Can I Wear My Nose Ring to the Interview?: A Crash Course in Finding, Landing, and Keeping Your First Real Job (40 page)

Do not recline in your chair, even if the interviewer does. The interviewer may be casual, but do not follow suit; remain professional at all times.

Don’t let your guard down if your interviewer happens to be young. Even if you’re dealing with a peer, the interviewer is in a position of authority, and you must act accordingly.

Do not bring up actual weaknesses if you’re asked to list your strengths and weaknesses. See page 149 for more on answering this question.

Don’t let the interview go off track for too long. If the interviewer starts asking a zillion questions about your semester in New Zealand because he’s about to go there on vacation, answer politely; but if you think you’re running out of time, say “I’d love to tell you more; do we have time now?” Or ask a question about the job to shift focus.

Q. What if I go in and I think they’re interviewing me for the wrong position?

A.
Take control! Stop the interviewer politely to clarify. Say that you expected a different line of questioning for the position and that you’re just checking to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Q. What if the interviewer confuses the facts on my résumé?

A.
The interviewer says, “I know you spent a lot of time in England” and it was
really France. Correct him politely. “I did study abroad and work for British Airways, but I was based in France, not England.” Don’t open yourself up to a whole line of questioning based on incorrect information.

Q. I’m afraid I might just blank out during the interview if I get nervous enough.

A.
This happens to all of us at some point. If you blank out or can’t remember the interviewer’s last question, simply ask her to repeat it. If you lose your train of thought in the middle of an answer, it’s fine to say, “I’m sorry, I just lost my train of thought …” and hope that she’ll prompt you. If you bungle a question you think is really important, fix it in your follow-up thank-you e-mail. Don’t say, “I’m so embarrassed” or “I completely blew that question.” Write: “I’ve thought more about your question. I wanted to let you know that I have extensive experience in …” But in general, unless the situation obviously requires it, do not apologize, during or after the interview; why remind the interviewer of your faults? One candidate asked me if she should write a note of apology because despite her efforts to be early, she had arrived one minute late. You can probably guess my answer to that.

Q. What if I have to go to the bathroom during an interview?

A.
Have you ever heard of an insurance pee? You should not have to pee in the middle of an interview. But if something happens and the urge strikes, excuse yourself politely. We all have bodies and bodily functions. If you feel faint or sick, excuse yourself and get out.

Q. What if something interrupts the interview?

A.
Anything can happen in an interview. A fire alarm can go off, a company or personal crisis can interrupt. One candidate was in the middle of an interview when the interviewer’s colleague ran in with a deadline emergency question that needed immediate attention. Her interview lasted all of eight minutes. If this happens, ask to reschedule.

For some positions and in some industries, you will be given assignments to complete at home and turn in at or after the interview. Don’t balk at the work—it’s your chance to stand out. Employers want to find out exactly how you respond to a real task. The way you handle the assignment will reveal a great deal about you as a potential employee, so take it very seriously.

Ask questions to make sure you understand the purpose and requirements of the assignment. Present any documents neatly, professionally (looks count), and on time. And this goes without saying: Make sure there isn’t a single typo.

What kinds of assignments might you be given? For a marketing job, you may be asked to come up with a marketing plan for a product or service. This is your chance to show that you know what a marketing plan is and that you’re able to research the current consumer environment. A graphics firm might ask you to design something. For a teaching position, you might be asked to come up with a sample lesson plan and execute it in a demonstration lesson observed by faculty and administrators. In publishing, editorial candidates are routinely asked to read a manuscript and write a reader’s report. In business interview situations, on-the-spot problems are more common than take-home assignments—you’re being tested on how you think on your feet.

No matter what the assignment, give it your all and get it in on time. Don’t get so “into it” that you feel you need another week and ask for an extension.

Interviews may last anywhere from five minutes (someone simply wants to make sure you don’t have two heads and run through your qualifications) to an hour or more (especially if you’re meeting with more than one person).

Don’t be worried if yours is short; it doesn’t necessarily mean you blew it. There may have been another candidate waiting; the interviewer could have been busy; a crisis may have come up; or this could be just the beginning of a long process. Some people will be looking to hire right away, and others might take months to fill a position. One thing to keep in mind is that employers tend to procrastinate on hiring decisions. It’s stressful for them: If they make a mistake, it’s not easy to repair.

Near the end of the interview, you might be asked what questions you have. If you haven’t demonstrated so already, this is your chance to show you’ve done your homework. You should have at least three questions prepared, though you may discard them in favor of ideas that come to mind over the course of the interview. Make sure your questions aren’t answered on the company website or other accessible source. Keep in mind that while you’re assessing whether or not this is the right job for you, you’re still the one being interviewed. This isn’t your chance to turn the tables and start grilling the interviewer; the interviewer shouldn’t feel as if he or his company is being judged. Keep it friendly. Rather than focusing on what the company can do for you, aim for a better understanding of the company and the job itself.

One thing to keep in mind is that employers tend to procrastinate on hiring decisions. It’s stressful for them: If they make a mistake, it’s not easy to repair.

What kinds of questions should you ask? Here are a few:

What is a typical day or week at the office like?

What are some of the first projects I would be involved in?

Can you tell me about some new company initiatives you’re excited about?

What have you liked best about working here?