After you have decided what you want to do and have applied for a job where you want to work, getting an interview for your chosen job and leaving a good impression are the next parts of finding a job.
If you haven’t arrived at this stage in your job hunt yet, click on this link to go to Part 1 of this post. In it, you will learn how to determine what you want to do, how to find a job, and how to apply for it. Check it out!
The interview
An interview is a meeting between you and the company’s rep to see if you and the company are a good fit for each other.
8 things to do before a job interview
When you’re planning for the interview, there are eight things I should do.
1) Research the company you’re interviewing with; if you haven’t already. Look at their website.
I always read the history, products, mission statement, and employee culture.
2) Practice possible interview questions and have answers.
Robin Ryan is a Job Search guru I have been following for years. She has written books and articles; also owns her own Career Counseling business. She wrote a post about the top tough interview questions and answers to those questions. Click here to go to that post.
One thing to watch out for is sounding rehearsed or fake. True, you do want to sound prepared but not fake.
I practice what I’m going to say a few times (just to make sure it sounds right) and then move to the next question.
3) Think of questions you’d like to ask. These can come from researching the company and reading the job post. Or just out of curiosity.
4) Do a drive by of the company. This means take a ride out to the company so you will know where it is. Looking the route up using GPS will tell you how long it will take to get there. You want to arrive at least ten minutes before the interview.
By arriving early, you can relax and go back over everything to make sure you are prepared!
5) Choose what you are going to wear.
Appearance: The idea of what to wear to an interview came from a restaurant franchise district manager I know. I’ll call him Chuck. He does a lot of hiring of the management and crew for the restaurants he oversees.
For him, a neat appearance is key. Hair should be styled in a flattering way. Nails clean and clipped. Beards trimmed and neat.
Clothing: When it comes to clothes, a clean button-down shirt, khakis or dress pants, and decent-looking shoes for guys.
The same works for women (I wear a blouse and dress pants); however, dresses and skirts are acceptable. If you choose a dress or skirt, please wear pantyhose and dress shoes. Remember you want to look put together.
My friend, Chuck, also had a clothing don’ts such as no shorts, no jeans, and no T-shirts with big logos or large writing.
He is not the only one who feels this way. A quick google search will show clothes that shouldn’t be worn to a job interview.
6) Always check your hygiene. If you haven’t showered or bathed in a while, please bathe. You may like your brand of musk, but that doesn’t mean others do.
7) Have an extra copy of your resume. Just in case the interviewer needs a copy.
I have had to give an interviewer a copy of my resume. It surprised me that he didn’t have one. So make sure you have one.
8) The night before, make sure you get a good night’s sleep.
At the job interview
First of all, be polite. You may have to check in at the front desk. Let them know who you’re here to meet with and your name.
Secret fact: In some companies, the receptionist or the people you meet before you meet the interviewer have a say in whether you’re hired or not. Afterward, the interviewer will ask that person’s opinion of you.
If you have to wait before going into the interview, take a few deep breaths. If you’re nervous, that’s okay and expected.
During the interview
The interview is a question-and-answer session with some small talk thrown in.
Always give the interviewer your attention and make eye contact as you answer questions. It’s okay to look away every so often. You don’t want to stare but do look the person in the eye.
During most interviews, you will be asked if you have any questions. Here’s your chance to ask those questions you planned or get more information about something you all have discussed.
If the interview is over and you were not given the opportunity to ask, it’s okay to ask.
If pay has not been brought up, don’t bring it up. Leave that question for when they offer you the job. According to the Staffing Services leader, Robert Half International, that that should be the earliest time that pay should be brought up.
After the job interview
Before you leave, make sure you remember the name of your interviewer, because you should write him or her a Thank You note.
Thank them for meeting with you and again express your interest in the position.
Now you wait to hear from the company. As you were leaving, the person you met with should tell you when you should hear from them. If you don’t hear back from them, chances are you didn’t get the job.
The takeaway
Finding a job is a task that can be easy for some and hard for others. One fact that is true for both is it takes work.
If you know what you want to do, where and how to apply for a position, and wow the company during the interview, you have a chance of landing the job you want.
Just saying!
If you have tips or stories about your job search that you like to share, please put them in the comment section below. They could be a help to others.
