How to Have a Successful Interview & Reduce Your Anxiety

One of the chief complaints about interviewing is fear of the unknown and how nerve- racking the process can be.  To reduce your anxiety, take time to prepare.  Before you have your first interview, some things to do are:

• Learn as much as you can about the organization by going to their corporate website.  Assess what is important to the organization.  Understand their financial standings and what their plans of future growth are.  What is their corporate culture?  What are the values of the organization? Candidates and hiring managers don’t always take into consideration whether or not there is a match in corporate culture and values.  Someone can have all the right skills and education, but if they can’t figure out how to work within a certain business setting (highly structured or free spirited and entrepreneur), they can get bogged down trying to adapt and aren’t successful.  Review websites like Glassdoor, which will give you an insider’s perspective.  

• Become familiar with the individual(s) you are interviewing with and understand the type of employees who are successful in the organization.  Network!  Check to see if you know someone who is working for the organization as an employee or on the Board of Directors.  They can often give you the inside scoop or put in a good word for you.  Reviewing websites like LinkedIn can aid you in the process.           

• Be prepared and have several copies of your resume on hand.  Have a list of questions prepared on what you would like to know about the organization and the expectations or challenges the successful candidate will experience once on board.

• Get ready to give a 30,000 Foot Review of your background.  You may be expected to deliver an overview at the beginning and closing of your interview.  For example, an employer may ask you at the start of your interview to summarize your background and at the end they may ask you for your thoughts on the position and/or what was discussed.  This is also called the Elevator Pitch.  Remember to be spot on with your delivery.  This is not the time to give a lengthy description of your employment history. 

• Understand what type of interview you will be having, who you will be meeting with (name and job title) and the expected length of time for the interview.  For example, you may have a “Panel Interview”, which is typically a formal interview process conducted by two or more company representatives at the same time. 

• Candidates often find this type of interview to be the most challenging, but are becoming more popular with employers.  This type of interview format is often preferred by employers, because it is an easy way for the organization to get input from all the key stake holders at one time.  This is also an opportunity for you to gather more information by observing whether or not everyone is on time for your interview, how the team members interact with each other, and who is engaged in the interview process, which can be helpful in better understanding an organization’s culture.  If you do have a Panel Interview, keep your composure, use proper eye contact with all of those on the panel and maintain your body posture. 

• If you have several interviews throughout the day, make sure you ask for a copy of an itinerary complete with names, titles and times.  Also, if your interviews are an all day event, be prepared for a possible luncheon with staff members and make sure you ask about scheduled breaks.    

• If technology is being used in your interview process, make sure you are familiar with any time delays and adjust your communication style accordingly.   Also, be aware of interruptions if using a cell phone or land line, such as caller waiting features or unexpected interruptions.

• Most organizations will use a Behavior Based method when conducting an interview.  During this process, a candidate can expect to be asked about instances when they demonstrated a particular behavior or skill.  The premise of this type of interview is that past performance is a good indicator of future conduct.  There are several websites that can give you a listing of Behavior Based interview questions to help you prepare.        

• Always assume your interview attire should be business dress, unless someone tells you different.

• At all times, follow-up with a personalized thank you note to each person you interviewed with.  This is also an opportunity for you to expand on a certain topic or to reinforce the skills and knowledge you bring to the table.   

• After your interview, make sure you understand the next steps in the process and how many other candidates are being brought in for the same process.  Ask how long it will be before you hear something back.  Of course, if you haven’t heard anything back within a reasonable amount of time, reach back out to the person who scheduled the interview. 

Most of all, keep things in perspective.  The interview process is a two-way street!  Although, you may be looking for the next opportunity, you want to make sure it is the “right” opportunity.