Got the Interview – What’s Next

Whether you’re interviewing for a full or part-time position, an internship and/or graduate school admission, there are seven steps one should take in preparing for the actual interview. These steps are in no particular order however are all important parts in preparing for your interview. The steps are as follows:

1. Select the appropriate business attire: (11/7) It only takes eleven seconds for a person to form seven perceptions about you based upon your initial introduction. Therefore, you must make sure that your total look is on point. Do not stray away from traditional business attire. Traditional business attire colors are blacks, dark grays and navy. Make sure that when you purchase or select your attire that the slacks/skirt and blazer are sold together. For example, when buying black, do not get a black blazer from Men’s Warehouse and dress slacks from Wal-Mart. Although items are sold with the description of being black, there are various shades of the color. Make sure to wear minimal accessories. Ladies no hoop or large earrings, studs are appropriate and maybe a pearl necklace. Your socks should coordinate with your outfit and your shoes and belt should match. You don’t want the focus of your interview to be distracted by your appearance. Force them to focus on your knowledge, skills and abilities.
2. Google a list of interview questions: This is a part of the practice piece. In any interview the first question asked is, “tell me about yourself”. Many individuals get this wrong. They go into stories of their personal lives when in fact, the employer simply wants to know about your skillset and how they can fit into their organization. Other basic interview questions are: (1) Where do you see yourself in five years? (2) Why should we hire you? (3) Name three strengths. and (4) Name one weakness. Now the fourth question is kind of tricky and most people could scare the interview when answering. Throughout my career, when asked this question my answer has always remained, “I am a perfectionist. The root word of perfectionist is “perfect”. So in the case of expressing my weakness, I am still explaining it in a positive way and subliminally letting the interviewer know about my work ethic, performance and efficiency in doing so.
3. Practice interview: Practice definitely makes perfect. Call a friend, a relative or simply sit in front of a mirror and practice interviewing. Your career center may have software that can assist you in preparing for your interview. Make contact with your career center staff to either utilize the software and/or schedule a mock interview. Most people don’t realize how much they talk with their hands or how much they say the words “like” or “uhm” and practice and feedback are both effective ways of improving your interview skills. This proper preparation will definitely assist in elevating your confidence level during the interview process.
4. Do your research: If you truly desire for your interview to be a success, I can’t stress enough the importance of researching the organization. Do not go into an interview without knowing important facts about a company. We live in a day and age where the words “I don’t know” should not exist. The internet is a beautiful thing and companies expect you to doing your research. Knowing the organization’s goals and objectives provides you with the opportunity to metaphorically place yourself within the company and strategically get the interviewer to visualize you within their organization.
5. Identify the company’s location the night before: There’s nothing worse than having an interview and calling the receptionist the morning of trying to get the company’s location. This causes stress to you because your focus now is getting there on time. We all have heard the old saying, “If you are 15 minutes early, you’re on time. If you’re on time you’re late and if you’re late do not show up.” If your interview is out of town, stay in a hotel or with a friend/family member the night before. I do not suggest risking missing your interview because of unpredictable traffic or possible mechanical problems. Trust me, as soon the receptionist receives your call, they will alert the interviewer. Remember he/she is the gatekeeper and their opinion of you counts.
6. Get a good night’s sleep: Get at least six – eight hours of sleep prior to your interview. A proper night’s rest is essential. Do not stay up the entire night practicing or researching. Be proactive in that piece so that you can go to sleep at an appropriate time. Turn that cellphone off or put it on silent! Please do not fall asleep and/or yawn in your interview. Trust me, it’s not a good look.
7. Notify your contact: If someone referred you for the position or if you know someone that works within the organization, let them know about your interview. Your networking at this point is about to pay off. If you are an asset to your contact’s professional brand, they are going to either request to be included in the selection process or give a great reference on your behalf to the hiring manager. There’s nothing wrong with having a cheerleader on the inside.

Fear of the unknown is human nature however proper preparation will give you insight and provide you with the confidence of knowing what to expect. These seven steps will give you just that. My prayer is that everyone who reads this article understand the importance of interview preparation. I would also like to encourage all students and alumni to utilize their career services center. We are a valuable resource to your success. If you need advice within your career as Director of Career Services for Alabama State University, I am making myself available via email. I can be reached at Jhodge@alasu.edu. Good luck in your career and remember to you make each day count by striving to be better than you were the day before.