To impress your interviewer

Steps:

Prepare a well written, professional looking resume . Make sure it is typed, not hand written. You should also proofread it thoroughly. Even little grammar or spelling errors can be a real turn-off to employers.

Come dressed appropriately. Your overall appearance will be the first thing that your interviewer notices about you, and you want to make a good first impression.

Deliver a firm, warm handshake and look the interviewer in the eye. Practice your handshake with a friend or family member before the encounter. This will be the interviewer’s first impression of you so a wimpy, sweaty or too overbearing handshake could turn him or her off immediately. Go for the firm, but not finger-crushing handshake, while at the same time smiling and looking directly at the interviewer. Repeat his or her name during the initial greeting such as, “Nice to meet you Brad” (while shaking hands). Also, don’t deliver a handshake that is too quick or too long--just a brief, warm encounter that will leave a positive, lasting impression.

Anticipate what the interviewer might ask you. If you've had a job before, think back on the questions you were asked, especially those that stumped you. Make a list of all probable questions you can think of. Write down the answers to help you remember.

•             Most interviewers will ask, "So, tell me a little about yourself." It is easy to prepare for this question. Think about and write down a summary the main points of your life. Be sure to include good characteristics about your personality and work habits. Remember to keep it short and sweet.

Stick to the three basic tenants of manners. Never discuss money (until the topic of salary is brought up by the interviewer at a later date), religion or politics. Any of these topics most likely have nothing to do with the job (unless you are looking for a job in politics or with a religious organization). Keep all discussion focused on the company and the job.

Know what you are talking about. Research the company before the interview and memorize key talking points. Never fly by the seat of your pants or go in blind--you will only look unprepared and will reduce your value in the eyes of the interviewer. Some areas to investigate before the interview include:

•             Corporate website. Read the company’s mission statement and history. If possible, get you hands on any quarterly reports, especially if growth numbers could pertain to your position with the company.

•             Read the news. Obtain recent and past news articles about the company. Finding positive information that you can share during the interview. However, bring up information organically and avoid blurting out simple facts and figures during your discussion. For example, if the interviewer talks about the company’s desire to grow, say, “I recently read in the New York Times about your entrance into China….” And then delve into any cool facts and figures. Of course if you find any stories that address scandals or illegal activity, take them under advisement. You may want to re-consider the interview if the company has ever been indicted or involved in illegal activity.

•             Ask friends or contacts who work at the company for important information. Any kind of information from “the inside” will almost make you look like a shoe-in for the job. Of course never request true proprietary information, but maybe info about the interviewer or company that isn’t readily available but could be vital to your landing the job (for example, you and the interviewer both attended the same college).

Never bad-mouth anyone--ever. Whether it’s your prospective employer’s competition or a previous employer, only say positive nice things about others. As your mother may have said, “If you can’t something nice, don’t say anything at all.”

Use proper grammar during the interview. Nothing turns people off more than a candidate who cannot grasp basic English (or the basics of the native language). Avoid using double negatives and slang and never, ever swear. If you are unsure whether your diction is up to speed, ask an educated friend or family member to conduct a quick review of your delivery. If you are way off base, consider a quick online review (numerous websites address grammar) and practice speaking correctly.

Write down important points your interviewer makes during the interview. It will reaffirm that you are a serious candidate who is not only organized, but has the desire to win the job. Paraphrase and repeat information the interviewer provides in order to demonstrate that you understood what was said.

Ask questions. If you truly don’t understand what the interviewer was trying to convey, simply say, “Would you mind saying that again?” Also, as the interviewer is asking you questions, have a set of questions you’d like answered as well. If this is the first interview, avoid asking questions about benefits and salary--now is the time to learn more about the job and the company. Instead ask questions pertaining to your role at the company, where the company would like to be in the future and how the different teams work together.

Thank the interviewer for the opportunity to interview with the company. Always close the interview with a warm thank you. Even if you are dying to land the job, avoid looking desperate and asking about when you will hear back from him or her. You can ask the interviewer about the next step in the process--this will make you simply appear interested without looking overly anxious. Also, send the interviewer a thank you card on simple classic stationary. Sending a thank you a few days following your meeting may act as a reminder to contact you for a follow up meeting.

Tips :

• Shine your shoes before an interview for the perfect, polished look.
• Don't get too nervous about an interview. We've all been there before. Even the person interviewing you will usually know how it feels.
• Bring your portfolio and samples of your work that you can leave with the interviewer. Also, keep a clean, fresh copy of your resume on hand in case the interviewer needs one.
• To practice, have a pretend interview with a friend or family member who is also preparing for a job. This will help both of you prepare for the real thing.

Warnings:

• Don't act carelessly or foolishly when applying for any job.
• A good interview or resume does not guarantee a job.
• Avoid telling the interviewer what the company is doing wrong and how you will fix the problem. Even if the company has flaws that you can fix, no one wants to have the problem held up to their face. However, if the interviewer poses the question, “What would you do differently?” tread carefully. Instead of identifying problem areas say, “This is how I would approach the situation…”
• Resumes and/or interviews may vary depending on the type of job you are applying for.