Want to blow a job interview? It's easy! Show up late for the appointment, dress inappropriately and be sure to tell a stupid joke.
Many candidates don't understand a basic point: You're being sized up from the minute you step into the office, so be quick-witted, don't let your guard down-and don't snarl at the receptionist.
"Many people don't realize that when the interviewer says, 'I just want you to meet my boss,' it is, in fact, an interview," says Dennis Gros, president of Gros Plastics Recruiters in Brentwood, Tenn., a headhunter that seeks engineers, sales representatives and management personnel for the plastics manufacturing and packaging industries.
"The candidate may assume that his material has been passed on to key executives. Maybe it has and maybe it hasn't-maybe that person has read it and maybe not. You should remember that for each person you meet going up the ladder, it's interview No. 1 for that executive. So, start with a brief summary of your credentials and experience, and state your interest in the job."
Your pitch should be simple and direct: This is what I can do for you.
You're not General Electric's Jack Welch, so don't lecture the interviewer on the current failings of the company, and don't be boastful about how you and you alone can fix them. Such buffoonery will get you bounced.
Stay on-message with your pitch: Tell the interviewer what you've done, and always return to what you can do for the company. Build your pitch around your accomplishments and your desire to take on new challenges.
Some job candidates talk too much, cutting the interviewer off or talking over questions. But don't make the mistake of saying too little. If you simply nod your head like a bobble-head doll, the interviewer may conclude that you have nothing to say or simply aren't interested in the job. That means you're out of the running.
Giving your qualifications shouldn't be a recap of ancient history. Remember that the interviewer has read your resume. What hiring managers want to know is how your education and experience relate to the company and the current opening.
So, use your educational background and work experience as the starting point for why you're the best candidate for the job without repeating what the interviewer has already read on the resume.
Don't fall into this elephant trap: The interviewer's stock question, "Tell me about yourself." It isn't a request for childhood memories or a rundown of academic prizes won since junior high school, but a call for a brief overview of what you bring to the table. Practice your lines, because presentation
Prepare for the interview by reading as much as you can about the company. If it's publicly traded, such as Microsoft, Intel or Cisco Systems, read the most recent 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the latest annual report. If the company is privately held, start with its Web site and study the industry.
Some job candidates wrongly assume that being critical of their current employer underscores their keen insight into corporate America. It's a huge mistake. The interviewer will assume that you're a malcontent and conclude that if you're unhappy in your current job, you'll soon be unhappy in a new job-and no one wants to hire trouble. So, knocking your current employer during an interview will knock you out of the box.
Never talk money or benefits until you have an offer in hand. If you do, the interviewer will assume your interest in the job goes only as far as the next paycheck. Employers want people who are committed to the company's success and will turn handstands for them-not clock-punchers.
After completing an interview, be sure to follow up with thank-you letters to everyone you met. Get business cards from all of the people you meet during the interview process so you get their names and titles right. Misspelling a name or flubbing a title will signal that you pay no attention to small details-and that says nothing good about you.
In each letter, thank the person for taking the time to discuss the job. The real purpose of the letter is to recap your pitch and restate your interest in the job. Sum up your educational background and work experience, and state how this qualifies you for the job.
Don't be bashful, but don't be boastful, and again state what you can do for the company. Send slightly different versions of the letter to each person you met during the interview. Be sure to sign each letter.
Do you e-mail the notes or send them via the snail? The advantage of zapping a note via e-mail or licking a stamp and stuffing it in an envelope varies from interview to interview. An e-mail is quick, but it may become lost in the clutter that piles up each day.
A hard copy therefore may be more memorable and create a lasting impact. In either case, get the letter off as quickly as possible, certainly no more than two or three days after the interview.
Remember: Until you have an offer in hand, everything you do should build a favorable impression and position you as the best candidate for the job.
Don't call the hiring manager a week after the interview to ask where things stand. Breathless inquiries will undercut your position. The toughest part of a job hunt is waiting, but decisions always take longer than you'd like. The reason is clear: The employer is going to spend a good chunk of money on the position and needs to hire the right person.
If you made all the points you wanted to during the interview, you have a good shot at getting a job offer. But sometimes you're beaten by another candidate. If so, think about what you can do better in the future, and continue on to the next interview.
If you land the job, congratulations. Grab the opportunity with both hands. Finally, don't tell anyone off as you leave your old job.
