Interviewing Tips

Successfully Interviewing for any kind of a professional position requires extensive preparation. Creating a plan of action will help you manage the many elements of the interview process. An interview can be broken down into several key components such as company research, scrutinizing a position description, anticipating questions and preparing effective answers, preparing questions to ask, and understanding the culture of the company/unit. The following is short guide to keeping your perspective and focusing on the little things that could make a big difference during your interview.

Dos and Don'ts

DO'S	DON'TS
Appearance
Dress appropriately for the job; be clean, neat, well groomed; situp straight; establish eye contact.	Wear too much jewelry; wear too much perfume; slump; look around the room or out the window.
Conduct
Arrive early; relax; be enthusiastic; be respectful and courteous; speak clearly; answer questions directly; be honest and sincere; be consistent; turn off all electronic devices (cell phones, pagers, pdas, etc.)	Keep them waiting; act nervous; fidget; act bored or tired; call her by her first name; mutter, say "umm" or "ahh"; try to hide anything; exaggerate; lie or brag; smoke or chew gum; do not ever answer your cell phone during an interview.
Attitude
Demonstrate self-confidence; have a positive attitude; know your strengths and weaknesses; market yourself; expect a professional interview.	Be cocky, rude or joke around too much; expect failure; be intimidated by the competition; be overly modest or shy; take any questions lightly.

Tips

The interviewer may be as nervous as you are! Or, she may be tired, bored, or worried about making the right decision. Try to put yourself in her place. It's up to you to give the interview a positive note.

Prepare. Study the company and type of job. Ask yourself questions and have ready answers.
Assume each question has a purpose. Listen attentively and answer directly and in a straight forward manner.
Keep the interviewer's attention. Use voice inflections and gestures. Find out what she likes and talk about common interests. You will stand out in a positive way.
Consider each interview a learning experience, whether you are offered the job or not. Take thorough notes, including names, dates, what you felt you did right, how you could improve next time.
Send a thank you note to the interviewer promptly after the interview. This is very courteous, and will further distinguish you from the competition.