Interview Etiquette

Sometimes a great interview is all that stands between you and your dream job!  Remember, your interviewers may be seeing several different candidates for the position you’re interested in, so being professional and demonstrating good interview etiquette will help you to stand out from the crowd.  Potential employers pay attention to how prepared you are as well as how you conduct yourself in your interview, so use these tips to ensure that your interview goes smoothly. 

 

Interview Etiquette 

  1. Always call a day in advance to confirm your interview.  This is a professional courtesy.  NEVER blow off an interview without notice. 
  2. Be exactly 5 minutes early.  If you are on time, you are late.  If you are more than 10 minutes early, you are just annoying.
  3. Never accept coffee in a meeting or interview.  If it spills, you are in big trouble!  Accepting water is fine.
  4. Always send a hand written thank you note.  No one does this, and it’s a courtesy that will make you stand out.
  5. Shake hands firmly and look people in the eye when you speak to them.
  6. Always bring a portfolio with the following: 3 copies of your resume and cover letter, contact information for 3 or more professional references, a pad of paper, and a pen.
  7. Your resume is a reflection of you.  Poor formatting, grammatical mistakes and spelling errors speak loudly about your ability to pay attention to detail. 
  8. Always try to list your immediate supervisors at previous jobs as your references.  Avoid listing people who worked at the same level as you.  The interviewer will find this suspicious.  


During the Interview 

  1. Speak in full sentences: “Yes please,” instead of “Yeah,” “No thank you,” instead of “no thanks.”  Avoid space-fillers such as “like,” “um,” and “ya know.”  In other words, speak like a professional.
  2. Memorize your answer to the question, “Tell me about yourself.”  Make it professional and succinct. 
  3. Things to avoid saying on an interview:
    1. I have nothing else going on.  I can work for you 24/7.
    2. I sent my resume out to tons of places – you were the only person to call me back!
    3. I applied here because I really need a job.
    4. How much vacation time will I get in my first year?
    5. I quit my last job because my boss was a jerk!
    6. I learn fast.
    7. I’m 22, I don’t have any kids, I’m not married, I am Christian… (If it is personal, it is none of their business

 

There are plenty of important questions you need to ask on an interview.  Here are some that most people don’t ask but they should:

  1. How would you describe the company culture here?
  2. How would you describe your management style?
  3. What skills or qualities are most important to being successful in this position?
  4. How will you know when you found the right candidate for this position?  In other words, what is important to you?
  5. (Assuming you want the job…) This company and this position feel like a good fit for me, and I really believe I could do a good job for you.  Do you have any questions or concerns that would cause you to not offer me this position?
  6. What is the next step in the interview process?
  7. If I don’t hear from you in ____ days, may I call you to check in?

 

Remember these simple tips and stand out from the interview crowd.

 Good luck!