Nailing the Interview
Your resume has been perfected. Your cover letters off the chain. You’ve networked like a champion and cleaned up your online profile. The results? You’ve scored an interview!
Holy S*%#, you’ve got an interview! This is going to be terrifying!
Not really, but it is important. The is it's always the interview—not the resume, not the contact, not the cover letter, not even your 3.99 GPA—that will make or break the job offer. So there is nothing more important than nailing it. Everything from body language to body odor can alter the outcome. But don’t worry—a little preparation, practice, and grooming can go a long way.
The best advice we can give, particularly for newcomers to the job market, is to accept every interview you’re offered. Even if you are 99% sure you will not want the job, interviewing is an acquired skill, and any chance to practice will pay off down the line. When you are in the war room, follow these tips to make sure you’re putting your best foot forward.
Prep Work
Put in the Leg Work and Get a Leg Up
Research the company, the industry, and the interviewer beforehand for interview rockstardom. Start with the company website; pay close attention to major divisions of the organization, highlighted products or services, recent achievements, vocabulary, and who’s who. Search Vault for company profiles, employee surveys, diversity statistics, and more. Find out if they’ve been in the news lately through Lexis Nexis or by searching the archives of major papers like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, or The Washington Post. Learning about the interviewer through the company website and a Google search will let you cater your questions and answers more effectively.
Just as you will research the company, industry, and interviewer prior to the interview, odds are they will also look into your background. First place they’ll start: Google. So, be sure to clean up your online identity before pursuing the interview process.
Run-Throughs
Try to set up interviews with companies/industries that are similar to your dream job for more practice. Most industries have pretty similar interview questions and formats, so it’s good to be familiar with these ahead of time to avoid being surprised on the big day. Some college career centers off mock interviews to alumni, so check in to see if your school can help you prepare.
Talk it Up
Talk to any friends or associates who have either interviewed with the company in the past or are currently working there to get the inside scoop on tricky questions.
Dress to Impress
Elementary school aside, interviewers will indeed judge a book by its cover. Showing up in wrinkled khakis and a stained shirt will get you blacklisted faster than a liberal federal prosecutor. Make sure clothes are clean and pressed a few days in advance. Lay them out the night before the interview so that the morning stress isn’t augmented by having to tear apart the closet in search of a brown belt. Find out the general dress code for the company (ask the person who set up the interview). If the dress code is unstated, be conservative. Make sure hair is neat, nails are clean, make-up is not overdone, and breath has that Mentos freshness. See more on dressing dos and don’ts.
- Preparation – Being over-prepared will do wonders for your nerves on the big day. Research the company, Google the interviewer, and find out as much as you can about the department you’re applying to. Not only will knowing all of this right off the bat make you sound like an intelligent and motivated candidate, but it will give you opportunities to ask questions of your own and show genuine interest in the company.
- Ace your resume – There’s no reason why you shouldn’t know your resume inside and out (even if you had someone else write it). That piece of paper is oftentimes the only bit of info your interviewer will have about you, so expect questions to be based directly off your resume, and be prepared to expand upon your relevant achievements.
- Body language – What you say with your body during an interview is almost as important as what’s coming out of your mouth. Sit straight, lean forward, smile, and make eye contact. Don’t slouch, fold your arms, look down, fart, or fidget. You may not like how superficial our society is, but appearance is crucial.
- Be animated and articulate – Don’t sound like a robot when asked “tell me about yourself” or “why do you want to work for X company.” Answering too quickly, monotonously, or with one long “uuuhhhh” will make you sound either too rehearsed, uninterested, or simply unprepared. Make an effort to be clear and confident so you sound like you’ve put thought into your answers.
- Follow-up – Always send a thank you note to your interviewer for their time and consideration within 48 hours of the interview. This isn’t just good manners: a follow-up note gives you the chance to reiterate your interest and ask any questions that weren’t answered during the actual interview.
