You are in the middle of a job search for your next career opportunity. You finally land a coveted in-person job interview. Are you ready for the in-person interview? The following are some key guidelines to prepare for it.
Before the Interview
Ideally, schedule the in-person interview for the morning between 9-11 am. If that is not possible, schedule the interview for after lunch or later in the day, between 2-5 pm. Avoid scheduling the interview for the middle of the day.
If you are working with a recruiter, ask the recruiter beforehand for the names and titles of each person you will be meeting. Make sure the recruiter lets you know how to pronounce their names. Google them and search for them on LinkedIn to learn more about them and the company.
Drive to the interview site the day before or at least map it out ahead of time.
The Day of the Interview
Dress business professional. This means a clean dress shirt or polo shirt, pants, and black dress shoes for men and a dress or suit with jacket or cardigan for women, especially if the outfit has no sleeves. Women should wear closed-toed and closed-heeled shoes but not sling backs. Bright colors, whether in clothing, nail polish, or makeup, are unacceptable, as is loud jewelry. This is also not a good time to try a radical new hairstyle.
Bring a picture ID, a copy of the job description, and a nice portfolio with examples of your work. Bring one copy of your resume for each person who will interview you.
Keep control of your mindset on the way to the interview. Don’t talk to anyone. Listen to music or drive in silence instead, allowing you to collect your thoughts and remain calm and level headed.
Leave your cell phone in the car. Do not chew gum or eat mints or candy during the interview.
Be aware as you wait in the reception lobby that the receptionist may be observing your conduct and may provide feedback to the hiring manager.
During the Interview
Start the interview with a strong handshake, eye contact and a smile for each person you meet. Repeat the name of each person that you meet as you greet them.
The tone of the conversation is important. It will be remembered long after you are gone. One of the most important things you can do is to establish a conversational rapport early on. Read their communication cues to determine whether they want to start by engaging in small talk about the weather or some other subject. Find common interests such as sports or hobbies. Bring up those topics again briefly at the close of the interview.
Take a mental note of the room. It is likely, although not always the case, that their office is a reflection of how they prefer the conversation to proceed. If the room is plain and tidy, he or she may prefer brief questions and answers. If it is disorganized, with lots of papers, photos, etc., he or she may be more open and welcome to engaging in a more lively and embellished conversation.
Never interrupt the interviewer. Respect and listen to his or her words and mirror them with your own. Let the interviewer lead the conversation. He or she has a goal in mind. The direction of the interview will give you clues you as to what the interviewer is looking for and how he or she sees the role. This enables you to tailor your answers to fit the role, complimenting the interviewer and validating his or her decision to see you. Steer away from any negative roadblocks with positive answers.
If the interviewer brings up salary and you are pursuing this job through a recruiter, always refer to the recruiter for that discussion.
Have about five questions ready for the end of the interview, such as “How big is the department,” “What is the career path,” or “What is the biggest project you are working on.” Some of these questions may be answered during the course of the interview, so be ready to modify or add to your list of questions.
Get business cards from each person you meet. Shake the hand of each person when you leave. Say something regarding the small talk topic you touched on earlier (weather, sports, etc.) before parting ways.
After the Interview
Email to each person you spoke a unique thank you note as soon as possible, within 24 hours. Alternatively, for a personal touch, you may want to write hand written thank you notes in the car and hand deliver them right away. If you have a recruiter, email the thank you notes to the recruiter and let the recruiter give them to the interviewer(s).
Do not call, email, or contact in any way the company or the recruiter to ask for an update as to the status of the interview. They will contact you.
Have faith in the process. Success may take time, but if you work at it, it will happen, whether with this company or the next. At the very least, each interview is an opportunity to learn something in preparation for the next one, which may be an even better opportunity.