Acing Your Next Interview: A 5-Step Guide

By Megan Martin

Just the thought of an interview can cause your heart to race, your palms to sweat, your stomach to turn. While it may feel impossible to predict what an interviewer is looking for or how the interview will go, there are several ways you can make the process less nerve-wracking, and present yourself as the star candidate you know yourself to be.

1. Prepare Yourself

You've heard it time and time again: The key to a good interview experience is preparation. This includes not only researching the company and understanding what the position requires, but knowing what you're looking for as well.

Know What You Want

Before you respond to a potential employer's request for an interview, make sure you have a clear idea of what is most important to you in a position. This can include anything from tasks you most enjoy doing to the type of environment you'd prefer to work in.

What are your long and short-term career goals? Can you achieve them in the position at hand? Would your personality be a good fit within the culture of the company? Rather than rushing to apply for a position simply because you fit the qualifications, consider whether it's a place you'd enjoy working.

Do Your Research

"Learn as much as you can about the job, the employer, and its executives beforehand," says Perri Capell in the CareerJournal.com article "How to Answer Any Interview Question."

At the interview, you can use the information you've gathered to shape the interview and show the interviewer why you'd be a great fit with the company. Know your resume inside and out--even anecdotes about your hobbies and interests can make for excellent examples.

2. Make a Great First Impression

"First impressions are extremely important and should not be underestimated. If you don't make a good first impression, you're not going to have a chance to make a second," says Peggy DeMuse, Managing Director of SALO Project. Remember, you are making an impression the moment you step in the door.

Dress the Part

Appearance may not be everything--but it is important, especially in an interview situation. The first judgments made about you will be based on appearance, so your attire should show that you are taking the interview process seriously. Avoid wearing flashy or distracting clothing, and don't under-dress.

"Always dress beyond what you think they are expecting," says DeMuse. "If the company is business casual, it is generally recommended that you still wear a suit. You will feel more confident at the interview if you know you look good.”

Liz Ryan, in her Business Week online article "Make or Break Interview Mistakes," agrees: "You don't have to wear Brooks Brothers to a job interview, but you have to look businesslike. There are still plenty of funky startups that would welcome a job seeker in one of those 1950s bowling shirts that Kramer used to wear on Seinfeld. But if you're applying at a standard, buttoned-down company, dress the part."

Mind Your Manners

DeMuse often sees interviewees making mistakes in the etiquette department. "Don't underestimate who you're talking to--every person is part of the process so make sure you give everyone due courtesy. Whether you're talking with someone who will be your peer or somebody who may report to you, you want to leave them feeling good about you."

Make a Good First Impression With the Interviewer

When the interviewer enters the room, you should be ready and waiting--not sitting down. Look the interviewer in the eye and greet him or her with a good, firm handshake and a smile that shows confidence and enthusiasm. Body language is extremely important. During the interview, says DeMuse, lean forward and sit on the edge of the chair to show you're engaged.

3. Answering Questions

While there is no way to prepare a perfect answer for every interview question, there are several ways you can get ready.

Have an Arsenal of Strong Examples

Go into the interview knowing that the interviewer has taken the time to choose highly specific questions that will help him or her determine whether you have the skills and personality necessary for the position.

It's not enough to be able to list what's on your resume--come prepared with specific anecdotes that will demonstrate your strong points, as well as why you think you'd be a good fit with the company's culture. Obviously you can't predict every possible question, so try to think of examples that could be used in more than one scenario. You don't want your responses to sound memorized, so leave room for improvisation.

Honesty is the Best Policy

"The best advice--just tell your story honestly and don't try to position," says Randall H. Street, Head of GH Smart's Executive Education Practice. "A-players are very comfortable in their skin, know what they want to do and don't want to be somewhere that's not a good fit--they're honest and forthright about their strengths and weaknesses. C-players will try to cover up, or blame others for their downfalls."

If faced with a difficult question such as identifying a weakness, don't dodge the question or use the stock answer that you're a perfectionist. Have a plan for addressing a specific weakness.

Mention the weakness, then follow it up with a statement that shows you have tried or are trying to improve upon it. If you feel you don't speak up often enough, for example, point out that you've set a goal to make at least three comments at each meeting you attend.

4. Take Control

Too many interviewees approach an interview feeling as if it's their job to sit back and answer the questions given, but there are ways to direct the process to your advantage.

Deliver Your Message

Don't approach an interview feeling as if you're at the mercy of the interviewer and have no control over the situation. Consider a few things you want to convey about yourself, and make sure you get your message across.

"If somebody's really passive, it tells me they're not necessarily interested," says DeMuse. Try thinking about your greatest strengths and how they would mesh with the goals of the position and the company, then focus the interview around these.”

Stand up For Yourself

If you answer a difficult question and feel the interviewer is resistant to your response, don't be afraid to speak about it further, advises Sherri Gong Taguchi in her Wetfeet.com article "Decoding the Interview and Evaluation Process.” “Most recruiters will appreciate your forthrightness and maturity in acknowledging you're not perfect and are 'hungry' for a chance to show your perspective.”

Ask Questions

Come prepared with a list of questions about the company and the position, including any concerns you may have. This will help you get a better sense of whether you'll fit with the organization.

5. Follow Up

Don't Assume the Worst

Just because you interviewed a week ago and haven't heard back yet, don't assume it's necessarily a bad sign. Companies have different time frames for hiring and some are longer than others. Ask during the interview when you can expect to hear back, but if you don't get a clear response, feel free to follow up once or twice without being pushy.

After the interview, don't forget to send a note to the interviewer. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, says DeMuse. "I think an email today is just as effective as a hand-written or typed note, maybe even better. In your note, be sure to thank the interviewers for their time and for their interest in you. If you're really interested in the position, reiterate your interest and remind the employer of your qualifications for the position."

Finally, remember that if you don't get the job, don't lose faith--there is probably a better fit out there for both you and the company.

Megan Martin is a freelance writer based in Chicago. She can be reached at Megan.M@BeTuitive.com.

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