Job interviews play a very important role in whether or not someone gets the job they are applying for. They are important because they give the employer or interviewer a chance to see first hand what the person is all about and what they like or dislike about the individual. The interview is a crucial aspect of the hiring process. Much is weighed on this first encounter.

The resume is also important part of the hiring process. The resume may only get you a phone call form the company but the interview is what will determine whether or not the company is going to put its hopes on you and make you the chosen one. The resume will give the company, that is searching for the right individual, a good overview of what you have done in the past and what you have accomplished as far as school and other things. The resume is kind of like a bridge that may or may not lead to the interview. If the resume does lead to an interview,the first meeting between the interviewer and the interviewee is going to be very important. It gives the interviewer and the company a sample of how you may act when dealing with people in the office and how you may act when dealing with the customers or clients as well. The interview is a great guide for them to go by when making their final decision on whether or not you will be hired and made a part of their team. It is really all that they have to go by on judging how you will be as an employee and how you will interact with people in the day to day operations of the company.

In the pages that will follow, I will try to give some important keys that should be carried out before and during a job interview. Things that should be done prior to a job interview and during a job interview are of equal importance in the search for the ideal or almost ideal career. I’m going to give some good solid advice to those that are looking for their next or even first career. The important things to do prior and during a job interview, that will be covered in this paper, are things that can be used even by a teenager who is looking for that perfect summer job. These are tips and keys that should be used by everyone when preparing for a job interview.

When someone is either just finishing college or looking for a career change he or she should be applying for positions that they are interested in. This should help in getting you prepared for an interview. It is important whether still in college or after college that people find what they are interested in and what they are good at. Many people assume that no matter what they pick in college to study that they will get a high paying, secure job right out of college, this is not always the case. The fact that this is not always the case is what inspires 20% of nearly 1.2 million graduates of four-year colleges and universities to go straight into graduate and professional schools each year (Clarke, 1998). If you are one of the individuals that is going to begin that search for a career make sure it is something that you enjoy and/or are interested in. This will hopefully make your preparation for an interview a little easier.

In the preparation for a job interview, one must begin by taking a look at oneself. A good look in the mirror would be a good start to make sure nothing is being overlooked. Being clean and neat would definitely be a plus in making a good first impression. A good first impression is key to getting off on the right foot at the start of an interview. There is only going to be one chance at making a positive first impression, so nothing should be overlooked.

The first couple of things that should be taken care of prior to the interview are making sure that you are clean and well groomed. By well groomed I mean that the hair should be neat and cut appropriately for the position that is being sought after. There may be more latitude given to someone who is going for a job at record store than someone who is going for a job in bank or an insurance company. So being clean and well groomed would be a great place to start.

The second thing that should be taken care of prior to the interview is to make sure the appropriate clothes have been purchased or laid out. Nothing too flashy or too trendy should be worn, you don’t want to show them that you are too wild and crazy for whatever position you are going for. A nice dark suit, whether it is a man or a woman going for the position, would be a step in the right direction. Maybe a dark blue or charcoal suit would probably be your best bet when trying to make the right statement. Anything that is too loud in color would probably not work. It may be the one thing that changes their minds and makes it easier for them to choose some other candidate. Basically, you want to show them that you are serious about the chance you may have at working there and you don’t to ruin your chances by showing up in a leopard suit and yellow shoes. So, something conservative and dark with the appropriate shirt, tie, and shoes would be a great start in preparing for an interview.

After the external things are taken care of, preparing for the interview questions should be next. A good way to prepare for these questions would be to check out sites on the Internet that cover common questions asked at job interviews. This would give you a head start by showing you questions that are probably going to be asked by the person conducting the interview. This way you would have some time to prepare some solid answers and also make it so you are not caught off guard by anything asked. Nothing needs to be memorized but a little practice wouldn’t hurt. Here are some common questions asked at job interviews and after reading them you will see why a little practice would not hurt, especially to the person going on his or her first interview.

1. Tell me about yourself?
2. Why do you want this job?
3. What are your strengths?
4. Why should we hire you?

These are not questions that you are asked everyday but are very important in an interview situation nevertheless (Dixon, 1996). These are questions that should be definitely thought of when going into an interview.

Another thing that should be thought of when preparing for interview questions is that many interviewers have a good idea that the people about to be interviewed know what is going to be asked. So what has happened in some cases is that the interviewer asks new questions, ones that aren’t going to be expected. This is one reason why you shouldn’t have your answers already memorized. One example of an unexpected question that might be asked is "How do you spend your free time?" which is asked to probe into a candidate’s personal life. A lot about a person can be found out from asking these types of questions, so make sure your flexible and prepared for anything (Half, 1993). Be prepared for questions like these, ones that are more personal.

Once a person has covered the external factors in getting prepared for a job interview, gone over questions that will probably be asked during the interview as well as some unexpected questions that might come up, the next step is to get yourself prepared on how to act in the interview. Make sure that going into the interview you don’t overdo the rehearsal of the interview and your responses. You want to be ready and rehearsed but not overdone on either count. You want to be confident and relaxed when walking into an interview and a good way to begin this process is do a little homework on the company you are going to interview for. Since you’ll be getting some background on what they are all about this will hopefully make it easier for you to relax. Becoming more familiar with them should help ease some of your nerves.

Once you are in the interview and have greeted the interviewer or interviewers with a firm handshake and eye contact, you are now ready to begin. As the questioning begins remain calm and keep occasional eye contact going throughout the interview with everybody that is there. You want to remain somewhat loose because the person or persons doing the interviewing and/or hiring are going to want to work with someone they like and enjoy talking to. Too much nervousness can raise questions about your confidence and ability to lead (Kirrane, 1996). Another thing besides being too nervous that can kill an interview is to talk too much about yourself. Instead, try to show them some positives that you can bring to the company. This is much more important to them than going on and on about yourself. They want to know what you can add to their company, not what your favorite cookie is. In order to be successful in today’s higher powered interviews you are going to have to show them that you fully understand that company’s needs as well as demonstrate for them that you possess the skills to handle the position. Most importantly though, you may have to convince the company your are interviewing for that you are in sync with their corporate culture.

After you have gone through the interview and answered their questions to the best of your ability and hopefully presented yourself in a positive manner you may be asked about salary. Knowing what similar jobs and positions are making will aid you in your quest for equal money. One thing not to do is to play hardball. It would not be a good idea to start demanding certain dollar amounts in an interview. If they give a certain dollar amount and you think it is too low for your qualifications and experience then simply show them some figures on what is the going rate for someone in this position with your qualifications. If this doesn’t work then negotiate with them; ask them if maybe raises or bonuses are a part of this position if certain tasks or goals are met in the first six months to a year. No hardball is needed, just negotiate with them (Alderman, 1995).

In closing out the interview be sure to offer a handshake and smile. Keep eye contact going and maybe say something like, "Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing form you." You always want to keep the eye contact going throughout, from the greeting to the closing. It shows them that you are truly interested and serious about what is going on in the interview. You never want to show them or give them any reason to think that you have drifted elsewhere at any point in the interview. It will definitely hurt your chances, if not end your chances of obtaining a job at that company.

So remember when preparing for that interview to be clean and dressed appropriately. Also, be prepared for some of the questions that may be coming your way and don’t be afraid to repeat some of the questions in your answers to make your answers seem a little fuller (Kirrane, 1996). Lastly, don’t forget to close in style.

Clarke, R.D. (1998). Get a job!…after college. Black Enterprise, 28, 135-138

Dixon, K. (1996, January). Preparing for Job Interview Questions! Toronto Sun

Kirrane, D.E. (1996). Getting selected. Association Management, 48, p.36.

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