We know you’re nervous; especially when you are preparing to sit across from your potential future boss. You definitely want to leave a lasting impression and give him or her a reason to want to call you back.

Take a deep breath and we will walk you through just how you can go about not only getting noticed but feeling like you had the best interview of your life. You ready?

Dress to Impress

Before showing up for an interview, get an idea what the dress code is like at the job you are interested in. You can do this by viewing those who work in the office or building or you can simply ask prior to your interview. It’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed. Make sure any tattoos you have are covered and remove piercings if need be. The way you look is going to greatly affect whether or not you get a job because it shows the person hiring you that you either are serious about the job or you could care less. These impressions stick and are hard to change later down the line.

Arrive Early

Being on time is important because it sets the tone for your entire career with the company. If you show up late for an interview, this will show the hiring manager that you may not take your work serious enough. If you are worried about not making it on time, show up early and walk around; check out the company and get a feel for the place. If that is not an option, stay somewhere close by, grab a coffee or a snack and prepare yourself for your interview.

Relax Your Nerves and Enjoy the Day

Having some down time prior to your interview can prove to be very beneficial to you. Whether you need to listen to your all-time favorite song to amp your mood or need a nice stroll with your dog; these things can ease your nerves before sitting down with your interviewer. Putting too much pressure on yourself and preparing too much can actually cause your interview to not go so well. Try your best not to over-think things.

Have an Amazing Resume

Even if a resume wasn’t required for your interview, bringing one is going to make you look very professional. Limit your resume to a single page and print it out on high quality paper. Make sure you have proof-read your resume a few times and that everything looks great. Even something as ‘minor’ as a spelling error can greatly reduce your chances of getting hired on to a company. Your answers should be short and sweet so they do not bore the reader. (Remember, a lot of resumes and applications are sorted through and you need to do anything you can to stand out from the rest)

Know the Company like the Back of Your Hand

Research the company you are applying for prior to your interview. Know everything you can about the company; its history, roles, mission statement, expectations and so forth. Check to see if there are any newsworthy tidbits online or in the local paper. This may be something you can bring up during your interview, showing the hiring manager that you know about the company and are not simply looking for just any job you get your hands on.

First Impressions are Key

The moment you come face to face with the person who will be interviewing you is crucial. Have a smile on your face and keep eye contact. Offer a firm handshake. All of these things can either make or break your interview. If you are looking down at the ground much of the time, not making eye contact or are so nervous that you do not remember to smile; these things can come across as though you do not care about the job. Even if you have to fake it, you’ll be glad you did! Sometimes making light of your nerves can calm you. Say something like, “It’s so nice to finally meet you” or mention how excited you are to have an interview.

Interviewers typically know whether or not they are going to hire someone within the first few minutes of meeting them. First impressions are lasting impressions; walk in there as if you already have the job. Confidence is one of your greatest assets when it comes to getting the position you’re applying for but remember it’s okay to be human; you can’t help how you feel so cut yourself a bit of slack; nobody’s perfect.

Keep Your Cool and Be Honest

Interviews can be nerve-wracking but keeping your cool is important. You may not always know exactly what to say and you may not have the ‘perfect’ interview but we are all human and you being true to yourself is what’s most important. Let your personality shine and who you are will naturally be noticed by the interviewer.

If you are asked questions that you are not sure how to answer, take your time. The last thing you want to do is rush. Really think each question through and give an answer that you feel fits best. Make sure to keep eye contact while answering questions just like you did when you first met your interviewer, because this will show your personable side and that there is truth behind your words. Also, remember to breath.

Focus on the Positives of Previous Jobs

When you are asked about why you are looking for work or what happened at your previous place of employment, do your best to stick to the pros; not the cons. The last thing your interviewer wants to hear is what could potentially sound like excuses or a long story as to why you left. Keep your answer short and sweet and find a way to show that you are thankful for the job you previously worked. If you talk good about a company that, say-fired you; this is going to show your interviewer that you are mature and that you understand what you did was wrong. Even if you were in the right and the company you worked for was in the wrong; now is not the time or place to get into that subject.

Don’t Hesitate to Ask Questions

If there comes a time during your interview where you are asked if you have any questions, do your best to come up with at least one or two. Maybe you can mention moving up in the company and how that would work or something that shows you are interested in this job for the long-term (even if you aren’t). Companies love to hire people who they think are going to stick around opposed to those who are likely to leave as soon as something better comes up.

Something Missed? Bring it up.

Was there a question during your interview that you feel should have been asked, but wasn’t? Feel free to take it upon yourself to bring the topic up. Many of us have had those moments where we expected a certain question to be asked, prepped for it and everything, only to find it wasn’t brought up at all. Remember, an interview is meant to be a two-way conversation so claim your right to speak up, in a polite and friendly manner, of course.

Turn Personal Negatives into Positives

In just about any interview, you are going to be asked to list some of your faults. When it comes time for this, it’s important to show the interviewer that you recognize your flaws and then follow it by a positive statement. Saying something like, “I have a tendency to be late” can really hurt you chances of getting hired but if you turn your fault into something positive, this can help you get the job.

Know Why You Make a Good Candidate for the Job

Be prepared to explain situations you have been in where you have shown your leadership skills or your ability to fix a problem. If you can come up with an example that applies to the company, that’s even better; as it will show you would be a great asset to the company.

What the Future Holds

Oftentimes, you are going to be asked where you see yourself in the next few years. Always think about this beforehand. Even if you’re not sure where you’ll be, think about what would be nice and incorporate the company you are applying for into your answer. Say something like, “I would like to continue learning about (whatever the company specializes in), and work my way up.” You don’t have to go too far with your answer, but you do want to show the interviewer that you see a future with the business.

Attached Images:

• License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://www.andertoons.com/interview/cartoon/6589/ok-wow-me-impress-me-dazzle-me-sadness-then-wow-me-again/
• License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2013/03/21/18/17/clock-95617_150.jpg
• License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2012/02/16/12/30/abstract-13640_150.jpg
• License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2013/03/24/08/16/shaking-hands-96298_150.jpg
• License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2013/03/30/00/10/office-97879_150.png

Chloe Sharpe is a career counselor by profession. Cracking interviews have always been a tricky situation for some and so has provided some useful tips in this article to get over it for good. For those who are still seeking that elusive job, he recommends opting for a job seekers allowance provided by the state government.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 at 8:41 am and is filed under Career, Career Coaching, Interview, Job Search, Networking. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.