The Interview

Once you have gotten that call for your first interview you are already in the door. Now all you must do is be the person that you are on that resume and hopefully that will mean just be yourself. The research you have done on the job should give you a lot of peace of mind. How can they not hire you when you already know everything you will need to do each day and you are confident you can do it? Most people walk into interviews scared and NOT KNOWING WHAT TO EXPECT. The fact that you are already walking in there with the knowledge you have should make you feel great about getting this job. There are just a few things you need to remember for your big interview and then it should be smooth sailing your way to that job.

1. Give a firm handshake with a smile and wait to be seated- This is super simple, but it is your first impression. Show them you are courteous and polite right off the bat.

2. Actively Listen- Once you have introduced yourself most of the time your employer will either get right to the questions or will talk a bit more about the job. Either way you should start by showing your attentiveness as soon as you sit down. Nod your head when appropriate, make good eye contact, Never look at your phone and put it on silent. Show them you are there to listen and learn but you are confident you are able to perform this job.

3. Be ready for specific questions and take advantage of your time to shine without wasting time. There are certain questions that you should always be ready for in an interview and I will list some below and answers that are acceptable just to show the type of answers that an employer likes to hear. Use your answers to simply reflect how good you will be at performing this job and how easy you will be for your employer to work with.

- What makes you a good  candidate for this job? I am experienced in this field (or similar fields) and I have also done a lot of preparation for this job in particular. I reached out to someone who works for you ___ and he gave me a lot of insight on the job (mention the tasks you already know you will be responsible for) and I am very confident from past experience that I will be able to perform this job well. If you didn’t reach out to someone then tell them how you watched videos online. The point is use this question to show how much more prepared you are than the next guy. That alone can be enough to get hired on the spot.

4. Remember to be human- Being professional is obviously very important in an interview but also don't be afraid to show some personality. A lot of times you may get hired just because the employer likes you as a person and wants to have you around. Make an effort to relate to your employer, find something you both like if you have the chance or comment on something in the room you assume they have interest in. At the end of the day you are selling yourself in an interview and not just as a worker but also as a person. Try to make sure that at least part of your interview is just genuine conversation. This will make sure that you are not forgotten by your employer and can certainly end up getting you the job.

5. Ask good Questions at the end- At the end of most interviews they will ask you if you have any questions for them. NEVER say no to this question. Remember that any opportunity to make an impression is an opportunity you should take in an interview. One good question that is always good to ask is, I really am confident I can perform this job well and learn a lot from you guys. I was just wondering if I am here 5 years from now and I am really excelling at this job and doing things well to your standards what would that look like? This question can even be the only question you ask and it is an awesome note to end an interview on because it gets your employer picturing you IN the job for a LONG Time and EXCELLING. It shows that you expect to do well and that you won’t just leave in a short period of time when you find something better. Doing this along with the research on the job and showing that you know what your day to day responsibilities will be is almost certainly enough to land you almost any job.

6. End your interview with another handshake and smile- after you have the opportunity to ask your questions that will typically be the end of your interview let them say what they have to say, thank them for the opportunity and give them a good handshake and a smile once again.