The Interview - Tips to nail it!

You are a "passive candidate" you are an "active candidate" it doesn't matter. A company is interested in you, you are interested in them and it is time to talk. There are 3 main ways a company will approach this conversation:

Phone Interview - Telephone screening is very common. For a company, is important to see how someone communicates on the phone since so little business is actually done in person anymore. Also, this gives the employer a chance to have more conversations in one day so it is even more important to stand out here. Make sure you schedule a time so you are in a private/quiet location and you can give the employer full attention. Be prepared to take notes during the conversation and ask smart questions. My pet peeve is someone taking a phone interview from their car because I am obviously not getting their full attention (especially with the crazy drivers in DC). Also, if you can find a land line, do it. Constant dropped calls can be very frustrating.

Informational Interview - I spend most of my day having informational conversations (an interview without a specific opening/position available). The reason I do this is so when an opportunity does arise, at my company or with a client, I will have great candidates ready to recommend. This also provides an opportunity to weed out those who have good resumes but actually aren't a good fit. And for the candidate, informational interviews are a great way to gain leads and information regarding the company. During this conversation, make it clear that you are seeking information, not a job. Be clear about what you are looking for and why you want to talk to this person. Ask thoughtful questions and at the end of the conversations, ask if the person you spoke with has any recommendations of others you could speak with. If you knock this conversation out of the park, don't be surprised if you are meeting with others at the firm sometimes soon. I hate to loose a talented candidate because we don't have a position. Sometimes I will try to justify creating something for that person!

The in person, Multiple Interview/ Interview - If things went well with the recruiter you spoke with, this is where you will end up next. An in person interview with multiple people at the company. I am a firm believer that anyone can get any job they want if they follow the suggestions below.

• Preparation (Days Before) - I can't emphasize it enough. If you are prepared and confident, you are one step ahead of the competition. So, how do you prepare??
• Learn everything you can about the company, position, interviewers, etc. With google, linkedin and websites, all of this information is at your fingertips.
• Know your story. I love to ask candidates to walk me through their resume. I want to hear your story, who you are and how you got to where you are now, know it. AND, highlight anything and everything that relates to the company/position you are interviewing. I want to hire someone that already has the experience needed to be successful in the position that open
• Anticipate questions: If you were the interviewer, what sort of questions would you ask to find out about if someone was a good fit for the position of company. You typically have a job description so it shouldn't be too hard to anticipate.
• Role play with a friend or family member so you are prepared to answer all sorts of questions. Don't give them a list of questions but let them come up with their own list.
• AND PLEASE NOTE!! The point of preparation is not to spit out everything you know about the firm, position and person you are interviewing with, but to be confident to answer any question that might come up.
• Preparation (The Day Of) - Don't screw it up before you even get to the interview.
• Confirm the time, date and location of the interview so you know exactly where and when you need to be there.
• Be there on time but NOT SUPER early. Plan to get to the location 20 minutes before your interview but don't actually go into the building until 5 minutes before. That 15 minutes allows buffer time for "acts of god."
• Wear a suit, bring a few copies of your resume and a notepad to take notes. If you are unable to wear a suit because you don't want to tip off your current company, talk to the recruiter about is so they can give your interviewers a heads up.
• The Actual Conversations - Think of an interview as a first date. Instead of the inquisition, understand that you both are trying to figure out if there is a match. This mindset offers many advantages. You come off as curious, not desperate, you do not assume that too-formal, phony-appearing job seeker persona, you talk about what you want to talk about instead of just passively getting bombarded with the employer's probes and you are more likely to ask questions during the interview. Those questions will help you assess if you really want the job.
• Back to knowing your story. You must know your resume. Review it. If you are like most people you only update your most recent position so you might have forgotten things on your resume that you did years ago. Anything on your resume is fair game for a questions so don't be caught off guard.
• Have thoughtful answers. Make sure you are answering the question that is asked (not just spitting out things you wanted to get across). If the question isn't clear, ask for clarification. Use examples from past experiences to help answer the question. This way the interviewer will see how relevant your past experiences are. Answer questions in a short story format making sure that you are concise. Again, practice answers to common questions prior to the interview.
• Be enthusiastic and positive. During an interview always show enthusiasm. Do not be negative. If you are asked a question about why you left your last job and it was because you hated your boss, don't say that, come up with a way to explain your situation in a positive way.
• Ask questions. Come to the interview prepared with a list of well thought out questions. This is another chance for you to stand out. Don't ask the typical, why do you like your job, questions and don't focus on questions about how the company can help you, ask questions that might lead into a conversation around something you can do for them.
• After the Interview
• When you are leaving the interview, be sure to collect business cards and end the conversation with a firm handshake.
• ALWAYS write a thank you letter. I personally like a thank you e-mail because I can get it the same day you interviewed. Typically, by the time I receive a hand written note in the mail, I already made my decision. To be safe, I would do both. NOTE: the thank you note is another chance for you to stand out. I can't tell you how many thank you notes that say, "Thank you for your time, I enjoyed meeting you, blah blah.." Talk about our conversation, say something that will reiterate why you are a good fit, bring up something that will make me remember you.

Next to come... common interview mistakes and what not to do!! Stay posted!