Interview Advice

car or need to take a taxi or bus. Also ask if the company can buy the ticket in advance so you do not have to be reimbursed. If extreme weather is forecast – prepare your schedule and yourself accordingly.

The Interview

Be early.

Plan to arrive at your appointment 15-30 minutes before schedule. Planes and trains can be late and traffic can be unpredictable.

You may have difficulty finding the address, parking, or the particular office once you are in a building or building complex.

If it is very hot, you will welcome the time to cool down in reception or the restroom. If it is raining or snowing you can unwrap portfolio protection if any, remove wet clothing and re-groom yourself. If practical, open the door to reception about 5 minutes before your appointment. People in open offices get unnerved if you arrive too early.

Use waiting time wisely.

If you must wait, stay occupied: read your resume, refer to the answers to questions you’ve prepared, or read waiting room material the company provides or the articles you collected about the company.

Mind your manners.

Be nice to everyone, even receptionists and parking lot attendants, and anyone you meet

throughout the interviewing process. Say, “Please” and “Thank you” more frequently than usual. Never ‘bad mouth’ previous employers.

Set up a “Give & Take” situation.

Establish a balance between talking and listening. Do not try to dominate the conversation. Do not over-explain, pontificate or “lecture” to the people you are interviewing with. Be a sympathetic listener. Ask open-ended questions designed to draw out people so you can learn about them and how you may meet their needs.

Be genuine, interested and enthusiastic.

Get comfortable with the people you are interviewing with as soon as you can. Be lively and expressive.

Don’t be afraid to laugh and smile and ask questions. Make eye contact continually.

If you are interested in the company, ask for soft criteria about the position, what the must-have’s are, and how performance will be measured. If asked about your salary requirements, then give a range and ask about bonus potential and other incentives. Be sure the salary information you provide is consistent with what you told the recruiter.

Passion is good. Be enthusiastic about your portfolio or no one else will be. Do not show anything in your portfolio that you have to make excuses for.