INTERVIEW TIPS

Are you preparing for an upcoming job interview? Make a great first impression by reviewing our interview tips before, during, and after the interview.

Pre-Interview

  • Become familiar with the company and person you are interviewing with. This will ensure there is no lull in the conversation.
  • Prepare yourself for common interview questions such as "where do you see yourself in 5 years?" Check out this clip for a well thought out answer.
  • Research the company’s full landscape, competition, social media presence and products within market, stores, and their vendor partners
  • Have multiple copies of your resume & organize any other materials you bring. Have a pad & pen to take notes or jot down questions, while not interrupting the interviewer.
  • Turn your cell phone OFF. Putting it on vibrate is not good enough.
  • Do not be late! Give yourself an extra 20 minutes and be conscious of potential traffic.

The Interview

FIRST IMPRESSION: Walk, talk, and look the part. Be confident, not cocky. Maintain eye contact, present a strong handshake, and smile!

ONE MINUTE PITCH: Prepare for the question: “Tell me about yourself” by planning out your focus and emphasizing relevant skills that you have early in the interview.

AVOID NEGATIVE STATEMENTS: Even if you are asked a somewhat negative question, always portray yourself positively, & never talk bad about a former boss.

YOUR SKILLS: Focus on skills you can implement immediately. Employers want to hear how you could hit the ground running and contribute to their company immediately.

TELL YOUR STORY: Support your claim of being the best candidate by providing examples of situations where you developed, enhanced, or used specific relevant skills.

LEARN SOMETHING PERSONAL: about your interviewer! Family, children, favorite sports team or author.

TIMELINE: Leave the interview with a clear timeline as to when you should follow up, then follow up accordingly

Post-Interview

  • Always send a thank you note after your interview. The format may depend on the type of company you interview with, but email is usually best. Make sure to spell & grammar check. You can google the format if need be.
  • Follow through on anything discussed during the interview. Include something of interest to the interviewer (an article, a book by his favorite author or something you would recommend)
  • Do not tweet! No matter how badly you may want to update your social media status, do not share the details of your interview on the internet. Your interviewer may be checking up on you online.

Zoom Interview Tips

  • Test your technology to ensure you're set up for success.
  • Ensure your space is an organized, calm environment with no distractions. If you have young children send them for a walk or car ride with your spouse so you are as focused as possible.
  • Choose a clean backdrop like a bare wall.
  • Be Prepared. Know about the company, compliment the parts you admire. 
  • Practice, Don't Memorize. Know your stuff but let it flow naturally.
  • Make sure the camera is centered, if you are using a laptop you may even find propping it up on a few books helps to get you a nice angle. A phone must be propped do not hold it will feel too casual and you have less control over maintaining the angle. Make sure the light is coming towards you not behind you.
  • Monitor Your Body Language. Just as in a regular interview don’t slouch keep a friendly and inviting expression on your face.
  • Dress the Part. Just because you are interviewing from home it doesn’t mean you can show up in sweats. Wear a button down shirt, for an office position throw on a blazer. I would even say to even wear slacks or a skirt and dress shoes- even though the person interviewing won’t see this it has an effect on your persona and how you carry yourself during the interview.
  • Make a Connection. Without being too casual or personal- relate to your prospective employer about their quarantine experience even with its challenges while putting a positive yet sensitive spin. Employers love optimism it will show that despite challenges they can count on you to push through if you join their team.