By Sarah-Jean Murray
So I had two interviews last week as I talked about a little bit in my last blog post. One of the jobs was not really what I was looking for long-term wise so I had to turn it down. Of course you may be wondering, "WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT. YOU'RE UNEMPLOYED". That is true, however just because I don't currently have a job does not mean I will be settling into a job that I know will not be a good fit for me. I was not comfortable with the company culture and despite the fact I enjoyed the interview, I knew that accepting that position would make me unhappy down the road.
Now on to the theme of this week's post: preparing for interviews. Now you may think you have this all down pat, but there is always room for improvement. Take every opportunity to learn from your mistakes so that you can perform better in future interviews. Even if you're in an interview for a job you don't plan on taking, it's good to practice your interview skills.
Appropriate Dress: This should be common sense. It doesn't matter if you're interviewing for a prestigious position at a private marketing firm or a mall job, clean yourself up! You can never be too overdressed for an interview. It shows that you care about the interview and you took the time to prepare beforehand. I have been in a group interview before where a lady was wearing sweatpants. SWEATPANTS. The horror. If you're unsure about what to wear, you can either call or email the person who contacted you about the interview and ask. Completely clueless about professional dress? I've got you covered. You can either browse Pinterest for some outfit inspiration or go to this handy dandy link:
Ask Questions: I think this is the portion of the interview that largely goes unused during an interview. I like to ask questions during the interview as well as afterwards. Follow up the interviewer's questions with questions of your own. Try to find out as much as you can about the position (usually they'll tell you all about it though), the company culture and what the company is trying to achieve. Ask about their marketing plans, who their target audience is, what their future goals are and what they're looking for in an employee (if they didn't mention it already). If you're interested in the position, show them. Asking questions is a great way to have a conversation with the interviewer instead of just sitting there answering questions. Be prepared to answer those questions, but try to engage the interviewer past that point. There are a few questions that are similar from interview to interview however prepare yourself beforehand for some off-the-wall questions.
The Follow Up: Many people leave the interview thinking that they're done. They just have to sit back and wait for 'The Call'. FALSE. Follow up with your interviewer after the interview. Send either an email or card thanking the interviewer for his/her time and talk about some points you touched on during the interview. Mention that you really appreciate the opportunity and re-iterate some of your skills you can bring to the company. Always, always get in contact after an interview (within 24 hours), no exceptions. Even if you don't want the position or you think you didn't get the job, always follow up.
Be Honest: There's no point in lying in an interview, it won't get you anywhere. You'll eventually be found out and it'll blow up in your face. Be truthful about how you got to where you are today. Talk about what you've overcome to get to this point. Don't oversell your skills if you don't feel comfortable doing a particular task. Rather say, "I don't have much experience but it's something that I want to learn". That shows the employer that you are willing to put forth the effort and continue growing as a person. Being honest in an interview ensures that you're a good match for the company. The company doesn't want to be stuck with someone who isn't a good fit and vice versa.
Obviously there are a ton more interview tips but I wanted to touch on some of the top ones (Go here to read some more). Being prepared for an interview shows that you're interested and willing to put forth effort. Employers want to hire someone who is eager to learn and grow within the company. They want to see that you will strive to do your best and be a good employee.
As for next week's post, hopefully I'll be employed by then.
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