Part III. A Winning Interview

N ow you are set for the actual in­terview. Again, a couple of things you should remember: first, an interviewer decides within the first two minutes whether they'll consider hiring an ap­plicant. Often they mentally reject a candidate within thirty seconds, some­times even immediately, for a variety of reasons, some entirely legitimate, others based solely on individual dis­likes, or even on personal prejudices. Keep in mind that you have that pre­cious chance to make your first im­pression, so make it good. The way you dress, groom, walk in, talk, sit, gesture, all contribute to that impres­sion.

Before the interview, select what you're going to wear: a dark, conser­vative business suit is best for both men and women. For women: a light-coloured blouse, conservative accesso­ries, such as a stylish scarf, minimal jewelry, no more than two rings. Light-coloured or neutral colour hose with­out a pattern, and closed-toed shoes are de rigueur. For men: a white shirt; a stylish tie that isn't too bright, ideally with simple stripes, but no busy patterns that distract the eye; dark, over-the-calf socks; and freshly shined shoes.

Grooming is also important: clean hair in a plain style or cut without excesses, clean fingernails for men, a subdued shade of nail polish for wom­en. Men must be freshly shaved, and both sexes should wear a minimum of cologne or perfume.

Arrive at the office ten minutes before the scheduled time, because there may be an application to fill out. Be­sides you can get some useful infor­mation about the company in the waiting room and get used to the new environment.

When you walk into the interview room, take your time. Don't hurry. Introduce yourself and greet the inter­viewer. Give a solid handshake. Wait until you're invited to sit down. Sit straight, don't slouch. Talk in measure tones, without excesses. Look the in­terviewer in the eye, but don't stare. Keep your gestures close to you, don't wave your arms. While it's quite permissible to make a general comment about what a pleasant office the inter­viewer has, personal comments and compliments about ties, jewelry, hair­dos, etc. are out.

Now the hardest part: you’ll need to listen carefully, answer the inter­viewer's questions truthfully but to your best advantage. Sell yourself, but don't oversell. Point out how your previous experience will help you in this posi­tion, what you've accomplished in this field, and how the company will be­nefit from your knowledge and input. Above all, tell the truth without false modesty. Project an attitude that says you're sure of yourself, but not that you're self-assured and certainly not cocky. Don't exaggerate, don't brag," and don't fabricate.

If you need a few seconds to think about an answer, a lead-in such as "You know, I'm glad you asked this question..." will give you that slight edge. Avoid a protracted "Uhhh..." or a long, awkward silence that sends the message that you don't know the answer or are making one up.

Ask questions in turn: what are the duties, who you would report to, what the chain of command is, who the other people in the department are, what the target figures for the depart­ment and for the company are, who will be able to answer your questions in the future, what the hours and working conditions are. And wait un­til the end of the interview to discuss salary, paydays, holidays, vacations, and benefits. Give the impression you want to work for this company, not just get your money and run. At the end of your visit, thank the interviewer for his time. And follow up by sending a brief letter expressing your gratitude, and saying that you're looking for­ward to working for the company.

Because interviews depend on peo­ple, and people are unpredictable, there can be no guarantees that any candi­date, no matter how highly qualified or how personable he or she might be, will be hired. There are too many fac­tors involved to be able to predict ac­curately whether a particular applicant will be received favorably. But know­ing the few simple rules we've talked about will increase your chances greatly, and maybe — just maybe — will give you the edge over someone else.

Exercises