Interviewing Tips for Professional Men

Many people in today’s age are out there trying to find a new job. Whether it is to seek career growth or just a bigger paycheck, the job interview is one thing that everyone goes through. In a previous life I used to work as a department manager in a nationwide retail chain, and while I did not have any authority to hire individuals, I did sit in on prospective new hires during the interview with our General Manager. As the leader of a particular department, my input was taken into consideration and many times there were several aspects of the interviewee that turned me off.

Whether it is a failure to educate our young professionals in school on effective communication skills, or simply a lack of sincere effort, it seems that nowadays it is harder to find someone (especially men from what I observed) who is a good interviewee. As the old saying goes, first impressions do go a long way.

Here are a few quick tips on interviewing for a job that might make the difference between rejection and acceptance:

Preparation & Confidence Building
It is vital for any prospective employee to prepare for an interview in the days leading up to it. Gather the information that you will need during the interview. Information like the company’s history, recent achievements, and mission are all good things to know when walking into the interview. This displays an honest interest in working for the company, and will win you points over an interviewee that didn’t take the time learn about his prospective employer.

Not only is preparing for the interview add to your overall first impression, but it also helps you to build confidence. Being armed with knowledge in any situation will make you all the more confident. As in with relationships, confidence in the workplace is an attractive characteristic of any employee. Be cautious not to act too confident to the point of being self-centered though.

“The Checklist”
The following is a list of things you absolutely SHOULD do leading up to the interview:

1. Call ahead and confirm the date, time, and name of your interviewer.
2. Plan to arrive at your interview at least 15 minutes early.
3. Dress professionally. Iron your shirt and straighten your tie!
4. If you are bringing references, certificates, awards etc., prepare them neatly beforehand. Ideally you want to keep them organized in a file or a binder to easily hand to your interviewer for review.
5. When arriving for the interview, check in with the receptionist or secretary.

Practice Interview Questions
In the days leading up to your interview write down some possible interview questions that might be asked and practice your responses to them. This exercise will boost your confidence in the interview itself. Be sure to use the third person when talking about the job. Do not speak as though you assume the job is yours.

“You Never Have a Chance to Make a First Impression”
First impressions do go a long way, take it from me I know. When an interviewee would walk into our office I’d instantly size them up in the first few minutes. I might have been jumping to some conclusions, but this is all a factor and impact of your projected image. Here are a few tips to ensuring your first impression is a good one:

1. Dress professionally
2. Greet your interviewer with a confident smile and handshake
3. Maintain good posture! Do not slouch in the chair. Sit up straight!
4. Keep good eye contact with the person you are speaking to but do not glare.

Communicate Effectively
Do not take too long to answer questions or explain things that might be asked of you. Keep long answers to 2-3 minutes at most. Communicate in a concise manner. Do not elaborate unless asked to. Getting to the point of your answer quickly and effectively is best. If you get the feeling your interviewer is interested in what you’re saying, pause at a logical point and ask if they would like you to continue.

Knowing Your Product Means Knowing Yourself
If you were to walk up to Steve Jobs and ask him about the iPod, you would expect him to know everything about it. The same is with you! Know yourself and what you have to offer so when questions like “Tell me about yourself” come up, you are ready to answer.

Be Prepared to Ask Questions
During any interview you will be asked if you have any questions. Prepare beforehand with a list of questions. Avoid questions that ask about pay or salary in too much detail during the early stages of the interview.

Read Your Interviewer
Just as the person interviewing you is sizing you up, studying your speech and body language, so should you be studying them. Be perceptive of their reactions to what you’re saying and flow with it.

Thank Them and Follow Up
At the end of the interview always thank your interviewer for their time and for the opportunity to be considered as a potential new hire. In a couple of days time send an email or make a quick phone call just to follow up with them and thank them again for their time.

Using these basic interview skills will help you increase the odds of getting the next job you want. Remember that in an interview you are selling yourself. Be prepared to justify why you are the right man for the job. Prepare for your interview diligently, and you will be rewarded.

Good luck!

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