If you are looking to get back in the workforce or feel now is the time to switch jobs, it is important to polish up your interviewing skills in order to put yourself in the best position possible to attain what job you want.
When going on your interview, your appearance and means of communication with your interviewer are just as important if not more so as to what resides on your resume.
It is important for those interviewing for a position to focus on their non-verbal means of communication so they don’t slip up. Remember, your non-verbal communications can actually kill or deliver the results you want.
Be Prepared and Focused:
When you first meet and greet your interviewer, do you make good eye contact and deliver a firm handshake? If not, you could lose points right off the bat, leaving you to have to play catch up over the course of the interview.
Some other missteps that can doom an interview include not smiling, appearing unusually nervous, demonstrating bad posture, bad wardrobe or grooming, and being animated when asked simple questions. Oh, this seems like a no-brainer, but don’t be late to your interview; you’d be amazed what message a little tardiness (non-emergency) can mean to an employer before you even sit down for a one-on-one chat.
A good way to avoid many if not all of these mistakes is by doing a practice interview the night before in front of family, friends, and/or a mirror. While you don’t want to come across as too rehearsed, a little practice never hurt anyone. This also holds true with getting to your interview on time. It never hurts to do a practice run so you know the exact location of the interview and about how long it will take to get there.
Mind Your Body Language:
When it comes to actually start the meeting, be sure to maintain good eye contact with the person interviewing you. By being focused on your interviewer, you’re engaged in the discussion and interested in what the company may be able to offer you; staring past the interviewer is surely not sending a good signal.
While not talking over or continuously interrupting your interviewer, it is to be expected that you will have some questions regarding the company, so prepare them ahead of time. This allows you to come ready to learn about the position you’re applying for, how your role will impact the employer, and what the company can do for you.
Don’t Put Salary at the Forefront:
One question that should not be at the forefront of your list is how much money the job will pay, as nothing looks worse than if you’re only interested in the salary. While it is only natural to want to know what your income will be with your new employer, don’t be overly aggressive in getting to that issue.
Finally, the reason you’re on an interview in the first place is that you either lost your last job or are looking to switch jobs. With either being the case, do not talk bad about your former or present employer.
Don’t Burn Any Bridges:
The last thing an individual should do is burn bridges with a former or present boss. Doing so can have a negative impact going forward on your career, not to mention come across to a potential employer as negative and one reason not to hire you.
When you go on a job interview – the bottom line is simple – Sell, sell, and sell yourself.
Related: Useful Interview Instructions from Start to Finish.
Author: Dave Thomas, who covers among other items direct mail companies, writes extensively for an online resource that provides expert advice on pay per click purchasing decisions for small business owners and entrepreneurs at Resource Nation.
