How To Land Your Dream Career – What to do During the Interview

By doing a few simple things during an interview, you will look better than the other people who walk through that door.  Many young professionals have a bad “look”, have no confidence in themselves or are not prepared at all.  Just follow these steps and you will be significantly more impressive than your competition.

Make sure to show up 10 minutes early for the interview and then make a great first impression.  You will be well dressed and look sharp; if you are unsure about the dress code, then be safe and overdress.  Be enthusiastic and confident from the start.  Have a friendly demeanor with the receptionist; ask her how her day is going and professionally ask for the person you are meeting with.  Do not sit down while you are waiting in the lobby; instead, stand tall, be confident and be ready to impress them.  I promise none of the other people you are competing with for the opportunity will do this.  When that person arrives, give him or her a firm handshake and say that it is a pleasure to meet.  Let them know you have been looking forward to this opportunity.

Once the interview gets rolling, intelligently answer each question asked of you.  Be brief and to the point.  Don’t hesitate when answering.  Simply be honest, confident and brief with your response.  They will appreciate this strong communication.  Your answers should also be well stated; for instance, “I will” sounds a million times better than “I think I can.”  Go into this interview knowing you are the best candidate for the position and that you will be extremely successful if given the opportunity.  Don’t be arrogant; just be confident in your abilities and skill set.

Throughout the interview, maintain a high level of enthusiasm.  Market yourself effectively by bringing up past experiences that exemplify why you have the necessary skills or personality for the opportunity.  Show the interviewer how valuable you will be to the company and what you bring to the table (such as selling lots of product, coming up with great marketing ideas or transitioning into a leadership role).

Make sure you are being yourself during the interview.  Be comfortable and honest, there is no sense in pretending to be someone that you aren’t.  Earn the opportunity based on the type of person you are, not on who you think the interviewer is looking for.  If this truly is the best opportunity for you, then the interviewer will appreciate you for your personality.  Ask every question you can possibly think of and remember you are interviewing the company just as much as the company is interviewing you.  Virtually every other person they interview will be nervous, trying to act like someone they aren’t and feel uncomfortable.  Keep in mind that you are there to determine if you want to be part of this organization, not to pretend to be someone else.  Taking this approach will give you a unique attitude and a great deal of confidence.