Tips for a Successful Interview

We understand that going on a job interview can be a stressful experience for most people. Not only are you going to an unfamiliar place in the hopes of finding work, you’re also trying to promote yourself and your job skills in a brief amount of time.

The interview process can be overwhelming – after all, your (potential) job’s at stake – but there’s no need to panic! We’ve compiled several tips for a successful interview that will help you make a great first impression. These helpful hints are good to keep in mind, whether you’re new to interviewing, you haven’t been on an interview in years, or if you’ve gone on many interviews and don’t get offered the jobs you want.

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

Know what you’re going to say
After you’ve made your interview appointment, take some time to interview yourself. Think of some questions that the interviewer will most-likely ask (see our list of Commonly Asked Interview Questions) about you, your work history, and your job skills – then answer them, out loud. (Yes, out loud – hearing your answers will assure you that your wording is correct, and it will help you get used to talking about yourself.)

Keep reviewing your answers until you have them memorized, and then have a friend or relative ask you the same questions. If you get stuck or stumble over any areas, keep working on your answers. You want to make yourself sound as attractive and as appealing as possible, while still remaining truthful. Don’t lie or exaggerate about your skills, the interviewer could test you on them!

By giving yourself a mock interview, you’ll sound more confident, have well-worded answers prepared, and be less nervous during the real interview – after all, you’ve already practiced!

Know where you’re going
Before you leave for your interview, make sure you know exactly where you’re going. Even if you “think” you know where the potential employer’s office is, get directions. Usually, you can ask the person setting up the interview for directions and he or she will be happy to give them to you. Nowadays, many companies list directions on their websites and you can also use an Internet service to get directions.
It’s always a good idea to go to the interview location a day or two before the interview. This way, you’ll know that the directions you were given are correct, you’ll know where you’re going, and you’ll get a good idea of how long it takes to get there.
Knowing where you’re going (especially if you’re traveling to an unfamiliar town or taking routes you don’t normally travel) will save you time, headaches, and the stress of rushing to make it to your interview appointment on time. Which brings us to our next tip...

Arrive early
Always arrive at your interview ten to fifteen minutes early. If your appointment is for 10:00 am, you want to be sitting in their office at 9:45. Why? Arriving early gives you a few extra minutes to settle yourself and to mentally review your answers to your practice interview questions. You won’t have a “rushed” feeling when you walk through the door. (It also shows the employer that you value his or her time and are a punctual person.) Allowing yourself a few extra minutes also leaves you a cushion if, for some reason, you do get lost or run into unexpected traffic on your way to the appointment.

Have everything you need with you
The night before your interview, make sure you have everything you’ll need for the interview ready to go. Bring two clean copies of your resume, a pen, and a list of references. Be prepared and have these items printed out (or photocopied) ahead of time, so you won’t be scrambling to find them at the last minute.

Dress Appropriately
What you wear says a lot about you, and you want to make a great first impression. All too often, employers make quick judgments about an interviewee based on what he or she is wearing (or not wearing). Therefore, you should do everything possible to look your best. Here’s how:

Wear appropriate business attire – this means wearing a suit, (for women, a suit jacket and pants or knee-length skirt; for men, a suit jacket and tie).

Keep it “conservative” – your suit and shoes should be neutral colors, such as black, gray or navy. Men can wear a bright colored tie (red is considered a “power” color).

Don’t be “flashy” – this means avoiding shockingly bright patterns, and not wearing long dangling earrings, lots of clunky bracelets, or heavy necklaces. Women should avoid “big” heavily sprayed hairdos, and keep makeup simple and natural-looking. Men should make sure they’ve shaved recently and trim their beards/mustaches. It may sound obvious, but cover up anything that shouldn’t be exposed (don’t wear revealing, low-cut blouses or short skirts). Also, don’t apply a lot of perfume or cologne before going to your interview. The interviewer may be allergic, and you don’t want to make him or her start sneezing.

Remember, the employer isn’t just assessing your job skills or work history, he or she is also evaluating how you’ll fit in with the rest of the company.

Do your homework
Before you go on your interview, do your homework – about the company and the job. Go online and read through the company’s website to learn more about what they do, their corporate strategy and goals, and their services offered. If possible, read about the job you’re interviewing for and take note of any particular skills or abilities that are required. Learning about the company will give you an added edge during the interview and you’ll be better educated about the job you’re interviewing for.

Have a list of questions for the interviewer
After you’ve done your homework, make a list of questions you have about the company, the position you’re interviewing for, and/or anything else that comes to mind. These can be simple questions about the company’s workweek, available benefits, or what your specific job requirements will be. Review this list of questions often (memorize it), and be ready to ask your questions when the interviewer says “Do you have any questions for me?”

Don’t be afraid (or too shy) to ask what’s on your mind. The more you learn about the company and the job during the interview, the better informed you’ll be when it comes to making a decision about your career.

Turn your cell phone off
Before you step into the interviewer’s office, turn off your cell phone (or leave it in the car). You should be completely focused on your interview and should not be on the phone with your friends or family. It’s a good idea to have the phone with you in case of an emergency or if you need directions, but being on the phone before an interview will give the potential employer the impression that you’re not focused or that the interview (and the potential job) is not important to you.

DURING THE INTERVIEW

Be nice to everyone you meet
It may seem obvious, but when you arrive at the interviewer’s office, be polite and courteous to everyone you meet. (After all, you never know who you’re talking to, and the kindly old man you pass on the stairs may be the owner of the company!) How you treat people you meet for the first time says a lot about you and you want to start off by making a good first impression. Smile and be nice to the people in the office – they may end up being your new coworkers.

Fill out your application honestly, neatly, and quickly
If you’re given an application to fill out, fill it out neatly, quickly, and honestly. You should already know the answers to the questions on the form, and specific information (such as dates of employment or names and phone numbers of references) can be copied from your resume or list of references. Be sure your handwriting is legible and write in blue or black ink. Make sure that you fill in all the requested information. Don’t leave entire sections blank or refuse to fill out an application because a lot of the same information appears on your resume – they are sure ways to lose points with a potential employer.

Greet your interviewer
When you meet your interviewer (or his or her supervisor) greet him or her appropriately. Stand up, shake hands, and make brief eye contact. This will let the interviewer know you are self-confident and professional.

Make eye contact
During the interview, make eye contact with the interviewer. This lets him or her know that you’re interested in what is being said and that you are following along. Eye contact is an important non-verbal signal that you’re making a connection with another person.

Relax
When you sit down for your interview, take a deep breath and relax. Everyone gets nervous during an interview, but not everyone shows it. Remember to breathe and focus on what the interviewer is saying. The interviewer will understand if you’re a bit nervous, but try to mentally calm yourself and recall what you’ve rehearsed in your mock interviews.

Know when to talk about yourself (or your skills)
During the course of the interview, it’s important to know when to talk about yourself or your skills. The interviewer will ask you about your previous job, or say “tell me about yourself,” this is when you should play up your strengths, show your interest and enthusiasm for the position, and use the answers to the mock interview questions you prepared. Answer the interviewer’s questions fully and honestly (don’t give one-word answers, vague answers, or make up stories about your previous jobs or skills). Try to be engaging, interesting, and appealing to the interviewer.

Know when to keep quiet
Now that you know when to talk about yourself, you should also know when to keep quiet. Follow this simple, yet important, rule: Do not interrupt the interviewer when he or she is talking. It’s not only rude, but it will give the interviewer the impression that you do not listen and that you do not value what he or she is saying. Listen to the interviewer and wait for an appropriate time to comment.

Be willing to stay longer if the interviewer asks you to
If the interviewer asks you to stay longer, to meet with other members of the company or to take tests – do it. This is usually a sign that the interviewer is interested in hiring you, and may want you to meet with a higher-up who makes the final hiring decisions. The interviewer may ask you to take some skills tests (such as computer, spelling, or math) to better gauge your level of experience. Since you never know when a potential employer will ask you to stay longer, it’s always a good idea to allot a large block of time (such as two hours) for the interview. If for some reason, you absolutely cannot stay later, ask to schedule another appointment at a later date.

Ask your questions
When the interviewer says, “Do you have any questions?” it’s time to ask anything that’s on your mind. This is your opportunity to find out more specific information about the job you’re interviewing for, the salary, and anything else that you’re not clear on. You may want to ask the employer when they’re expecting to make a final decision about the position or when they’d like the new person to start work.

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

Go home and relax – then evaluate the job
After your interview, go home and relax. Now is a good time to call friends or family members who “want to know how it went” and to think about the job, the company, and the interview in general. Based on your time spent at the potential employer’s office, you should have gotten a “feel” for the place – how busy the office is, what type of environment it is, and what the employees were like. You should also have an idea about the job itself. Consider all the factors about the job, what the interviewer told you about the company, and what your overall impressions were. Take some time to think about the office and the job as it was described to you, and ask yourself if you’d be happy doing that job for that company.

Call TPG Staffing LLC
After you’ve arrived home and evaluated the interview, call us. We want to know what you think of the company, the position, and how interested you are in the job. Be honest with us and tell us if you think the job would be a good match for you. After we’ve spoken to you, we will contact the interviewer and ask him or her how the interview went. If the company is interested in setting up a second interview to meet with you again, we will arrange it. In some cases, employers will wait a few days before deciding which candidates they would like to interview a second time. Be patient and rest assured that we will contact you as soon as we hear from the employer. If the employer chooses another candidate, don’t worry. TPG Staffing LLC will keep working to place you in another position.

Remember, the more interviews you go on, the better you become at interviewing, and your odds of finding a job increase dramatically. Keep focused, and keep polishing your skills. You never know when the perfect job will come along!

COMMONLY ASKED INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Before you go to your interview, be prepared to answer the following questions:

• What interests you in this position?
• What were your responsibilities at your last job?
• What was an average day like at your last job?
• What were some of your greatest accomplishments at your last job?
• Why did you leave your last job?
• Have you ever done this kind of work before?
• What did you like most and least about your last job?
• What did your previous supervisors praise you for?
• What makes you a successful employee?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• Which three adjectives best describe you (or your work)?
• What is your educational background?
• What computer skills do you have?
• What are your salary requirements?
• When can you start work?