Career Advice

Interview Tips:
Prepare & research your way to interview success

You don't say!
It's not just what you say during an interview that counts, it's also what you don't say more than half of all communication is non-verbal. Industry experts agree that body language can be used to maximize your overall chances of success.

These positive behaviors include:

• maintaining friendly eye contact with the interviewer
• adopting a positive and open body posture
• dressing professionally for the interview
• listening carefully and communicating clearly and concisely
• effectively demonstrating your abilities with relevant examples from your past experience

Know before you go
Perhaps the most effective way to ensure interview success takes place before the interview even starts. That's when effective preparation and research can make the difference. Always expect the unexpected during an interview. To avoid unpleasant surprises, make sure you come prepared.

Make sure you know what the employer is looking for
Before your interview, create a profile of the company, which outlines key business facts and information related to the philosophy, values and ethics of the organization. This can also help you recognize what attracts you to the position, and how it could potentially meet your career goals. “Did you profile our company?” is also a frequently asked question, and a poorly prepared answer will speak volumes about your level of interest in the job.

Read the job description!
Many of the clues you need to effectively focus your interview responses are most likely contained within the position profile itself. Try to anticipate questions based on the responsibilities and skills listed in the document, and prepare examples that will highlight your ability to perform in these key areas. Ensure that you can respond to questions that relate to experiences or competencies that are not clearly demonstrated on your resume. Remember that although it is fine to rehearse your answers, don't overdo it. You want to leave the impression that you are a genuine and articulate individual, not someone responding to questions with "canned" answers.

Prepare questions to ask your interviewer
Preparing relevant and well thought-out questions to ask your interviewer at the end of the discussion demonstrates your level of preparation and interest in the position. The interview is also one of the most important opportunities for you to gather specific information about the company and the job, so make sure you use it wisely.

Prepare your references
Before the interview, don't forget to contact those individuals on your list of references and ask permission to share their names. In advance of your interview, be sure to send each reference a brief thank-you note, and enclose a copy of your résumé. The résumé will provide current information and help them speak more knowledgeably about you. Ask references for their daytime contact information because that is the most likely time they'll be called.

Keep focused on the information you want to share.
Knowing the employer's history and understanding expectations will help you prepare your answers and the questions you ask during the interview. You can easily gain the respect and understanding of the interviewer by focusing on the skills, accomplishments, and competencies most related to those required of the position and by demonstrating your abilities clearly with relevant examples. Make sure you include transferable skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership and ensure that you are able to clearly articulate the skills you wish to develop and how they will benefit both the organization and yourself.

Make the Right Impression
To do well in any interview, you need to achieve two main objectives

Interview objectives

• Convince the interviewer you are technically qualified to do the job
• Demonstrate that you will fit in with the company's organizational structure and integrate well into the working environment

The first part will depend on your answers to the questions posed, but the second part is sometimes more difficult to demonstrate. By following these tips, you should be able to impress any interviewer.

Dress professionally for the interview
Dress for success, unless specifically advised otherwise by the interviewer. On the day of the interview, leave home earlier than you think you need to. You could be delayed by traffic or some other reason.

Remember to smile and be courteous to all employees of the company, not just the people you expect to be assessing you. During the interview itself, be positive about yourself and your abilities, but remember to keep your answers concise and focused on responding specifically to the questions asked.

Present a professional image throughout the interview
Keep your body language positive and be sure to maintain comfortable eye contact with the interviewer. Strong perfume or large pieces of jewelry might distract your interviewer, so beware. You want the interviewer to remain focused on you and your answers and not anything else.

Look attentive, always
Do not slouch in your chair. Keep focused on the interviewer. Put your portfolio or purse discreetly on the floor, rather than in front of you, so as not to create a barrier. Always be truthful. Your body language, tone of voice, or the words you use will almost always give you away if you tell a lie. Classic body language "giveaways" include scratching your nose and not looking directly at the interviewer as you talk.

Listen carefully to the questions
Make sure that you fully understand them before you try to answer. Do not be afraid to ask the interviewer to rephrase or repeat the question if you are unsure of what is being asked.

Where possible, provide clear and concise examples from your previous experience that will highlight your proven capability in performing job-related skills. Examples should focus primarily on the actions you performed to achieve the desired result, not on the scenario or the context of the example. By focusing your answers and highlighting your actions, you will allow the interviewer to evaluate your potential competencies against the required competencies for the position.

Ask questions
In addition to demonstrating your level of research into the company, this is your opportunity to gain valuable information about the role, environment and the company itself. Take the time to prepare a list of relevant questions.

Thank the interviewer at the end of the interview and ask for an estimate of how long the selection process will take. Let the interviewer know if you anticipate needing a response earlier, for example, if you are currently interviewing elsewhere and are expecting an imminent job offer. Communicate this gracefully and do your best to accommodate the prospective employer's timeline.

At the end of the interview, wait for the interviewer to rise before you do. Shake hands firmly and make eye contact.

Follow up with a thank you
This can be delivered in a variety of ways. Time to arrive within two business days of the interview. The preferred method is a written card, addressed directly to the interviewer. This is the least intrusive and the most personal. Keep the message short and to the point, thanking the interviewer for the time and for any advice that was offered.

By demonstrating your communication and effective listening skills, along with a sincere desire to do an exceptional job in the role, you will leave a lasting and positive impact on any interviewer. Conduct timely and professional follow-up to maximize your chances of interview success.

Good luck!