First impressions are everything in the interview process, and if you don’t make a good one, you may never get another chance to redeem yourself. You’re an exceptional candidate with a lot to offer, so pull out all stops to show the interviewer why you’re the best person for the job.
Arrive a Little Early
Showing up late to a job interview is one of the best ways to make a bad impression, so avoid this at all costs. At minimum, arrive on time, and if possible, get there a few minutes early. This shows your ability to be punctual and makes it clear you respect the interviewer’s time. If possible, take a trial run to the office before the big day, so you don’t get lost and allow yourself plenty of extra time to get there.
Dress in Your Interview Best
Regardless of the company’s dress code, you always need to look like a consummate professional at a job interview. Pull your best suit out of the closet, polish your shoes, and take a little extra time grooming yourself, so you appear perfectly polished. From an interviewer’s prospective, if you’re not motivated enough to look your best for a potentially career-changing interview, you probably don’t really want the job.
Be Prepared
In the digital era, it’s easy to assume you no longer need to arrive with extra copies of your resume, but the last thing you want is to be asked for one and have to admit you’re unprepared. Additionally, bring a pen and paper to take notes, practice responses to common interview questions and conduct background research on the company.
Display Positive Body Language
The nonverbal messages you send often speak louder than words, so be very cognizant of your body language. When you’re nervous, it’s easy to do things like fidgeting, crossing your arms, and playing with your hair without even realizing it, but this behavior is very distracting. Throughout the interview, remind yourself to keep both feet on the floor, maintain eye contact with the interviewer and nod your head to show you’re listening.
Ask Great Questions
During the interview, your job isn’t just to answer questions — you also need to come up with some really great ones for the interviewer. You’ll appear uninterested if you say you don’t have anything to ask and focused on the wrong things if you inquire about vacation days and salary, so choose questions about company culture, training and goals for the person chosen for the position.
Send a Thank You Note
All your efforts to make a great impression might be in vein if you fail to quickly follow-up with a thank you note. Unless the company is super traditional, sending it via email is perfectly acceptable. Reach out to everyone you met with and do so within 24 hours of the interview.
Finding the right job in the Lehigh Valley, Berks County, Bucks County or New Jersey can be overwhelming, so let HTSS, Inc. do the legwork for you. Our expert recruiters will guide you to an opportunity that perfectly aligns with your career goals for the future. Get started today!