It's been said time and time again: you can never redo a first impression. From the moment the interviewer sets eyes on you, game on! Try these quick, simple tips to tip the scale in your favor.
1) Shake it! It sounds simple but your handshake can really set you apart. A confident, strong handshake will take you further than a wimpy, weak one. I once worked in a small office where a potential candidate would come and meet with every employee. We would then meet to discuss the candidate, and one of the first things that was always mentioned was if the candidate had a terrible handshake. Don't make this simple mistake.
2) Take your mom's advice and stop slouching! Parents were actually on to something when they demanded you to sit up at the table. Bad posture can make it look like you are bored and can be a red flag to the hiring manager. Simply sitting up will make you look more engaged and interested in the position. By slouching, you could be showing them that this job isn't that important to you.
3) Look me in the eye! Avoiding an interviewer's eyes will not only make him or her a little uncomfortable, it may also show them that you could lack people skills needed for the position. Maintaining comfortable eye contact while they are speaking will also show you are interested in what they have to say.
4) Practice really does make perfect! You didn't start driving the day you received your driver's license, you spent time perfecting your mad skills. You were given help and advice from friends and family. Take the same approach when preparing for an interview. Have someone you trust give you a mock interview and listen carefully to the critique. You may have a bad habit you didn't even realize! I did this with a friend and was told I kept twisting my hair, which I had no idea I was doing. Something as small as playing with your hair can distract the interviewer from learning the type of person you really are.
These tips sound obvious, but these are pointers we hear from our employers almost every day. Just remember you can really set yourself apart from your competition by coming across as professional with this advice. Post below and share your most effective interview advice with us.
About Kim Costa
I’ve done these things and I still don’t have a job. I sit up in the chair and look right at the person who is interviewing me. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong during these interviews. I’m confident, excited, and happy for a chance. Still, it hasn’t worked for me. I’m still applying everywhere I can and hoping one day I’ll get the phone call that tell me ” You’re hired.”
Don’t worry. Employers may be off-putting a lot of the time. They have strange, sometimes incomprehensible decisions when it comes to hiring. It may be discouraging, but keep trying! You’ll get it eventually.
Ifeel the some way
I highly recommend that when you are very mindful about what you say about your previous employer. I have interviewed many job applicants over the years and find it not appealing when a potential employee has negative comments about previous employers. In addition, If the EDD still has free interview workshops, take atvantage of the skills you can learn and feedback you will receive during mock interviews. Good luck Mark
Great point, Mark! Insulting your previous employer is a big red flag to employers.
A great tip I can give you is to follow up after the interview. My first job was at a bank. I had no previous experience, but my boss said what set me apart was that I sent her a thank-you note for taking the time to interview me. I reminded her who I was and why, after the interview, I felt sure that I’d be a great fit with the company.
She said that really stuck out to her because instead of looking at several applications, she was focused on the only thank-you she received.
be prepared for the usual weird interview questions, like ones that ask you to explain your strengths and weaknesses.
Great advice, you can never be too prepared! http://www.snagajob.com/resources/what-are-your-weaknesses/
For #3, eye contact is very important. But at the same time, staring them down can be as detrimental as not making eye contact at all. You definitely want to break eye contact occasionally.
My own experience is to break eye contact for a few seconds every minute or two.
I was recently asked the question,”At the end of the day, do you generally get all of your work done?”. My honest response was that I always feel I could do more, there is always more to be done. My focus is on my main priorities and I manage the other items reprioritizing along the way. I truly believe in continuous improvement and feel confident that I always put in a full days work (plus). What kind of response might they have been looking to hear?
Hi Margaret! I think you gave them a great answer. It shows that you are looking for ways to improve and aren’t satisfied with getting the bare minimum completed.
I have a horrible bad habbit when I am interviewing, I get nervous and say “um” and I say it ALOT! It is really hard for me to control it, most of the time I dont even know that I am doing it.
Hi Kylee! The more you practice interviewing, the more comfortable you will be with your answers and the less “umm”ing you will be doing.
To avoid saying um take a moment to think about the answer before responding…you do not have a shot clock.
Great advice, Jacob! Thank you for sharing.
Always turn off your cell phone! During an interview a potential employee’s phone rang. He did not hesitate to answer it and say “Yah. I am having it right now!” He did not get the job!
Thank you, Vickie! A very important piece of advice. Do you have any other “don’t” examples you could share with us? Email me: facebook@snagajob.com and we could work on a blog post!
I would think that it would be unprofessional to chew gum or eat anything during an interview. You would think everyone would know better than to do this but there’s always a few who forget!
Very important point, Sherry! Chewing gum is a huge no-no and can quickly turn the interview against you.
I also get nervous, too. My hands starts to sweat. I just don’t make it noticable. When they ask me a question my voice shakes. I hard not being nerous.
Hi Maritza – Interviewing can be extremely nerve-racking. Have you thought about practicing with a friend? The more confident you are, the less nervous you will feel.
Hi Maritza,
I recognized, I was having the same reactions during an interview as yourself. Now during the interview process I place my hands in my lap with both feet flat on the floor. I make eye contact, thinking prior to rendering my response and remain positive and calm. I also leave my cell phone in my car.
We all suffer from what if’s not really knowing that we’re already making the mistake that we were just thinking. I’ve been through a lot of interviews, some went well while some ended really bad. One thing that i’ve learned through it all is that you have to know what you’re getting into, are you really interested of the job… If you set your mind to it nothing could go wrong.
Don’t be nervous…an interview is simply a conversation. You do not have the job so you habe nothing to lose…just relax…think about how you want to answer the question and then continue the conversation.
I always get too nervous my hands are sweating (most the time) my voice shaking and my eyes ready to cry. I tried to don’t get nervous but when I see them and their expression hen they are asking questions make me want to cry (cause sometimes I don’t even know what they said means) I speak Spanish and when someone talks to me in Spanish I’m very confident and I don’t get nervous at all but when i have to speak English is where I have a lot of troubles. :/ I don’t know what to do!
Hi! I think this article can help you: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/how-to-overcome-shyness-in-a-job-interview/. Check it out and let me know what you think!
Genecy , in many occupations bi-lingual is an ADVANTAGE. “Play” it up! While it may feel uncomfortable, it’s okay to “brag” about this skill.
I need a job too, I’ve never had one.
Hi there! Check out this video about how to find a job with no experience: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/video-series-no-experience/. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions!
the Interview asked me what do I want to know about the company..I answer no..what is the correct answer for that?
Hi there! It is always a good idea to go into the interview with a few questions, it makes it look like you are invested in the job. If you don’t have any questions about the company itself, turn it around to ask questions about the position. I think this article can help you: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/questions-to-ask-in-a-job-interview/.
I find it less stressful when u have an interview with a company. You look them up and read how they do thing and what they are about. So u don’t go in there no knowing anything about them.
Hi Laura – Great advice! Check out this article for some information about what to look for: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/research-the-company/. Also, is this the email address you are using to apply for jobs? It sounds small, but your email address does matter, and yours may be holding you back. Try creating a new one that is simply your name. You don’t want anything to distract them from seeing what a great employee you would make!
This sounds psychotic. It’s true that CEOs tend to be sociopaths.
iam isaaq thanks kim to helpno any body say to me i am help
I used to work at a call center that had the Verizon account. I never missed a day of work with the new account, and was on time every day, and even worked mandatory overtime. However, the threshold for expected performance was so high, that everything I did wasn’t good enough. So I wound up written up and fired for performance issues, and have applied for hundreds of positions with no luck. Does firing reduce your chances of getting hired, even though the firing was for something out of your control? my UI decided to pay out just the same, and the job market seems to be so bad that employers seem to fire with impunity. Walmart did the same thing to me, even though I was hard working.
Hi there! I am sorry to hear about your situation. Are you looking for similar positions, or are you looking for a career change. If it’s the latter, explain that you were in a position where the job was not a right fit and turn the conversation to why the job you are applying for IS a right fit. I think this article can help you: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/how-to-explain-being-fired/.
Kim, I’m in the same boat as jobless. I’ve had two jobs in the last five years that I was fired from but not due to anything I did wrong on the job. When you fill out apps on line very seldom does it give you a chance to state reason for termination.what can be done to make it look better?
Hi Tamara – Unfortunately, if there is no room on an application to explain your reason for leaving, there isn’t too much you can do. You can briefly explain in a cover letter what happened, but you want to make sure you don’t look like you are complaining. It’s tricky, but it can be done. A lot of applications simply state “reason for leaving” and in those boxes you can explain.
My hours were recently cut and I am looking for a part-time second job to make up the difference.
Hi my name is Alice I’,m a phlebotomist with 18 years experience I’m very good at my job,and a hard worker. I was laid off and can’t get a job I have applied at soon many places I’ve lost track. But no one is calling back.I don’t know what I’m doing wrong I send out resumes, I have recommendation letters from my previous employer, I have phlebotomy certifcation, I’m a confident person with good customer service, Im friendly and really care about people. and I’m not shy. I think I interview well? Am I missing something? I really don’t understand why I’m not getting any call back for Interveiws? There are no gaps in my passed jobs,6year at my lasy job and 7 years before that? Any advice for me?
I recently applied for a minimum wage sales associate position with Kohl’s Dept. Stores (which took me about 45 minutes) and was told that I did not meet the criteria for that position and my application wasn’t even sent to the employer, with no explanation of what I did wrong. I have worked many jobs which were more difficult and which paid more than the one I applied for. My question is, why was I not told why my application was refused?
Thank you,
Karen
Hi Karen – Trust me, I know how frustrating that can be (it’s happened to me). But, if you got an email saying you were not a right fit for the position, you did not meet one of the qualifications set by the employer. This will save you from being in a job in which you are not happy, and saves the employer from having an employee who is not satisfied in the position. This article explains it a little more: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/the-right-answer-to-assessment-questions/. Good luck and keep answering honestly – you will find the right fit job for you!
The same thing happened to me when I applied to Kohl’s on line. I went to Kohl’s in person, filled out an application and briefly spoke to the manager on duty. I was interviewed within the week and hired.
I was laid off in Dec,2011. I managed a restaurant for almost 2 yrs. I have never done this before, but the outcome was amazing! I am a lady with the quote behind me “Jack of all trades master of none”. Meaning ….I can do anything. Just put me in the driver seat and watch me go! I am a very fast learner, dependable with excellent written, and verbal skills. I have exceptional organizational and time management skills. However, I have been applying several times per day attaching my resume for almost 3 weeks…..with no response, at all. I applied through a temp service hiring for a warehouse locally and found out 2 days ago that they just hired several temps for the very same job I applied for. I then followed up with the temp service and discussed that i had applied for this job 2 weeks prior and had not been contacted. The lady said when was the last time you worked in a warehouse? I said 2009. She then informed me that they were looking for someone with a great deal of experience working in a warehouse. I proceeded to explain to her that I was an odd female that has can do anything if she would just give me a chance. She said yeah ” your resume has a little of everything on it’. Im thinking its a good thing, but not. All of my jobs range from 1 yr to 4 yrs experience in laying carpet and vinyl, Admin. Asst, Office Mgr, to Managing a restaurant. All of which, I have great references to follow. But they see it as bouncing from here to there and not really dedicated to one career choice. I really enjoy doing different jobs. But moral of the story is …….when I called her and assured her I could do the job they had posted, I was dependable, very quick learner, and passionate about my work no matter what it may be….She said “Can you come in Tuesday”? I said yes maam ….I will be there!! So Tuesday is my day and producing automotive glass in a warehouse …..IS GONNA BE MY JOB!! I really appreciate all of you sharing your post. #1 Never give up and Always follow up.
I have relocated and i am looking for a new job, I am a felon. My charges were in 2003 and i violated my probation in 2004. I have applied for many position’s but either my felony is not old enough or most companies don’t hire felon’s. They are drug charges, no violent or steeling charges. How do i find out who hires felon’s or who does’nt. How do i know? What do i need to do? Thank You, Karen
Hi Karen! Try getting involved with a local organization, like Goodwill. They will have resources and connections in your area. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions!
I have never worked before , im 17 and it can sometimes become difficult because due to my age adults, managers, bosses etc find it hard to take the youth serious. I need help finding what position would be best for me to work in .
Hi Cerina! Check out this video on how to find a job with no experience: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/video-series-no-experience/ and let me know if you have any questions!
What is the best way to explain a termination after 10 years?
The thing I seem to always get stuck on is tell me about yourself. I can never think of anything interesting to say.
Hi Tedeshia! That question scares me too. Check out this article: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/can-you-tell-me-about-yourself/ where we break it down for you!
You have to dress for success, I’ve been in mgmnt, and people will come in in blue jeans!!!! Please, no matter what you’ll be doing or what you would wear as their employee, do not show up in jeans & T-shirt. I interviewed 12 people, everyone was to be there @ 9am, one girl was walking in about 2 or 3 mins. Late, right as I was coming out of the interview room, but she was the only one dressed professional, not all dressy just nice capris & nice top, everyone else had on jeans. So I told her to come in first, a lot of grumbling , she didn’t understand at first, that was over 3 yrs ago, she’s still with us today.
I think it is great advice….I am looking and havebeen interviewed. I will go in tomorrow for a follow up! THX!
Hello,
I am older, but have many years of experience (over 20 years) in the Aerospace industry and in Project Management offiices and Human Resources as Project Administrator, Logistics Specialist, Secretary, and Administrative Assistant, and was laid off from my Project Administrator position in May 2012 (six months ago). All of these positions I held long term. I have applied to everything I can possibly qualify for and have only had about 3-4 interviews. I know I’m older, but I’m not ready to be the Wal-Mart Greeter, at least not yet. I would like to work at least another 10 – 15 years. Is the market just that bad and flooded with that many people competing for the same jobs for which I am applying? Help!
A big thing that you do NOT want to put on you resume is an unprofessional e-mail! Hotbootycakes@gmail.com or youngmoney#$%s@hotmail.com is an automatic bottom of the pile, which means you will more than likely not get hired. Using your name and a couple numbers will more likely land you a job. (Ex. YOURNAME_1234@yahoo.com) Your name as the e-mail will also help employers to remember your name.
I am also on the job market searching for a stable career and putting in applications EVERYWHERE that match what i want to do for a living. Last time i had a job interview they asked me “What didn’t you like in your previous job” How do you answer a question like that without insulting the previouse company? and what are they really asking?
Hi there! Great question. Answer the question regarding the professional parts of your job you didn’t enjoy. For example, answers like, “I wish I had more interaction with people” and “There really wasn’t anywhere to grow” show that you are looking for a new job where you can really excel.
I applied for a job where I already know the manager through family. I do not have the chance to make a first impression. Even though he likes me as a person, I feel like he only know’s me as a little girl. Also, should I answer questions like I know him or no? By the way I am 14 years old.
Hi Brianna – Great question. Answer the questions as professional as possible. You want to keep the connection with him but also make sure he knows you will take your job seriously. Good luck and let me know how it goes!
I really don’t know much about anyone else, but my last job lied to edd saying that I quit. Now because of that lie, I have to go through the long process of appealing my claim. I still haven’t found a job yet. At the same time, I could have started working for 2 different security services only to find out that my guard card was suspended due to not paying child support. The court took away the very thing I needed to work. It is a shame that I can serve 22.5 years helping another country and securing our borders while in the military, but can not secure a job with security in my own state. What is wrong with this place?
I have an interview next friday but dont think I have the right clothes for the interview what exactly should I wear? The interview is at Wendy’s.
Hi Brittany! That’s exciting
. I recommend staying away from jeans and trying to look as professional as possible. Do you have any slack or khakis you can wear? Pair this with a nice blouse and you are good to go! Check out some of the more casual examples here: http://pinterest.com/snagajob/interview-outfits-for-women/ and let me know what you think! Good luck!
What to say after working 10 years for a company and the terminating employment…. The dynamics in the office changed and I did not care for the way it was leading. It was very stressful and walking on eggshells every day was unhealthy for me! Been there. Done that. Move on to bigger and better things~!
KR thank you I am sure that I blown interviews by either saying to much or not enough.
“Jane of All Trades”…
Same here and have been looking for a new position, non stop for over a year. I wish I could get to the interview stage at least. In the meanwhile I keep working for this “interesting” boss/company. Glad to have a job for sure but want to move on.