An Interview = An Opportunity

The Interview

Just after your resume` and cover letter, an interview is usually your prime chance to make a great first impression.  I feel that having the chance to meet with a potential employer face-to-face, rather than just via a few pieces of paper, is always a better way to show 'em what you've got.  

However, many people that go on interviews forget about the small stuff.

1)  Dress professionally.  No, not like a kid trying to be a professional...but top to toes professional.  THIS INCLUDES UNDERGARMENTS.  You don't want your interviewer's standout memory of your interview experience to be the panoramic view of a massive wedgie as you exit their office.  No, no, no!

2)  Bring extra copies of your resume` and cover letter.  In the event that it's a panel interview, or if another supervisor/important entity in the company decides to pop in unexpectedly, it always shows foresight when you can nonchalantly slip a copy of your credentials in front of them without having to interrupt the meeting.

3)  Have supporting documents with you.  While this is rarely required, especially during an initial interview, I've always thought of supporting documents like a security blanket.  In a high pressure situation, it's easy to lose your cool, but even easier to lose your memory!  Even if you never open your portfolio, or binder of prior experience, having it as a concrete object in front of you allows you to pull ideas from it.  You may not need to open it, but having a well organized collection of supporting documents can give you inspiration in a pinch. It also lets the interviewer know you've done your homework, you have experience and you can prove it.

4)  Don't be afraid to ask for a few seconds!  There's nothing worse than answering an interview question with a knee-jerk reaction and wanting to slap yourself in the head right after.  The English language is rife with filler phrases, so work some of them into your repertoire to buy your brain a few extra seconds of processing time.  "Wow, I hadn't really thought of that before.  Let me think about that for a second."  Now your brain has caught up with your mouth and you can give an appropriate response.  (Politicians do it ALL the time.)  Trust me, it's so worth it.

5)  Show up with confidence.  In this tough economy, if you've been invited to the party you're already a hundred miles in front of the pack.  The company has clearly expressed interest in you, and even carved out a portion of their day just to meet with YOU.  So, take it for the compliment that it is and have confidence in your abilities.  Rather than focusing on whether or not they like you, or if you are the one they want, assume they already do or they wouldn't have called you.  Focus on your strengths, abilities and what sets you apart.  The rest is a trip to HR to negotiate salary ;-)

6)  Never fear...NEGOTIATE!  Once you know you have the position on lock, you have one opportunity to negotiate a higher salary.  An employer is always going to do their best to keep their own costs down, and so if you don't ask for anything more, they have no motivation to offer you more.  And once you're hired, salary increases are usually slight, and few-and-far between.  Be prepared with prior salary, prior related experience, education and any other tidbits of information that can help you secure a better take-home for yourself.  The worst thing they can say is no, or it's the best they can do.  You haven't lost anything by asking.

That being said, I need to hop in the shower and prepare for my own interview today.  Wish me luck!

~Michelle In Turn