make sure to avoid bright red lipstick and bold blue eyeshadow. Dress nicely, taking care to maintain a professional look. When wearing a skirt or dress, the most appropriate length is anything below the knee. Also, this is a situation where it is best to avoid showing too much cleavage. Find a blouse that fits nicely, but isn't frumpy. Steer clear of loud accessories, both in color and in sound. Stay away from jewelry that is too bright or will make a lot of noise, such as wrist full of bangles.
Don't Bash Former Bosses
It is important to resist the temptation to bash former places of employment. Many managers will lay this trap during the interview process. Don't fall into it! Keep an upbeat and positive tone concerning former bosses. This is a good time to mention all the things you have learned from your former employment that will help with the job in question.
Finally, don't forget to be friendly and smile. This can be easy to forget during a job interview where stress levels are high. It is essential to be polite, too. Most importantly, never forget to thank the interviewer for their time.
Jennifer Tanner-Jordan - Jennifer attended Jacksonville State University, lives at home with 3 cats and a husband. She is an advocate of spay-neuter.
