GirlsGuideTo | Interview Tips...From the Interviewer

Everyone knows the basics of interviews; dress appropriately, shake hands, speak clearly and leave a good impression. However, there are a few things that a lot of people have left out during these 20 minutes of their life. And lets face it in this economy, a crucial 20 minutes!

Some things are just expected; they are the interview comparison to a first impression. In order to start off on the right foot, be sure to greet someone by introducing yourself with a firm (confident, not crushing) handshake and eye contact. Simple as that. Let them know just how poised you are, but please remember to be bold yet keep your arrogance in check. No one wants to hire a person who cannot get over themselves.

Another key to making a proper impression is to provide a clean copy of your resume - with your e-mail address on it!!! Let me clarify this point. By clean not only do I mean up to date and edited, no no, I mean literally clean; one of my coworkers once got handed a resume with a nasty green snot ball on it. Needless to say that guy did not get the job! But back to the resume, not only does it provide a nice reference for conversation, it lets the interviewer know how well prepared you are.

Speaking of preparation, always do your research on the company! It is almost inevitable that you will be asked what you know about the company, but besides having a prepared answer, you will have a better idea if this is somewhere you could see yourself working.

During the interview, take the time to speak in full sentences avoiding the use of “like” and “um” while we all know they occasionally slip out; keep them under control. For that fact, in the name of all things holy, do not use the word - bummer; possible replacements include: disappointment, letdown, unfortunate circumstance... really anything will do!

I know these may seem like individual pet peeves, but after interviewing several rounds for my company and hundreds of high school scholarship applicants, I have picked up on a few things over the years! If all else fails just think of how a basic essay should be formatted, concise direct introduction, a few relevant descriptions in the body, and a well rounded conclusion with hand shakes and eye contact on both sides.