The Interview

THE INTERVIEW The Interview US Style (American English)

There may come a time when you apply for a job with an American company. And you may get called for an interview. What will it be like? What will they ask you? And how can you best prepare yourself. Here are some guidelines to help you get through an interview in the States. By Andrea Lazipone

1. Before you go to your interview, rehearse with a friend. As silly as you may feel, it actually works. And if you’re really good, maybe the acting business is for you.

2. As you are going to the interview, put yourself in a state of relaxed concentration. Take notice of your breathing. Calm the nerves in your stomach. And don’t listen to the voices in your head telling you to drive into the nearest tree.

3. Arrive at the interview early. When you get there, it is customary to shake the interviewer’s hand. Avoid kissing.

After the initial shake, there should be no more physical contact… until the handshake at the end of the interview.

4. Be prepared to answer the question, “Tell me about yourself.”

And make sure to relate everything to the company you are interviewing for. Remember to only tell the interviewer the kind of things you would like to tell your mother.

5. The story goes like this: a man walks in for an interview and the nametag on the desk says Dumass. Then, the man then proceeds to say, “Hi Mr. Dumb Ass, pleased to meet you.”

The moral: check out names beforehand. English names are sometimes confusing, so it is a good idea to ask the secretary the correct pronunciation of your interviewer’s last name. 6. Listen intently and communicate what you want to say in the least number of words possible. Keep it short but sweet, and always be positive.

7. Eyes are meant to be looked at. In the US, eye contact is important. You should appear serious and interested in what the interviewer has to say. But be careful not to stare too much because that’s “kinda creepy”.

8. Try to tell the truth on your resumé, which of course, you haven’t forgotten to bring with you to the interview. Also, don’t lie to your interviewer, unless you’re sure that no one can find out.

9. To Americans, salary is one of the most important parts of the job. To the interviewer it is not, so don’t mention it during the interview. Other things to keep quiet about are vacations, bonuses and retirements.

10. Send a “thank you” card or e-mail after the interview, especially if you think it’s gone well. Cards are very popular in the US, and they’re a nice way of saying, “Don’t forget about me!”

It also shows that you are determined to get the job.