Off to an interview? Here a helpful some tips to help
impress your interviewer.
How to Ace your interview.
Six body language tips
1. Enter the room confidently. When you meet your interviewer for the first time, hold your head up and put on a smile. Interviews can be daunting, but if you go into it anticipating the worst, your body language will reflect this attitude. Be positive!
2. In any professional environment, a handshake can say a lot about you. Keep it firm, but don’t overdo it.
3. Pay attention to your posture. Good posture will tell your interviewer that you are confident and have a strong personality. Poor posture could be interpreted as lazy or lacking interest.
4. Avoid fidgeting, tapping your feet or playing with your hair. These actions demonstrate a lack of confidence and are distracting.
5. Make and keep eye contact so you can connect with your interviewer. This will reassure them when you tell them that you have the skills, qualifications and/or experience to be successful in the role. It might be a little uncomfortable at first, but it is important. Use other body expressions that demonstrate interest or confirm your understanding such as nodding, tilting your head or raising your eyebrows.
6. Don’t cross your arms. Crossing your arms in front of you indicates defensiveness, resistance, aggressiveness or a closed mind. Use your hands to be expressive when you are talking and, when you’re not speaking, keep your hands folded in your lap. You might answer all the questions fired at you during an interview, but if your body language is sloppy, your overall image may be perceived in this way too. Don’t miss your opportunity to shine because of poor body language.
Come prepared
Know yourself – your strengths, weaknesses and accomplishments. A job interview is not the time to wing it! Prepare as much as you would for a presentation to the Board of Directors at your company.
Research the company
Find out as much as you can about the company through annual reports, newspapers, Value Line, S&P, etc. Your effort will show in the job interview, and you’ll be seen as proactive, hardworking and astute. Dress appropriately to match the company culture
Corporate in a full suit is always important. Make sure your hair (and make-up) are tidy and that you wear polished, closed-toe shoes.
Arrive 5 to 10 minutes early (no earlier)
I know it goes unsaid, but be punctual. Punctuality is a subtle clue about attitude and behaviour. Tardiness, no matter the excuse, is a major blunder. Plan for your worst-case scenario travel situation to give yourself plenty of time. If you do arrive more than 10 minutes early to an interview, go to a café to sit, or simply take a relaxed walk around the block. Not being too early also shows you respect their time.
Exhibit enthusiasm
First impressions, positive or negative, dramatically affect the ultimate evaluation. You can make or break a job interview within the first five minutes.
Appear friendly and outgoing
Smile and say hello to everyone. A positive reaction from the support staff is an important factor in the evaluation. Many hires have been heavily influenced by an administrative assistant.
Be self-confident
High self-esteem and self-confidence are the hallmarks of the successful individual. With confidence, be able to demonstrate how you have overcome obstacles. There’s nothing wrong with feeling good about yourself.
Come prepared for key questions
Practice your responses to all the typical questions, such as tell me about yourself and why are you looking for a new position? How well you speak will have a bigger impact than what you say.
Remain involved
The most effective job interviews are those where an active two-way conversation takes place, not the typical question and answer type. Begin early in the interview to interject your own relevant insight. Remember not to interrupt your interviewer.
Establish your worth
Discuss your specific accomplishments that demonstrate a proactive attitude. These could include that you have installed systems, did something that was not yet asked of you, trained someone, etc. It’s always important to demonstrate how you either created revenue or saved expenses and be specific with the amounts and how you accomplished that goal.
Know your six key strengths
Be prepared to discuss in detail and with examples your five or six main attributes. These should be the ultimate reason you get the job over someone else. Assuming you have done the proper homework on the company, these strengths should also be closely aligned to the key traits the employer is looking for in a person to fill their position.
Give 1 to 2-minute responses
Communication is the key to successful interviewing. A minimum of one to two minutes of well-prepared discussion gives the interviewer insight into your intellect and supports your contentions.
Provide examples / details
Support statements about yourself with specific examples. These will provide legitimacy to your claims. Without them, the interviewer won’t accept them as valid.
Remain attentive
Stay alert during the job interview. Maintain good eye contact. Sit forward in your chair. Be animated. Show high levels of interest and stay enthused. These actions can maintain or generate momentum during the interview. This is especially important when you are doing multiple interviews on the same day. The energy level must be as high for the last interview as it is for the first.
Don’t be arrogant
A presumptuous, overbearing attitude will offset the finest abilities. There’s a fine line between being too confident and cocky. Don’t cross that line.
Ask probing questions
A few strategic questions can demonstrate your intelligence, analytical skills and assertiveness. Have these prepared from your research. Avoid superficial small talk.
Be positive about co-workers
Don’t bad-mouth previous positions, companies or employers. No matter how well-founded, this type of talk implies a negative attitude, typical of those who don’t take personal responsibility for their actions.
Clearly state your interest
By the conclusion of the interview, state explicitly that you are definitely interested in the position and would like to know when the next step will take place. It’s best to demonstrate this interest throughout the session. Be careful not to go overboard.
If you are looking to make your next career move, get in touch today.
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