Are you ready for your next job interview? Do you know the secrets of pulling off a great interview and getting hired for the job of your dreams? Use these five simple steps to prepare yourself and you will leave the best possible impression you can with the hiring manager.
1.Get there Early – The worst thing you can do is to show up to a job interview late. What does that show to the hiring manager about your dedication level? Why would any hiring manager want to hire a person who doesn’t have the organization skills to show up to the job interview on time? By showing up early for the interview, you are demonstrating and showing respect to the organization and the hiring manager. Also by showing up early, you may have the opportunity for more face time with the interviewer. Face time is important, as the longer you have with the hiring manager, the better your chances you will be chosen for the job.
2.Do your Homework on the Company – Never go into a job interview without knowing anything about the company. You need to do your homework; find out how many locations they have, who is the CEO and what products and services they market. A good idea is to find out their financials from their company website and other investor relations. You should be prepared to ask some questions about what you findings of the company. At the end of every interview that I have been involved with, I like to ask “What questions do you have for me?” I am always amazed with people who have done their homework and are serious about working for the organization.
3 Make sure to Listen and Don’t Interrupt – It may seem counter-productive, however the hiring manger is speaking. It is a demonstrated reality, that hiring managers think interviewers go better, if they do most of the talking. Make sure you use your research about the company and ask a lot of questions to get the interviewer talking.
4.Bring Extra Copies of Your Resume – Hiring Managers have a lot to do and most of the time they don’t have a copy of your resume ready for the interview. Even if they do have a copy, there may be other people besides the hiring manager interviewing you. This also presents a good opportunity to hand them your resume on a good piece of quality paper. Resume paper is thicker and has a nice feel to it and that is what you want the interviewer to associate with you… a good feel. Later, when the hiring manager is reviewing your resume, you will stand out because of it and it provides you a better chance of getting a second interview or even better getting hired for the job.
5.Follow Up – It is always a good idea to follow up with the hiring manager and/or interviewer in some way after the job interview. If the hiring manager gave you their business card, make sure you use it. You can call them and ask a couple of follow up questions and thank them for the opportunity. Also, you should send them a thank you note email. If you didn’t get their business card, then just mail them a thank you letter. The main objective here is to remind the hiring manager about you. And the more they think about you, the better the chances you will get hired for the job.
James Malervy is an expert author and leading influencer on the subject of interviewing. He has worked with such companies as Sprint, Pepsi and the Walt Disney Company and brings his professional experience to job seekers in writing the "Superstar Interview Guide." He provides career advice to hundreds everyday and even provides his services as a Career Coach through Interviewquestions-interviewanswers.blogspot.com and the "Superstar Career Coach E-Zine" available through subscription at InstantJobInterviewTools.com. James is dedicated to helping others in becoming more competitive in the job market, gaining confident in their interviewing skills, and finally getting hired for the job they deserve.