One Moment CAN Change Your Life
A person will have several big days in their life, from graduating college to getting married to becoming a parent. There’s no question these personal moments are life changing, but what about in our professional lives? Surely, there are life-changing moments in our careers too. Unquestionably one of the biggest is the interview. You meet with a new company knowing they have a position to fill and it’s your chance to convince them you’re the only person they should consider. And when they agree, you’ll have accomplished something no one else could for that position…you get the job. Follow these tips to get ready for such a big career moment:
It Is a Test, So Do Your Homework and Study
- Really know the company. You must dig deeper than the website. Is this a service industry with clients? If yes, speak to references beforehand. Does the company have retail locations? If yes, visit as many as you can. Establish yourself as someone who goes the extra mile. Anyone can view the website, but you’ll have firsthand knowledge of the company’s reputation and operations to draw on.
- Leverage connections and make friends. If you already know someone working for the company, you have a distinct advantage. Learn everything you can about the culture, the types of people that get hired and who will be interviewing you. If you don’t have an in, try to change that. Connect with people through social media and ask around, you just might know someone who knows someone who can give you an edge.
- Define yourself into the job. The company has already given savvy interviewers a leg up…they wrote a job posting. This description is chock full of golden opportunity for you. The company has a need and they’ve let everyone know exactly who will fill it. So, show them that person! Tell them exactly which of your assets and achievements match their criteria.
How You Present Yourself Says Everything About How You’ll Represent Them
- Crack the clothing code. Let’s call a spade a spade – appearance is a factor in the hiring decision and it’s critical to get it right. Before the interview, always ask about dress code. Most companies have moved away from formal dress, but “business casual” leaves much room for interpretation. It’s always best to err on the conservative and wear a suit. But if you’re meeting with a more relaxed company and you’ve already discussed dress code, coordinating separates (sweater/button down, slacks) should work fine. Never, ever, wear jeans unless you’re specifically told to do so.
- Be well groomed. You’ve got to pay attention to the details. If you have unkempt hair, dirty fingernails, a stain on your shirt, a fraying hem or something else that gives you a lack of polish, a potential employer is going to draw a parallel from these things to your work. They will lose confidence in your ability to manage their portfolio, or sell their product, or teach their child and you’ll be sent packing.
What to Pack, What to Scrap
- Do you have a copy of your resume? The answer should always be yes. In fact, have several copies just in case you meet with more than one person. We live in a digital time and, sure, things can be easily shared. But never assume people had time to print your resume before an interview. Even if they aren’t used, have copies on hand and offer one to every person who interviews you. You should also bring a list of references. Not all companies require this, but in case you’re interviewing with a company that does, be prepared to hand them over.
- Bring breath mints, not gum. It’s OK to have a cup of coffee before your interview (although be careful not to spill!), but no one wants to smell bad breath. Gum is a major no-no because it’s noisy, unprofessional and something you’ll have to throw away. A breath mint is discreet, effective and will disintegrate quickly.
- Get directions. Or, if you’re using GPS, have the exact address to plug in since there are times a mailing address is different than what works on a digital map. And give yourself plenty of time to spare. Better to be early, waiting in the parking lot and totally composed, than sweating bullets and running late.
- Turn off and hide your phone. You want this job and no text message, phone call, email, game or tweet should ever be perceived as more important than the people you’re meeting face-to-face. Your best bet is to leave the phone in your car.
When a day has this much pressure, you can’t wing it. You’ll be setting yourself up for failure if you assume your charisma and charm will carry you. And if you do this, what could have been one of your big days, will instead be a day like any other where you don’t get a call back and you don’t get the job. So, using this logic, it literally pays to be prepared.