Interview Do's

As you may know, the Outdoor Industries Women's Coalition (OIWC) recently presented a webinar on Interviewing Skills by Lori of plum.  Here’s a list of “Interview Do’s” to think about while preparing for your “dream job” interview.

Do:

• Research – company, function, product, consumer, people you will interview with (LinkedIn), etc.
• Practice/role play your answers before you go in for interview - especially for areas you might be nervous about (compensation, gaps in resume, why you were released from a job, etc.)
• Know as much as you can about the function you are going to be working in before you get there (this can be researched online, in the store, through your contacts, etc.)
• Answer questions concisely – drawing in pertinent experience where possible
• Have a solid handshake to go with the smile
• Bring extra copies of your resume
• Be yourself
• Be prepared with anecdotal stories that illustrate your strengths.
• Ask thoughtful questions
• Have a positive attitude
• Ask about the next step – so that you have a clear expectation of when/how you might move forward (or when to follow up)
• Collect cards from people at the interview (for direct contact follow up)
• Turn off your cell phone (or don’t bring it at all!)
• Know where your experience intersects with the new job requirements – and be prepared to give detailed examples (your answers could be different when interviewing for different companies)
• Take your phone interview in a quiet space where you can concentrate (not while driving in the car, walking down the street, etc.)
• Show respect for all players in the interview process (from admin to CEO)
• Do your best to understand culture – ask your recruiter for dress code prior to interview
• Listen and adapt to style cues from the interviewer
• Express interest in the job…when appropriate, ask for it!

If you are interested in hearing more about honing your interviewing skills, check out the OIWC professional development resources on their website.  As a member, you have access to all of the great OIWC resources, including a recent webinar presented by Lori at plum.

Stay tuned for some interview Don’ts…