Despite the bleak employment news from May, many more New Englanders are getting job interviews than a year ago. Preparing for one is daunting to say the least. And there is no shortage of articles, blogs, and how-to tips that can be found on the web to help you make sure you are ready for the type of questions you will be asked. I have even contributed to the information pool. For a change, let us look at the real basics of interview preparation — the most concrete things you need to help increase your chances of this all-important conversation going well.
Smart people, whether pilots before a flight or doctors before an operation, get ready for any complicated procedure by having a checklist of steps that experience shows needs to be addressed to ensure optimal performance. Here is my pre-interview checklist of simple things to have ready:
- Ten copies of your resume: Do not assume all the interviewers are ready by having had your resume provided to them prior to the interview. Not all employers run like clockwork. Think how prepared you will look if you can instantly hand out resumes to interviewers who do not have one.
- Bottle of water: Thirty minutes or more of high-pressure answering questions can make anyone’s throat dry. Coughing, throat clearing, and deep swallowing to keep lubricated does not make you appear at your best. Have that water ready to keep the talker oiled. One caution, however, is do not keep reaching for it nervously like a beer during a first date.
- Breath mints: While on the topic of your mouth, having sweet minty breath leaves you feeling more confident to speak directly to someone at a relatively short distance, say when shaking hands, and it leaves the listener with the impression that you are clean and presentable. Although, I love Altoids, for many they are too powerful, so choose one more subtle, but effective.
- References: Having copies of two to three references, which are ready to pass out, can add to the message that you are prepared and are at this interview to do work. Distributing them without being asked shows that you are taking a level of ownership for the meeting.
- Pad of paper and two working pens: From jotting reminders of points, you wish to make to getting names and titles of interviewers down, it is okay to take a few notes during the interview. Remember, though, that writing too much is not good and lots of eye contact is good. And for goodness sakes, don’t doodle!
- Power bar: I do not know about you, but I never like eating before a big meeting, especially one in which I am the center of attention. Now what if the interview turns into a second one for later in the morning or the whole process is delayed for some reason. You do not want your stomach grumbling at an inopportune time, so have one of those power bars to eat between sessions.
- Tissues: Sneezes, running nose, watery eyes, the list goes on for reasons why you might want or need to wipe your face. Have one of those handy little tissue packages tucked in a discreet pocket for just those occasions.
- Cash: Imagine that you are asked by an interviewer to continue the conversation at the cafeteria over coffee or lunch. Wouldn’t you want to be able to pay for not only yourself, but for the interviewer? Sure, a debit card might work, but what if it did not? Be prepared.
- Photo ID: You probably carry one around with you all the time anyway, but be sure to when going to an interview, especially one that might be held in a setting in which you have to pass through security. Being able to prove who you are could be useful.
- Written information about interviewer and department: You are probably going to be nervous showing up for the interview, so have the necessary appointment data written down for reference. Your memory may not be as sharp if you are freezing at a reception desk, so have the name of the interview contact person and any relevant contact info ready to read from or to show.
Check, check, check, ready! Go get ’em!
