Interviewing:
During the Interview
First impressions often determine your success. Make the best possible first impression through your appearance, behavior, and timeliness. You have been asked for an interview because you possess the basic qualifications for the job, such as education and work experience. During the interview, employers will look for several qualities in the candidates such as honesty, credibility, intelligence, competence, enthusiasm, spontaneity, friendliness, and likeability. Much of the message communicating these qualities will be conveyed through your nonverbal behavior. You can communicate these messages by engaging in several nonverbal behaviors such as:
- Demonstrate your self-confidence with a firm handshake.
- Make eye contact frequently, but don't overdo it. You will be perceived as more trustworthy if you look at the interviewer as you ask and answer questions. A direct, though moderate, eye gaze conveys interest as well as trustworthiness.
- Sit with a slight forward lean toward the interviewer. If not overdone, it communicates your interest in what the interviewer is saying.
- Try to convey interest and enthusiasm through your vocal inflections. Your tone of voice can say a lot about you and how interested you are in the interviewer and organization.
- Smiling will also help reinforce your positive image. You should smile enough to convey your positive attitude.
- Sit up straight. Good posture communicates confidence and professionalism.
Other tips:
- Your goal should be to make your interviewer comfortable.
- Make a favorable impression on everyone you meet.
- Present yourself in a straightforward, honest manner. If you do not know the answer to a question, do not try to fake it.
- If you are unclear about a question, do not hesitate to ask for details.
- Ask to meet with other people in the organization, especially those with whom you would be working.
- Investment banking and most consulting interviews have the reputation for being the most stressful. Be prepared for interviewers to test you to see how well you handle stressful situations.
Possible problem areas:
During the course of an interview, you may be asked difficult questions. Some of these include:
- "Tell me about yourself..." Briefly detail what qualities or skills you possess that match the needs of the job and, most importantly, how you have demonstrated these abilities in the past.
- Issues such as unemployment, prior terminations, or low GPA. Everyone has weaknesses. Be honest and present your case in as positive a manner as possible. Whatever you do, do not make excuses or blame others for your prior misfortunes or failures.
- Salary issues: Salaries are often established by companies before the interview process begins. Be sure you have done your homework and have solid information about your market value. As a negotiation point, however, you do not want to bring up salary first unless absolutely necessary. (See Evaluating and Negotiating a Job Offer for more information.)
- Illegal questions: Employers may only ask questions that are directly related to the job requirements. If you find yourself in a situation where an employer asks an illegal question, consider the following:
- If you answer the question be mindful that any information that you provide during an interview may be taken into consideration in the selection process. Be sure that you are comfortable with sharing certain personal information with employers.
- If you refrain from answering the question (which is within your rights) do so in a polite and respectful manner. Depending upon the context and how the message is received, you could risk alienating or offending the interviewer.
- What is the interviewer's underlying concern or question? You could answer the question in such a way that assures him or her that your personal situation would not interfere with requirements of the job. For example, "What country are you from?" The employer's real concern could be related to work authorization. Therefore, rather than responding to the actual question, provide the information that you are authorized to work in the U.S.
Close the Interview
Interviewers normally will initiate the close by standing, shaking hands, and thanking you for coming to the interview. At this point it is proper to ask the interviewer about the selection plans:
- "Based on our meeting today, do you think I'm a good fit for the position?" (This gives you a chance to address any issues or concerns they may have had that you weren't able to address).
- Ask what the next steps and timeline are.
- "When do you anticipate making your final decision?"
- Tell them you want the job. If you don't, there's a good chance you won't get it.
- "May I have your business card?" Getting a business card is important. You will need it to confirm the spelling of the interviewer's name on your thank-you note and for the contact information for any follow-up calls.
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