Michael Jackson. That was my answer to an interview question about what person I would add to Mount Rushmore. Yup, according to me, the same mountain with the heads of Jefferson, Washington, Roosevelt, and Lincoln should also be home to MJ’s skinny little nose. Now before you start to debate whether or not my dad dropped a hammer on my head when I was a baby, try to sympathize with me a little. I was sitting in one of my very first interviews, sitting amidst twelve staring eyes, being asked a random, hypothetical (and in my opinion, ridiculous) question that I had to respond to on the spot. I said the first thing that popped into my head without thinking. Needless to say, I didn’t get the position.
We’ve all done it. Whether it’s an internship, a scholarship, or (dare I say it?) a real-person job, we’ve gone to an interview, received some off-the-wall question, and in a flustered frenzy, given an even more ridiculous answer. Luckily, after the Mount Rushmore incident, I hunted down some of the best advice in the business. Wendy Sewack at Commerce Career Services had ten pearls of wisdom to pass along.
1. Be aware of snap judgments.
First impressions are made within 20 seconds of an initial meeting. Be sure to give a friendly smile and an articulate, professional greeting. Be respectful, don’t use slang words, and dress conservatively (for more info about attire, see #2!).
2. Sell yourself – but not in that way…
You want your interviewer to focus on you, not on your clothes or any of the features your clothes may enhance. Have a good, dark suit. Wear 1-3 inch heels or pointy flats – do NOT wear ballet flats! Avoid flashy, jingly jewelry.
3. Give examples.
If there’s one thing people remember, it’s stories. If someone asks you what your greatest strengths are, don’t just say, “I’m honest.” Instead, describe a time where you left a note on a parked car you bumped into, even though you were pretty sure the owner would never even notice that tiny scratch.
4. Do your research.
The more you know about the organization interviewing you, the more you can tailor your responses. For example, if you know that there is a big emphasis on teamwork in the company culture, try to play up your interpersonal skills and past experience working in groups.
5. Google “common interview questions” and have a response for each.
You don’t need to go overboard, but it’s good to have your strengths and weaknesses (and when you talk about weaknesses, always include what you’ve done to improve), your personal heroes, your goals, your proudest accomplishments, your most unique qualities and your toughest decisions outlined somewhere in the back of your mind. That way, you can answer these questions quickly without the awkward 30-second pause where you helplessly look at the ceiling and alternate between “hmmm” and “wellll” and “uhhhh.”
6. Smile.
People want to hire people they like – people whose face they can stand to see day in and day out. Smiling lets your employers know that you’re pleasant and likeable. And it makes you look confident – always a plus.
7. Act confident.
Even if you just did twenty laps around the waiting room to try to calm yourself down (bad idea – too much sweat), walk into the interview room with upright posture and a firm handshake. Always make direct eye contact. Even if you feel like throwing up, you need to fake confidence – it’s universally attractive and gives you an aura of competence.
8. So, do you have any further questions? Um…
Always have questions prepared. It shows you’ve actually researched the company and it gives people a chance to talk about themselves – which they love. If you don’t know where to start, some sample questions could be,
What aspects of the company would you like to see improved?
What attracted you to this company?
Can you describe a typical work day/week?
9. Navigate the “Chat n’ Chew”
If a potential boss takes you out to dinner or lunch for an interview, not only will you have to focus on what you say, but you’ll also have to eat like a civilized human being. Order food you know how to eat, put your napkin in your lap, and break bread before you eat it. The bread plate goes on the left, while your glass goes to the right. Utensils never touch the table once food is served. Avoid ordering alcohol even if others are. To learn more about table manners, visit http://www.etiquettescholar.com/dining_etiquette/table_manners.html.
10. Practice!
Use your college’s career services department, your best friend or your mom and have them give you a mock interview. Don’t write out answers to every possible question and memorize them line-by-line. Instead, work on having answers that you can easily pull from that flow naturally. Aim to make the interview as much like a conversation as possible.
So get to practicing! Goodbye Michael Jackson, hello dream job.