Interviewing Effectively-Part 2
I mentioned in my last blog the importance of the first 10 minutes of a personal interview. A study done several years ago showed that 70% of the time when a person was ELIMINATED from consideration, that decision was made by the hiring authority in the first 10 minutes.
Wow. Not much time.
But this tells us a lot about the most important interview element – first impressions matter. In 10 minutes, it’s almost impossible to cover any sort of meaningful content about job qualifications. It is, however, time enough to assess things like dress, eye contact, personal hygiene, presence and confidence. So let’s talk about first impression.
I get asked all the time, “How should I dress for my interview?” My response is always the same: Have your hair neat (cut if needed), use little or no perfume/cologne, don’t smoke before the interview, no flashy colors on ties/blouses and dress one level above who you’re interviewing with. NEVER risk under dressing. Interviewers like the fact that a candidate felt the interview was important and got dressed for the occasion. If in doubt, wear a suit! Men, wear a white shirt and a conservative tie. Ladies, wear a conservative suit, some color in your blouse and keep bling to a minimum. You can’t go wrong being conservative. It’s the safe play.
Following the other three tips can result in projecting presence. Eye contact and a good handshake are crucial. Remember, it’s normal to be nervous. Everyone is. When you first meet the interviewer, maintain good eye contact, spread your fingers (allows a clean handshake) and thank them for meeting with you. Some people advise that you look around at the personal items in their office and try to make small talk about something you observe. I don’t. I’d focus more on being appreciative about being asked there. If they ask you a few questions, have a discussion with them. But don’t try to “connect” too early. It feels superficial.
Always bring something to write on. It shows that you think the interviewer and what they have to say is important. And you can keep some questions you have written down to fall back on. I also think that asking the interviewer at the beginning of the interview for his/her permission for you to take notes is powerful. You don’t want to miss what they are going to say and it’s important!
Finally, remember that it’s totally okay to feel nervous. By now, (after you have fully prepped) you are ready, you know a lot about the company, you are looking GREAT in your suit, you have good questions to ask and you have practiced the answers to tough questions before the interview. You are CONFIDENT… you’re ready!
Walk in, look them in the eyes, give a good handshake, thank them for having you, tell them you’re excited, sit down, ask if you can take notes… and then nail the interview!