You Got the Interview—Now What?
The Before, During and After in the Interview Process
They called for an interview. Now what? Here are some tips to make sure you stand out from other interviewees (in a good way!)
You sent in your resume. You received a call from the company, asking for you to come in for an interview. Now what do you do? Here are some things to do prior to, during and after the interview to make yourself stand out from the rest of the interviewees.
1) Call the company to find out more about it: If it’s a company that does sales, you could call the sales department. Salespeople typically are talkers. In this call, find out the environment of the company, if it is family owned and the dress code.
2) Research the company on the internet: This may seem like a no-brainer, but a lot of people do not bother to do research on a company prior to an interview. Get background information, and write down anything you want to know in a notebook.
3) Dress for the job you want AT THIS COMPANY: If you find out that the company is really relaxed, don’t come into the interview in a three piece suit. Khakis and a navy blazer are always a good choice for men in these situations, and for women, a print on either the top or bottom. These wardrobe choices are likely to make you stand out from other interviewees. If the environment is creative (marketing, advertising or film) DO NOT wear a basic black or navy suit. Try a color. If all you have is the basic, funk it up with an interesting top or tie, and some statement making shoes.
4) Take a notebook: And use it. Take notes, but not for the sake of taking notes. If you really want the job, pretend the interview is like a meeting you would attend once employed with the company and write down the information you think you would write down as an employee. Also, write down any questions you have. Which leads to…
5) Ask Questions: When the interviewer asks “Do you have any questions?” he/she is not asking for his/her health. That person really wants to know you were engaged in the interview, and that you are interested in the company. Ask about initiatives, new projects or if you have nothing else, any philanthropic work in which the company participates.
6) As soon as you get home, send a Thank You card: Not an email, a card. Mention something specific from the interview, and send a card to everyone with whom you interviewed. Be sure to write different messages to each person, just in case they compare cards.
Using these tips, and your winning personality, you should be unpacking your office in weeks. If you get the impression in the interview that things are not going well, everyone would probably be relieved if you cut the experience short rather than drag on the process. Remember, as much as they are interviewing you, you are interviewing them. Make sure to be yourself; if the company hires you based on what they wanted to hear, not what you really had to say, you probably will not fit in after the Honeymoon phase is over.
