How to Act During the Interview Not only do you need to come prepared with your knowledge and experience but you need to come knowing how to act in the interview. The interviewer has already browsed your resume and probably had someone run a background check on you. They are aware of your credentials and skillset. A large reason you are there is to show your personality as an individual. The interviewer may be your future boss and will probably have to interact with you on a weekly basis. They want to know what you are like. So how to make the best impression: Before You Arrive Schedule appropriately so you know you can make the interview on time. Find out what the appropriate dress code is for the interview. If you are worried about this you can call in and ask. Introductions First, make sure that you are on time to the interview. Second, make sure your phone is off. It is embarrassing and unprofessional to have it ring during the interview. When you meet your interviewer shake their hand and introduce yourself. Your handshake should be firm but not aggressive or distracting. Speak your name confidently and be friendly. Enter the office and sit when you are asked to, not before. Body Posture This one can be a little tricky. How do you sit in the interview? Body language can communicate a lot to another individual. The safest bet is to observe how your interviewer is seated. If they lean forward maybe they are probably very focused on the interview. Leaning back signifies more relaxed about the situation. The safest bet is to mimic their body posture but to a lesser extreme. So if they are leaning back, lean back as well but not as much. If they are leaning forward with their arms on their knees lean forward as well but keep your arms off. This will display that you are similar in your behavior to them and this can help them relate to you. Common sense does make a plea here though. If you
can tell that they are stressed or upset don’t try mimicking them. Use your social skills to pick up on the cues the interviewer presents Speech Your speech should indicate that you are confident. Avoid ums, likes, and other filler words. Silence is ok. Rather than speak prematurely, take a moment to think in order to give a full answer. Avoid weak words and phrases. Rather than saying I think or I hope say I know or I believe.
After you Leave The interview is over, no need to stress out over it. What you can do afterwards is take notes that happened during the interview. If you receive a call for a second interview you will have information in mind to discuss. If you don’t receive a call you at least will know what you need to improve on. The last thing you need to do is send an email to the interviewer. This is a thank you email and is all that you need to say. Don’t bring up worries or misunderstanding that you may have had. Give a simple thank you and try to be specific about something that impressed you during the interview.
As you leave Salt Lake City with a Finance Degree or Florida with a Human Resource Education remember that is not simply your knowledgeable and skills that need to be marketable. Your personality and the way you act will leave the strongest impression on those you interact with, especially your interviewer. Photo Pin: Wirawat Lian-udom, asterix611, Darwin Bell