Tips to Ace the Date and Seal the Deal
After lots of emails traded and “get to know you” phone calls the big date has finally arrived. You’re sitting across a table with sweaty palms, a quivering voice and a fluttering heart. Not only do you want to make a good impression, but you want it to last because you know this union is worth a long term commitment and you want to be sure your companion feels the same about you.
Sound familiar? With the exception of flirting, you can take a page out of the dating handbook on a job interview. Here’s a look at the anatomy of an interview from the first glance to the final thank you.
Have Them at Hello
Your potential for success starts before you’ve even met the interviewer…with how you look and how respectful you are with anyone you encounter when you arrive. Carry yourself with confidence (but not cockiness) and humility (but not timidity). Look your greeter in the eyes, give them a warm smile and a firm handshake. If you can draw them in early, you have a much better chance of keeping them engaged. Maintaining eye contact through the entire discussion makes a person memorable.
Be a Great Talker…
An interview is an exchange of conversation. Pleasantries are exchanged, questions are asked and answered, information flows and decisions are made. If you can’t effectively communicate, odds are you won’t hear from them again. Ahead of time, you should have anticipated some questions and you should be able to give well-constructed responses without sounding rehearsed. Your answers should be specific, honest and straightforward. The strengths and achievements you highlight should be relevant to the job under discussion and you should have a concrete example of how you’re addressing a weakness. And always have at the ready a few carefully considered questions. It shows you came prepared and it could tip the scales in your favor. Keep the topics for these questions to the company (what does the interviewer like best about working there, top traits in people who get hired) and the broader business (5 year plan, marketplace stability); avoid broaching the salary and benefits subject unless the interviewer brings it up first.
…And Listener
Clearly, what you say and how you say it will be the biggest factor in whether or not you get hired. But what you don’t say is a close second. Be very careful with your body language and, of course, pay attention. Relax in your seat but don’t slouch. Lean towards the interviewer. Nod your head. Avoid a blank stare. Maintain eye contact. And under no circumstances should you ever check your phone (in fact, you should leave it in the car).
Find Your Inner Closer
A strong finish leaves a lasting impression. Of course you should give another firm handshake and thank the interviewer for their time. This is a given…don’t leave their office without it! But you also have a perfect chance to reinforce just how interested you are in the job and ask them about next steps. If they say a decision will be made in two weeks, you now have a guideline for when it’s appropriate to follow-up.
A first date is very much like an interview for a job. Both sides of the table – restaurant or conference room – are sizing up the other and asking themselves a series of basic questions. Does this person look the part? Can I see myself spending substantial time with them? Do they have interesting things to say? Am I convinced this is right? Will they fit into my world?
Keep these tips in mind and it should be the start of a happy union.