Sooner or later, everyone must face the daunting task of interviewing for a job. Whether it’s for just a job to keep your bills paid, or if it’s the dream job you’ve always wanted, there are many things that you have to remember before you can get that job that you so desire.
Most people assume that the most important part of a job interview is showing up well groomed, but there is more to it than that. Everything that you could ever want may be riding on your behaviour at a job interview. The smallest thing can mean the difference between your having a new job, or you’re still pounding the pavement trying to score a new interview.
It is common knowledge that it is generally the smallest detail that causes people to fail a job interview. The fact that you can score an interview at all shows that you already have the right stuff for the job. However, scoring the interview is merely the first step in the journey that is to get you the job of your dreams.

A. How to Get the Interview

Scoring the interview for the job that you want doesn’t have to be rocket science. Sometimes you can score that interview by simply making a phone call. There are many ways that people go about trying to get an interview. The methods of achieving one vary by company. It is best to know what the company’s application process is before taking your first step.

Generally, when a company is hiring they post an ad in the newspaper or an online job bank. How to contact them is usually included in the ad as well. You don’t want to email a resume to a company that is requesting that you walk in with your resume. You don’t want to call a company that requires a faxed resume etc. Ignoring their initial contacting information will guarantee that you will not get that interview because you have already proven that you can’t follow simple directions.

Sometimes, you can get a job lead from a friend before the job has been posted. If this is the case, you can either ask the friend to give the employer your resume and cover letter. If your friend doesn’t actually work where the lead came from, you can try calling about the position and ask what the application procedure is.

There are four general methods of applying for a job, and they include these basic methods.

1. Sending a Resume

Some companies prefer that you mail in your resume. For this type of approach, it is best to include a cover letter with your resume. The cover is a basic letter that describes the position that you are interest in and a few details of your qualifications and skills. It is basically your lead in to your resume. Before writing your cover letter, you should know whom the letter is to be addressed to. You never want to begin a cover letter with “Dear Sir or Madame” or “To whom it may Concern”. It shows that you have not prepared, and that you are not looking for a specific position with their company, but any job that you can get your hands on. Basically, it is disrespectful to your prospective employer.

2. Emailing Your Resume

Emailing resumes is becoming a commonplace way for recruiters to get resumes. Most companies offer this method as an alternative to the others. However, there are few tips on how you should go about it.
You should attach your resume as a word document or PDF file. These are the most common formats and what most companies will accept. The subject line should read like this: Smith, John (clerical position). This makes it easy for the recruiter to know who the email is from, and what it pertains to. It also assures that your email will be read. Sometimes there are specific methods for addressing an emailed resume. Some companies have certain subject line requirements so follow them. If your company wants you to paste your resume, don’t send attachments because your email will be deleted right away.

3. Faxing Your Resume

Again, you will need to include a cover letter when you fax in your resume. If you are not using your own fax machine, be sure to include your proper contact information. The rules for your cover letter are the same as for mailing your resume.

4. Walk-In Your Resume

For this type of application procedure, you will want to dress appropriately. You would want to dress just like you would for an interview. Company’s usually ask you to do this if you are going to be working directly with customers. They ask for a walk in because they want to get a look at your grooming habits right away. Sometimes, a walk in will have the employer giving you a brief interview on the spot, to see if they will require a formal interview later. So be on your best and most appropriate behaviour. Also, walk-ins do not require you to bring in a cover letter with your resume. Your appearance is sort of the cover letter. Sometimes, you will be requested to fill out an application form as well. Smile and be polite, no matter who you are talking to. That could be the difference between getting an interview and just taking an extra trip for nothing.

B. Telephoning for an Interview

It is not particularly common anymore for companies to ask you to call them for an interview. That is usually saved for jobs that include sales and/or jobs that are not so easily applied for by the other methods. Telephoning for an interview is a bit common when a company requires that you be on the phone a lot. It gives them a feel for the quality and the personality of the person on the phone. When making this type of interview request, always speak in a clean and clear manner. Be polite and prepared to answer any questions that may be asked of you. You might approach the telephone interview like this: “Hello Mr. Brown, I am Mike Sandal. I am calling with regards to your ad in the Post about the clerical position”. If you are asked your experience and/or previous work experience, be prepared to answer quickly and explain how long you have been doing that type of work and give a brief description of your duties.

The correct way to build your resume will be included later on in this manual. It will give you the correct way to format your resume so that it gets noticed for all of the right things. Preparing for the Interview Once you get the call for the interview, the next thing that you have to do is prepare for it. You can never over prepare for an interview. The more prepared you are, the harder it will be to make mistakes. It is best to prepare yourself emotionally as well as intellectually for an interview. Giving a
great interview is not as hard as some may think, but not as easy as others do either.
Here are a few things that must be done in order to prepare for your next interview. Remember, during an interview, you are a salesman. You are there to sell yourself to your prospective employer. You want to market yourself in the most interesting way possible. Great preparation for the interview is your best bet. A salesman that is knowledgeable, friendly and positive always gets the close.

C. Do Your Research

It doesn’t matter how much knowledge or experience you have about the position that you are trying to get in a company if you don’t have a clue who the company is or what they do. It is disastrous to enter into an interview and not be able to tell your interviewer what their company is about. How else are you going to tell them why you feel that you would be a good addition to their company?

A good and less time consuming way to get to know about a company is to look up their website. You can get all of the general knowledge about them that way, including the names of key people and their job titles. (There will be more on that in a minute)
You should sift through most of their pages, including the pages that show samples of their work and/or products. You can also look them up in the media files if there are any. Read the articles about them and soak in as much information as possible. Another thing that would be nice to do is to check out the surrounding area around the company. It makes for a nice breaker during the interview. You can make a comment about a particular monument or resting place nearby.

A trickier way to get a little extra information about the company is to call them on the phone and ask general questions, without referring to yourself as a potential employee. It’s a nice way to get the goods on upcoming promotions etc.

D. Know Your Contact

When called for an interview, ask to whom you will be talking to. It is nice to be able to greet your interviewer by name at the beginning of the interview without first being told who they are. It shows that you are on top of things, and have prepared before hand. You will also want to do some research on the person that will be conducting your interview. Learn what they do for the company and try to get some samples of their work or achievements in the company.

If you know what department that you are going to work in you may want to get the names of your potential colleagues and superiors prior to the interview as well. This way you can get some information about their roles in the company and the types of work that they have done.

Mention some of the things that you learn about your potential colleagues in the interview and about how much you look forward to working with them in the future. If you can, give an example of their work so that you will appear more sincere.

E. Practice Your Responses

It is best, if you are prone to nervousness, to practice giving your responses to the questions that may be asked of you. (A list of the most common questions will appear later on in the manual) You should practice your wording and the tone of voice that you plan to use. Try keeping your responses as brief as possible, but with as much detail as you can. When you are trying to work out the proper responses to the interviewer’s questions, you will also want to practice the art of getting your nerves under control as well as ridding yourself of any other odd habits while talking; like expressing yourself with your hands.

Practice answering your interview questions with a friend. Get his or her opinion about your delivery and gestures. Perhaps your friend will have some nice insights for you to use during the real interview.

F. Dress the Part

Pre-select your attire the day before your interview. You want to make sure that your clothes do not have any wrinkles or stains on them. Pick an outfit that best suits the type of job that you are applying for. If you are going to work in an office setting, you should dress conservatively. Soft earth tones are best for women. Try to avoid mini skirts and shirts that show too much skin. A nice dark suit is good for a male.

Of course if you are planning to work outdoors or in an artistic environment, you can dress a little more casually. Just be certain to avoid wearing denim jeans, over sized clothing, and under sized clothing. Women should try and avoid wearing too much make-up as well. It gives the wrong impression. Even in the hotter seasons, you
should not wear sandals or gym shoes to an interview. It sends an unprofessional message. The same goes for hats and other accessories.

G. Get Organized

Make sure that all of the things that you will need for the interview are prepared the day before. Make a checklist of the things that you will need if you have to. You should always have an extra resume handy during the interview. You should also bring with you a note pad to take notes during the interview if needed. (Only write down the important things that you think you will need to remember). If you have a business card, have one handy, it makes for easy contact later, and it also shows that you are professional and may help the employer to remember your name.

1. How Should I Act?

There are many things that you can do that can take some of the pressure off during an interview. The way that you behave is one of the most important. It’s not all in the words that come out of your mouth, but often has a lot to do with the mannerisms that you use. Interviewers are not just wondering if you are skilled enough for the job, they are often wondering if you would fit in nicely with you co-workers.

Your personality is a big part of your interview and can make all the difference. Here are some of the little things that you should pay particularly close attention to during an interview. You do not want to be chewing gum or breathe mints during your interview. You also don’t want to speak in slang during your interview either. It is unprofessional and rude.

2. Show Confidence

You cannot enter into an interview with a defeatist attitude. You cannot mope or exude too much placidity in your manner. It is not inviting, and does not give the impression of a person that you want to face every day.
Be sure of your abilities without appearing cocky or narcissistic. You want to let you interviewer know that you are equipped to perform well at your job, without alienating other workers. You should point out your accomplishments in your field while remaining somewhat humble. List your accomplishments in a matter of fact way without going into too much detail. I know this sounds repetitive, but you can never get this point too strongly. Understand that body language plays a large part in exuding confidence to others. Sit straight. Practice good posture, and keep your head up.

3. Keep a Positive Attitude

You should always try to smile and keep a positive outlook during your interview. If what you are hearing something that doesn’t sound good to you, don’t frown and look disgruntled, just keep a slight smile on your face until it is time for you to say something. Then approach your interviewer with your questions or concerns when the time is appropriate.

4. Maintain Eye Contact

Keeping eye contact with your interviewer is very important, especially when one of you is speaking to the other. If you are looking around the room or at the items on the
Interviewer’s desk, you will appear uninterested. Just imagine what you would be thinking if you were speaking to him and he was looking all over the room. You would probably think that you already lost the interview.

5. Body Language

We’ve touched on this a little bit but you should mind some of the common errors that many people make when they are speaking to others. I’ve listed some of the common things that you should avoid when sitting through an interview.

• Avoid fidgeting while speaking to your interviewer. It shows a lack of self confidence.
• Avoid speaking while using overly expressive hand gestures. It is distracting.
• Avoid biting your lips in between sentences. It gives the impression that you are making things up.
• Do not sit with your arms crossed because it makes you appear stand-offish.
• Do not shrug your shoulders when asked a question that you are unsure of. Take a second to think of your response. Shrugging your shoulders gives the impression that you don’t know the answer.
• Don’t answer with nods and head shakes. Use your words to answer questions.
• Get plenty of sleep the night before the interview.

You don’t want to yawn in front of the interviewer. He will think that you are expressing boredom.

H. Your First Impression

First impressions can be a hard thing to get past in any situation. During an interview you want to give the best first impression that you can. There are many small things that you can do to assure that you give the best impression possible.
They are as follows:

• You can never be too polite to the person that directs to your waiting area when waiting to be interviewed. A small gesture like, asking how they are doing can work wonders for you when you leave the building later. 
• While waiting to be interviewed, sit properly and behave as if everyone passing you by is your potential interviewer. (They just might be) Smile at people as much as possible. Do not act impatient or bored, it sends the wrong message. Some  interviewers will keep you waiting just to see how you handle yourself.
• Greet you interviewer with a firm handshake and a smile.
• Remain standing until your interviewer asks you to be seated. It is simply polite and shows proper etiquette.
• Again, dress according to the type of job that you are applying for
• Show yourself to be well organized, by having all things needed for the interview.
• While waiting do not eat or drink anything.
• Don’t chat on your cell phone while waiting for your interviewer. It makes you look distracted.

I. Your Resume

This may seem like an unimportant thing during an interview, but this is the sole reason why you may get that interview so you should be prepared with a well written resume. You should tailor your resume to highlight the qualifications, work experience and any education that you’ve had that best represents the type of work you are applying for. You should also include any other work experience that you’ve had, as well as any accomplishments that you have made in your field. You may also want to dress up your resume to let it stand out a bit. A nice border is an elegant way to make your resume stand out without being a distraction to the information within it.

Of course there also quite a few things that recruiters hate to see on resumes as well. Many people do not think that recruiters really go all the way through a resume, but they really do. Recruiters have certain pet peeves when it comes to reading a resume. I’ve included a list of some of the pet peeves that you should avoid when putting your resume together.
These are the things that recruiters hate to see.

J. Dos and Don’ts

There are quite a few things that you should do and not do during an interview that could make the whole thing a lot easier for both you and the interviewer. I have listed them quickly in the table below.

Do: Arrive on time, or better yet 10 minutes early.
Don’t: Be overly aggressive or egotistical

Do: Refer to the interviewer by name.
Don’t: Spend too much time talking about money.

Do: Smile and use a firm handshake.
Don’t: Act uninterested in the company or the job.

Do: Be alert and act interested throughout.
Don’t: Act defensively when questioned about anything.

Do: Maintain eye contact at all times.
Don’t: Speak badly about past colleagues or employers.

Do: Make all comments in a positive manner.
Don’t: Answer with only yes or no.

Do: Speak clearly, firmly, and with authority.
Don’t: Excuse your bad points about work history.

Do: Except any refreshment offered. Excuse yourself halfway through the interview, even if you have to use the bathroom.
Don’t: Promote your strengths. Ask for coffee or refreshments.

K. Your Cover Letter

Creating the perfect cover letter does not have to be difficult. Cover letters are generally short and to the point. You should address your cover to someone in particular. You should never address your cover letter with “To whom it may Concern” or “Dear Sir/Madame” it is unprofessional and doesn’t show a genuine interest in the company or the job.

The cover letter is the sole purpose for looking at the resume. If it is written badly, the resume might not get a once over. In most cases, the resume is just as important as the resume, so I have briefly written the right formation of one. The cover letter should begin with a basic greeting and the position that you are applying for. It should be nor more than 2 lines long. The second paragraph should be a brief description of your qualifications and why you applied to work for them. The closing should announce an interest in hearing from them soon, and a thank you for their time.

Here is a sample of a successful cover letter.

July 4, 2004

In regards to: The clerical position that is available.

Mr. Brown
3232 Jackson St.
Jackson City, FA
32443
Attention: Mr. Joe Brown

Dear Mr. Brown,

This letter is in regards to the clerical position that is recently available in your company. As my enclosed resume will show you, I have three years experience as a clerk. During my career I have successfully integrated a new filing system for my previous employer, Wayne Law Firm that increased their productivity by 33%. That filing system is still in use there now, and has been integrated into two other companies. I thank you for your time in reading this letter. I hope to hear from you once you have had time to read my resume.

Respectfully,
YOUR NAME
Enclosure (1)

L. The Restaurant Interview

Sometimes recruiters will ask you to conduct your interview during lunch or dinner. It makes for a more relaxed setting for the recruiter, but you should remember that it is still an interview, and your behaviour must be in accordance to that. During this type of interview, you should try to look at it as a relaxing way for you to talk about and sell yourself to the recruiter. Making a little bit of small talk is expected. Do not bring up the topic of the interview until the interviewer does. He/she might want to get to know you a bit first. Remember to talk about yourself, but do not get too personal. There are also basic points of etiquette and common sense rules that you should follow as well.
They are as follows:

After your interview is over, be certain to thank the recruiter for the meal and their time. Offer a firm handshake, and ask when you should expect to hear from them. It shows confidence and a continued interest in the job. Send a thank you card that same day.

M. Closing the Interview

Once you have run the bases of the interview, it is still important that you end the interview well. The hard part is over and now all that is left is for you close out the interview in the same winning manner. Wait until your interviewer stands up or requests that you do. Give your closing greeting. Thank the interviewer for his taking the time to see you. Offer another firm handshake, and ask when you might know when you might expect to hear from them about their decision.

Extra Tips

With all of the information that was given in this manual, you would think that you have learned everything that there is to know about acing an interview. However there are still a few extra tips that you should know, and a few more helpful hints.

1. Market your skills and related experience in the field that you are applying for. Be sure to do it in a way that is positive and not cocky.
2. Researching the company before your interview is a good way to know where you would fit into it. It lets the employer know that you really want to be a part of the company too.
3. Bring your list of questions with you in a folder with the company’s name on it with you so that you don’t forget them. You should also keep your extra resumes in there too.
4. You want to describe your weaknesses as strengths. For example, saying that you are overenthusiastic about performing at your best.
5. Since many interviewers ask you what your biggest fault might be, you should pick a fault that is actually a good thing. Try saying “I don’t take on projects that I can’t give 110% on.
6. Let your interviewer bring up the topic of salary first.
7. Don’t volunteer your personal opinions to your interviewer about any subjects unless you are asked.
8. Try to establish a good rapport with your interviewer. Be casual but professional, and most importantly BE YOURSELF!