Quick Interview Tips to Put Your Best Foot Forward!

 Think of this as your interview preparation cheat sheet!!

• Be polite and courteous to every person you interact with at the company. Even the receptionist may be asked how you treated her. A little courtesy goes a long way.

• Obtain contact information and proper spelling of the person’s name for anyone who interviews you. The easiest way to do this is to ask for a business card.

• In the interview, be sure to specifically express your interest in working for the company. Don’t be too forward or aggressive, but after you’ve had a chance to learn more about the job and its requirements, it’s fine to say something like, “The more I learn about this job, and the better I get to know the company, the more I know I’d like to work here!”

• If you’re given the opportunity near the end of the interview, be ready to summarize (in 90 seconds or less) why you think you’d be a good fit for the position.

• Ask if there is anything else you can provide to the interviewer to assist in the hiring decision, such as a list of references (you, of course, have this all ready to go!), work samples, a 90-day plan (what you’d do in your first 90 days on the job), etc.

• At the end of the interview, ask what the next step is. You want to know if there is another round of interviews, and when it will begin. Ask if it’s okay for you to follow up with your interviewer if you haven’t heard from them. Ask if they have a specific start date in mind for the position. And finally, ask about how they’d like to be contacted for follow-up — do they prefer phone or email?

Remember that you should also prepare a list of questions to ask the interviewer; 3-5 questions is usually sufficient. Often, interviewers will ask if you have any questions for them. The wrong answer is, “no.” For a very comprehensive list of suggested questions to ask the interviewer, see this previous blog series.

Note: This blog post only touches on certain aspects of this topic and is not a comprehensive list. This blog post is an educational and informational resource for job seekers and is not a substitute for working with a resume writer or other professional. See our Terms and Conditions for additional information.