The article titled “Interviewing 101” was published in the Spring 2013 issue of the Chicago Bar Association “YLS Careers Update” newsletter.
It is every job seeker’s worst nightmare. You are interviewing for your ideal position and like Murphy’s Law, everything that can go wrong goes wrong. There are countless interview faux pas: you arrive late to the interview; your cell phone rings; you were tongue-tied or babbled while answering a critical question or mispronounced the interviewer’s name. Mistakes happen but you can attempt to avoid most blunders.
When your hard work has paid off and you landed an interview, it is critical not to be cocky and over confident because you still have to be interviewed. While you succeeded in the preliminary job search steps because your resume and cover letter met the minimum standards, your interpersonal skills will be scrutinized in the interview. Everything you say and do during the interview will be examined. The key to interviewing well is (1) preparation, (2) practice, (3) answering the questions asked, (4) proper “interview etiquette,” (5) knowing how to turn around a tough interview, and (6) leaving the interview in a meaningful way.
1. Preparation
Research the company and interviewer. At the very least, review the company’s website and speak with people within your network about the company and interviewer. Learn about the company’s competitors and gain a good sense of work that the company performs. Prepare a list of several questions that you can and should ask during the interview. If you do not ask questions about the potential employer and the position, the interviewer could think that you are not interested in the position. Your questions should be direct and relevant.
Sample questions include: what are the short-term and long-term goals of the position; how is work assigned; what type of training/supervision is available; how and when is feedback provided; how and when are performance reviews provided; what type of work do you, the interviewer, perform; and what is the timeline for filling this position. Note that you should never ask about salary or benefits during an initial interview.
2. Practice
Practice your interview skills by engaging in mock interviews with a professional career counselor (such as Susan B Silverman Consulting), professor, family, friend, or colleague. It is better to practice answering questions rather than being unprepared in an interview.
3. Answer the Question
Listen and answer the question that was asked. Try to give clear, short and definite responses. Answering questions will exude confidence to the interviewer. Avoid long or rambling answers to convey decisiveness and the ability to “think on your feet.”
4. Interview Etiquette
Wear clean and pressed business clothes. Do not chew gum. Turn off your cell phone and arrive on time. When meeting the interviewer, smile, say “hello (insert name),” make eye contact, and shake hands. Be sure to use a firm handshake. If you have an ineffective handshake, it is more difficult to build rapport during the interview. Some examples of a poor handshake include: a limp hand, which conveys a lack of personality, disinterest or weakness; using the tips of your fingers, which means inability to engage or being timid; and intentionally pumping the hands up and down for an extended period of time, which shows insecurity and nervousness. A well-executed handshake is one that conveys self-confidence, trust, and a genuine interest in the other party. In a proper handshake, both parties’ hands should be straight up-and-down. The web of your hand (skin running between the forefinger and the thumb) should meet the web of theirs. The handshake should last 1-3 seconds. While you should maintain eye contact throughout the meeting, it should feel natural and it is acceptable to look away when you are thinking about what to tell the interviewer. Also, you should be careful not to look at someone too long without a break. Otherwise, it becomes a stare, or an intense intrusive gaze.
5. Turn Around a Tough Interview
Even though you are thoroughly prepared, mistakes can still happen in an interview. The mistake does not necessarily mean that you no longer have a chance to get the job. However, once you realized the error, you must do something to turn a bad situation into a neutral or favorable one. The first and most important thing to remember is NOT to panic, as there is likely something you can do to remedy the situation and get the interview back on track. In fact, demonstrating that you can own up to a mistake and respond professionally may actually show how you respond under pressure. The following are some dos and don’ts to keep in mind if you make a mistake during a job interview.
The Problem: You are inarticulate.
The Solution: If you find that you are rambling while answering a question, you should stop talking and take a breath. Then, you should ask the interviewer if you could begin again. Try to take a moment to collect your thoughts before answering. This will show the interviewer that you can maintain your composure under pressure.
The Problem: You draw a blank on a question.
The Solution: After the interviewer asks a question and you are totally stumped, take a deep breath and ask the interviewer to repeat the question or say that was a very good question. Then, answer the question to the best of your ability.
The Problem: You’re late.
The Solution: If you are late to your interview, the interviewer will likely form a bad impression of you by concluding that you are irresponsible and/or disorganized. If you will be more than 10 minutes late, immediately call your interviewer and explain the situation. Be sure to offer sincere apologies. Respect the interviewer’s schedule and ask if he would still like to meet with you or if you should reschedule the meeting for another time.
The Problem: There is a stain on your clothes.
The Solution: Instead of the interviewer staring at the stain and concluding that you are a slob, point it out and laugh it off. You could say something like, as you can see, I lost the fight with my coffee cup or Murphy’s Law has confirmed its existence. By making light of the mistake, you convey an easygoing personality and a good sense of humor.
The Problem: You mispronounced the interviewer’s name.
The Solution: Turn that mistake into light conversation by saying, “I can’t believe I mispronounced your name. Where is your family from?” If you don’t know how to pronounce someone’s name, you should politely ask how to say it.
The Problem: Your cell phone rings.
The Solution: Although you thought you turned off your phone, it rings. Do NOT answer the phone and do not look to see who called. You should immediately turn your phone off, sincerely apologize for the interruption and continue with the conversation. If your phone rings during the interview, you could say, “I’m so sorry I thought I silenced it. Please excuse the interruption, you were saying?”
The Problem: The interviewer calls you by the wrong name in the middle of your interview.
The Solution: Even if you think the interview if going well, you should not ignore the fact that the interviewer referred to you by the wrong name. If the interviewer mistakenly calls you by the wrong name, let him/her complete his/her thought, then answer their question and politely state, “Just to let you know my name is Jane. I know you are interviewing other people and it must be hard to keep track of everyone’s name.” If you don’t correct the mistake, the interviewer may not know and remember that he met with you.
6. Leave the Interview in a Meaningful Way
The end of the interview is important, as the last impression is a lasting one. A good ending can make what preceded it even better. Think of a restaurant where the food was not satisfactory, but the manager apologized that you did not like the food you ordered and provided complimentary dessert. This act made you feel appreciated and willing to try the restaurant another time. Likewise, as your interview concludes, be sure to leave a good last impression: shake hands, smile at the other person and act like you are very pleased with how things went at the interview. At the end of the interview, you should make brief and sincere remarks to your interviewer, such as, “I know you are very busy. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today.”
If some blunders occurred, try not to focus on your interview mistakes. Think of them as opportunities to prove that you can maintain a calm and professional demeanor under challenging circumstances. With the knowledge of these interview tips, you should have some successful interviews. Good luck on your career path! If you would like further information about this subject matter, please contact me at susan@susanbsilvermanconsulting.com.
