1. DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE YOU WALK IN
Before you get in front of the organization, do your research to know the organization’s business model, competitive landscape, major news items or initiatives listed on the website. You also want to research your interviewers to learn their educational and work experience. You can find this info on Google, LinkedIn or Spoke. You should also review the job description and be able to communicate how your background and experience matches what the organization is looking for. Hint: It helps to create a T Account where you list the job requirement on the left, and your matching experience on the right. This forces you to get clear on how your background matches.

2. ARRIVE 10 MINS EARLY
It’s not necessary to be a hour or even half hour early, but DO make sure you’re 10 to 15 minutes early.

3. DRESS ONE LEVEL ABOVE THE ORGANIZATION’S NORM
For example, if the organization’s normal dress code is casual, then dress business casual. If the norm is business casual then wear slacks or a skirt and a jacket.

4. BE ABLE TO CLEARLY COMMUNICATE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
To take your interview skills to the next level, you should be able to not only communicate what you’ve accomplished in your prior jobs, but you should also be able to quantify the results of your efforts. For example, if you speak in quantifiable terms such as $, %, or time, etc. the more credible your accomplishment will appear.

5. USE RAPPORT BUILDING TECHNIQUES
In order to create a sense of trust and affinity between you and the interviewer there are a few things you can do to. First, match the tone, speed, and volume of the interviewer’s voice and speech. Also, mirror the interviewer’s posture and body movement. Lastly, breathe at the same speed as the interview. The trick to all these techniques is to be subtle and not obvious. If the interviewer becomes aware that you’re matching and mirroring him, it has the reverse effect.

6. BE COMPETENT AT ANSWERING THE COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS INCLUDING:
a. Tell me why you left your most recent job (or are looking to leave)?
b. Why should we hire you?
c. Why are you interested in our organization?
d. What do you know about our position/organization?
e. What are your goals and objectives for the next 1, 3, and 5 years?
f. What salary range are you looking to earn?

7. ASK GOOD QUESTIONS
Often times, the one thing you can do to stand above the crowd is to ask well-though-out questions. Here are a few recommendations:
• What are the most important attributes you are looking for in the successful candidate for this job?
• From the candidates that you’ve interviewed for this position thus far, what are you finding that you like, and what are you finding that you don’t like?
• What initiatives is the organization launching that you’re personally excited about?
• What goals do you have for your department/team for the next few years?
• If I were to come in and exceed all of your expectations for the first year, what would that look like?

8. ASK FOR THE JOB
Before you leave the interview you should express your interest in the position and let the interviewer know that you would very much like to work for him and/or the organization. Remember, interviewers want to hire candidates that actually want the job, so you need to say so.

9. SEND A FOLLOW-UP THANK YOU TO EACH INTERVIEWER
I also recommend sending the Thank You notes via email so they arrive immediately. It could be the thing that pushes him toward a particular candidate.

10. CALL ANY INTERNAL CONTACT YOU HAVE AND EXPRESS INTEREST IN THE POSITION AFTER THE INTERVIEW
If you have an internal contact that was not a part of the interview team, contact him after the interview and reiterate your interest in the position. You can also consider asking him to put in a good word for you if he hasn’t done so already.

By: Staci Livesay

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