by Jon Nicklas | Personal Recruiter.
A multitude of books have been written about how great people make great companies. The hiring process is critical to getting people INTO a company. Without a doubt the most daunting step in the hiring process is the interview. I have been a potential employee, a hiring manager, and now a Professional Recruiter. Interviews are part of my daily life and here are my observations about #HowIHire.
Dress to Impress. Dress up more than the job requires. If the position you want requires khakis and a polo, wear dress pants, a shirt and tie to the interview. If you would wear a shirt and tie every day then wear a suit to the interview. I once had an engineer show up for an interview in a flannel shirt. This was a professional interview with a company expecting a skilled candidate...who blew the interview because of his choice of attire. The bottom line...dress to impress.
Be Confident. Before you even get an interview someone made the decision you were worth the time. In my case I interview all of my candidates before my clients ever see a resume. Therefore, if I set someone up for an interview I want them to know they are a good fit. Even if during the interview you determine you are not a good fit, be confident in that decision.
Tell the Truth. Often people will stretch the truth on their resume or during an interview. Sure I can design a part from scratch... Yes I can create advanced spreadsheets in Excel... Only to be put on a computer and they can't make heads or tails of the things they just said they could do. Give examples of your work experience: While working for ABC Company I designed a ground-breaking alphabet block from scratch. When you are asked about doing something where you have little to no experience just tell the truth. It will pay off in the long run.
Don't Over-share. I don't want to know about how many surgeries your 15 year old cat has had in the past year or what injury you sustained playing flag football on a Saturday afternoon five months ago. Also, I don't want to know about the fifteen bosses you have had in the last six years and how terrible they all were. Answer questions quickly and succinctly but don't go into great detail about things that are not important during an interview. If it doesn't relate to the job keep it quiet.
Don't be Late. I once had an HR Professional tell me when I called to follow up that my candidate was five minutes late. I was informed my candidate couldn't figure out how to open the door. You know, the big red button that says "PUSH" and has a sign hanging above it that says, "Push to Open." My candidate tried several other doors to get in, with no success. By the time they got the door open, they were late. Arrive to an interview fifteen to twenty minutes early. Consider scoping the location out the day before just to make sure you know where you are going. If you are late you probably won't get the job.
Be Prepared. One can find almost anything online. Research the company, their history, who will be interviewing you and the location. Write down and bring a list of questions to ask--yes, an actual list you printed out on paper. Leave your phone in the car, but bring in a folder or binder with the list. You will look prepared, and by having done your research and bringing a printed out list of questions you will BE prepared. Not a bad idea to bring several copies of your resume just in case.
Be Positive. Even the most qualified candidate can blow an interview with negativity. We have all had bad work experiences. Shoot, some of us (yes me) have even been fired. How do you couch that experience when asked about it? Briefly and positively. Here's what I say: "For me, it was a situation I knew was declining; I knew I needed to make a change. Even though my numbers were fantastic I was terminated with no explanation. Now I am focused on finding my next opportunity." Short, honest, positive.
Express Gratitude. Send a thank-you note. To do this you must have names and a physical address where to mail a note. Make sure to get this information during the interview. This demonstrates planning ahead and initiative.
The hiring process is a gauntlet we all have to navigate. Interviewing is just one step, but it sure is a big step. Hopefully my insight will help you be more prepared and land the job you want. Good Luck!
Image from: http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com
Article from: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-should-i-wear-...
