How to Ace an Interview

Parade Magazine lists six steps to acing an interview as follows:

• Prepare, prepare, prepare.

• Keep your answers short.

• When in doubt, overdress.

• Be positive.

• Say to the interviewer, “I really want this job.”

• Follow up promptly.

This is a great list IMO. My thoughts on each of these suggestions:

1. Of course you need to prepare. Study the company, sure, but preparing your responses to key interview questions is the KEY to interview preparation.

2. Preparing your answers in advance can help you keep them short and to the point. You'll be able to communicate a lot in a minimum of words if you plan/practice/rehearse your answers. And, it will make you look smarter.

3. It's better to overdress and be a bit "stuffy" than to underdress and be a "slob" (or at least look like you don't value the interview opportunity.) If I'm unsure of what to wear, I go with a suit and tie. But generally I simply ask my contact what the company's dress policy is since I want to be appropriately attired.

4. Seems like "being positive" just keeps popping up again and again. Must be something to it, huh?

5. I don't say, “I really want this job,” but I communicate it in other ways. For example, "I'm really excited about this opportunity", "Of all the positions I've interviewed for, this one is special" or "I like this job so much because I know I'll be able to help the company" (or something like this. Notice how I worked a selling point in the last one too?)

6. ALWAYS send a thank you note within a day of the interview. Nice touch that can't hurt but can help.

From the interview, you'll either get the job or not get it (unless they reschedule you for another round of interviews). Here's what you should do if you get a job offer and what to do if you don't get it.

Comments

[Cyn94601]

I agree. And I would say always send a hand written thank you note. You will seperate yourself from those that send a thank you by email.

It's even worth having a interview "kit" with
-Resumes
-Contacts/references
-thank you notes and stamps
-printed materials regarding who you are interviewing with.

As soon as your interview is over, drive to a post office box, write your thank you note and mail it. You will have stuff fresh on your mind and they will proabably receive your note the next day.