Interview Tips

We all get nervous about interviews from time to time… or always. Doing the proper research beforehand can help to ease some nerves and also lead to greater success. There are the basic tips like dress professionally and don’t show up late. We have seven unique tips that are easy to implement but are commonly overlooked when preparing for an interview.

1. Don’t schedule your interview for early on Monday’s or late on Friday’s.

Sometimes you may not have control over this. If the employer asks if you’d prefer Monday at 10:30 or Tuesday at 10:30, go with Tuesday. Studies show that peoples’ minds may not be fully engaged in work early on Monday’s and late on Friday’s so you are better off with mid-week interviews.


2. Aim to be 10 minutes early

Don’t be too early to the interview because it can cause more anxiety while you wait to interview and it can cause the interviewer stress and pressure because they feel as though you are waiting on them to begin the interview. You do not want to be anxious and you do not want your interviewer to be stress. 10 minutes is the perfect amount of time because it shows that you are serious because you are early but it does not create boredom and anxiety for you nor does it add pressure to the interviewer.


3. Leave your phone in the car.

This may seem like common sense but you would be surprised how many people bring their phones into an interview. You may have your phone so you can watch the time or have something to look at while waiting for the interviewer, but you should just leave it in the car. Even the slight glance at your cell phone can lead the interviewer to believe you aren’t serious about the job and it can be seen as a sign of disrespect.


4. Wear color.

Of course you do not want to be distracting with too much color and flashy jewelry but some color is important. It seems when you wear color people think that you are happier and friendlier. Do not go with all neutral tones or you will not stand out. It is a delicate balance between too much and too little. You are your best judge but we recommend incorporating color in a professional way into your attire for an interview.


5. Notice the time-table of the interviewer’s questions

If the interviewer is asking questions in a future manner that is a good sign. If the interviewer is asking you about your future plans and where you will see yourself this is because they are naturally picturing you in their organization in the future and they are curious whether your plans align with their ideas. The further into the future the interviewer frames questions or conversation, the better.


6. When answering a question talk for no less than 20 seconds and no more than 2 minutes.

This is important because you do not want to leave awkward silences by giving an inadequate answer but you also do not want to exceed about two minutes and dominate all of the discussion. Studies show that during most successful interviews the dialogue is about 50/50- 50% the interviewer and 50% the interviewee.


7. Send a thank you note or email after the interview.

This point is one that is so easy yet so many people neglect to do it. Not only does a thank you note make you look thoughtful but it is also a great way to follow up! You do not even need to hand write a letter, email is sufficient. Sending a thank you is a great way to make you stand out. If an employer is on the fence about whether or not to hire you, a thank you note may sway them in your favor.

Creating Your Own Brand

In the job marketplace we all know that networking and professionalism are important, but how do you want to be seen by others? You don’t want to be the same as everyone else. That is why you must create your own personal brand. Within your brand you can focus on your strengths and how you would be a valuable asset to any company. You must set yourself apart from the crowd. We have compiled three major steps in formulating your own self-brand for the business market.

1. Figure out who you are and who you want to be. 

Think about yourself, your values and your principles. You want to portray yourself as you are so that you find a company whose values align with yours. Think about who you’d like to be in a business. Are you a leader? How so? What types of tasks are you best at? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Take a personality assessment such as “The Big Five Personality Traits” so that you understand what type of organization you would fit best into based on your personality style. 

2. Develop your strengths and weaknesses and be able to speak to them.

Think about what comes naturally to you. A great tool to use would be the StrengthFinder application. This assessment helps to identify major areas of strength and why/where/when these strengths would be useful. Identify your weaknesses as well as your strengths. Think about how you can utilize your strengths to help you to improve upon your weaknesses. Think about this in a way that you could explain to an employer when being interviewed or networking. The ability not only to admit to a weakness but also how you can improve upon it is very valuable to any employer. 

3. Define your goals.

What is your dream job? Why is this job your dream job? Incorporate the first two steps into your goal. How can you utilize your strengths to reach your goals? Think about your values and beliefs and use that to figure out what type of organization you’d like to work for. Create your own personal mission statement. Your goals should be SMART or Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound. The more concrete you are about your goals with yourself and your potential employer, the more likely you will accomplish them.

The concept of marketing yourself or “selling” yourself may seem slightly tacky but it is actually one of the most genuine ways to be honest about who you are & what you want, and it will help you to find an employer who is interested in those things. Creating a personal brand will help you to become more appealing to employers because of your individuality and it will help you to find an organization whose values align with yours!