The Dos And Don’ts Of Interviewing For A Job

When our parents and grandparents were graduating from high school and college to enter the workforce, whatever job you ended up with was generally going to be the one you were going to do for the rest of your working life. There wasn’t as much emphasis placed on things like resumes and interviewing skills because if you played your cards right you’d only need them the once. Today’s worker’s job hop a lot more than in previous generations – the youngest only have a job for about a year before moving on, while those in their prime working years tend to hold on to jobs anywhere from two to eight years. The longer you are in the workforce the longer you tend to hold on to your job, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t going to be going on dozens of job interviews throughout your career. And since job interviews have changed quite a bit in the last decade, it’s time to brush up on your interviewing skills – it’s about more than just ironing your best suit.

When you find the job you want, you may think that sending in your resume and cover letter and waiting for an email is going to do it. Unfortunately, cover letters are obsolete, and if you haven’t yet taken the time to do a checkup on your online reputation your efforts may be in vain. Most employers barely read your resume and instead take to Google and social media to see what you are REALLY like.

If you do get the call to come in for an interview, it’s unlikely to be a one-and-done. Today’s interviewers are extra careful to ensure they are getting the right person for their team, so you might expect to go to five to eight or even more different interviews before you are finally hired. There may be a phone interview after your screening, in-person interviews one on one and then in a group, dining interviews, and more.

When you do finally make it to your in-person interview, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Don’t arrive too late or too early – ten minutes early is usually perfect
• Put your phone away and don’t act distracted – there’s literally nowhere else you should be right now
• Don’t lie or exaggerate – that’s just going to make the job harder for you
• Dress for success – avoid looking too casual or disheveled
• Avoid talking about yourself negatively – it can be a warning sign
• Don’t ask about money until the right time
• Avoid talking negatively about former bosses or coworkers
• Be forward-thinking but don’t be too cocky
• Make sure you prepare adequately for your interview before you get there – research the company!

Your job interview is your time to shine. Show your potential employers you can be the linchpin of the operation. There are a lot of other people trying to get the job you are applying for, and it is up to you to prepare yourself fully for this moment. Learn more about interviewing from this infographic!