Congrats – you’ve got an interview! That means:
- The employer feels you are one of the best candidates for the position
- On paper it already looks like you can do the job
Now it’s time to prove it.
There are lots of ways to put your best foot forward with employers, but these four steps are must-do’s for any job interview.
1. Dress professionally
Your interview clothes don’t have to be expensive to make a great impression. You can dress for an interview for under $20!
2. Arrive early
Be at least 10 minutes early to your job interview. If an unavoidable emergency does pop up or you get stuck in serious traffic, then call the interviewer to let them know you’re going to be late. Showing up late without a phone call is a guaranteed way to lose out on a job.
3. Turn your phone off
Getting random calls and texts while you’re talking with a hiring manager are mistakes that can ruin your interview. And if it does ring, don’t even think about answering your phone.
4. Ask thoughtful questions
If you’re well-qualified and present yourself professionally, nothing seals the deal like having a few great questions to ask during an interview; it shows the hiring manager you’ve really put thought into this job.
That’s the basics, but there’s plenty more where that came from – check out all our interview tips to make sure you put your best foot forward (and calm down the butterflies – don’t worry, we all get them!).
About Amy White
I recently went on a job interview and followed all four of those tips exactly as you described. However, in spite of my best efforts, I wasn’t offered the job because the employer felt “[I] wasn’t a good fit.” What does that mean and how do I avoid an employer dismissing me like that in future interviews?
Well it’s either you did something horribly wrong that you didn’t notice or the employer isnt the type that you should use those tips with. You should get an overall feel of the emploer beefore the interview to see what will work.
Not necessarily, it may just be that there was another better fit or better qualified candidate. Keep up the great work Maria! If you’re wondering whether your interview skills are holding you back, ask one of your friends to hold a mock interview with you – or you can practice answering interview questions int he mirror. It sounds silly, but it works!
i found a job advertising need a machine operator i had the skill
and applied for the job couple weeks later they called me to come
down to take an assessment test to find out that i was a good fit
not an excellent fit i didn’t understand if i got the experience shouldn’t
i at least get a chance to show them that i can do the job also several
other people i knew was told the same thing whats up with that?
Hi Alan – They told you that your assessment answers indicated that you were a good fit but not an excellent one?
Be thankful they told you, you were not a good fit. That means that there are personalities in that department that would clash with your personality, which could turn out devastating for you.
Can you really dress for an interview for $20!?
Absolutely! Check out the article link to find out exactly how
Absolutely! You can find professional looking clothing at stores like Kohl’s. THey have sales pratically every weekend!
Whenever I go for a job interview I always arrive early. I’d rather be too early over being too late. I also never have my cell phone on. I always dress to impress. These things don’t seem to help me. Every interview that I’ve had over the last few months have asked me different questions. Maybe that’s where I went wrong, I didn’t give them the answers they were looking for.
Hi Shelia, do you remember the questions that were asked? We might be able to help you with your interview skills so you can nail your next interview!
what i like to do is write my questions down on a index card as well as quetions i want to ask the interveiwer,
Why is out do hard for me to get a job I work at a fast food chain I go to school full time n I’m a ex felon how can or what can I do to land a better job please help!
Hi Tyrone – Your situation is a little complicated. Availability is very important to employers and it may be hard for them to work with your schedule. We have a lot of articles about searching for a job with a record: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/?s=felon I think these could really help you! Be sure all of your applications are free of spelling and grammar errors. Even the smallest mistake can make the biggest difference.
Sheila you are not alone! I have been looking for work for over 4 months now and when I am lucky enough to get an interview I feel like I do everything right. I am always worried that I am going to say or do something wrong because the last interviews I went to apparently didn’t go well. I never heard back from them and I have called to ask if the postion has been filled and in most cases it was. It just feels like an endless joke to me.
Tschelle & Sheila…I also have been looking for work for about 7 months now. When I land an interview and I feel its going well, I always hear..”you’ve got a great resume and credentials but we decided to go with another candidate” This is getting really old! I’m either under-qualified or over qualified and that to me is bunch of malarkey. I have just been in the workforce for many years and have experience and even got my AA degree (feel like that’s going to waste)! If your transitioning into maybe another position how are you going to gain that experience unless you are given the chance..make sense?? Just frustrating!
Hi Kimberly – Are you using this email address when applying for jobs? It may be holding you back. Try using something generic like your name. Also, if you feel like you are being looked over for jobs you are overqualified for, check out these tips: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/im-overqualified/. Good luck!
Is good to now all this information. Help very much to have a good interview.
Thanks David! Good luck with your interviews
I, also, have done everything that has been requested. The employer looks you in the face and tells you that you are a good candidate, but you never hear from them. This is after they have committed to do a call back. This has happened on several occasions. I have taken assessment tests with good results and still do not get the job. I’m getting on in years, but still not old enough to retire. I went on to a community and graduated in May 2011 to better my chances of being a workable candidate.
Hi Phyllis, great job going to community college – that was a smart move! Are you sending thank you notes after your interviews or otherwise following up with them?
You know it had been my experience as a interviewing manager that if I say don’t call us we will call you ….I mean it . Don’t call me every other day asking about the job .. even if anf and after I have told you I have hired someone .. it become a nuisance…
Absolutely, if a hiring manager or job post says not to follow up – don’t. Any advice on ways a job seeker can stand out without annoying their interviewer?
Hi Phyllis..sounds like we are in the same boat! I think the assessments are time consuming and should not be in the decision making..they say they are not but really? I am also getting up in the years and I would like to be able to retire comfortably when the times comes and I really want to go back and get my Bachelors degree but at this point I’m going to hold off til something comes about! I wish everyone luck!
One question I was asked at an interview was ‘ Tell me about a time when you set a goal for yourself and how did you follow through on that goal?’
The answer I gave was even though it was hard I set the goal to graduate from college. I wasn’t the best student and it was difficult. I told myself to keep going and my family also encouraged me to go on.
I don’t know if that’s the answer they wanted, but it was the one I thought of.
That sounds great! Highlights your determination and higher education
I have had alot of the same experiences that these people are gpoing thru now. I am currently working, but I had gone to a jobfair and just got lucky after being out of work for about 1.5yrs. Also, I had taken a course thru Goodwill of SWPA in Administrative Office Procedures in order to
learn microsoft office, but the job I am doing has nothing to do with what I had learned. So, I feel everyone’s pain. Hope everyone that posted g finds a job soon! Good luck everyone.
Sincerely,
Anthony S
I am finally getting face to face interviews & I’m nailing the interviews. But then being sent e-mails every time saying we do not have a position for you at this time. How can you nail an interview & then not offered the job? The qualifications are so there, I’m in my early 50′s are they hiring the younger candidates? I am at a complete loss, HELP!!!!
Hi Bryta – In a competitive market, there are many other people applying for every position and they might be nailing the interview as well. Make sure you aren’t making any of these interview mistakes: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/interview-mistakes/ (I made many of those before I started practicing). I know it’s frustrating, but you may be going on many many interviews until you find the job that is right for you. The good new is that your resume must be in good shape to be getting called in for the interview itself. You have passed a huge hurdle!
I can understand what you all are talking about as I have been seeking a job since I moved to Florida and no luck. I have had 4 interviews for receptionist at doctors offices. I worked 10 1/2 yrs. experience doing various jobs in a doctors office and went to college and got my AA degree in medical coding. I don’t have my certification as of yet, but I do have experience. I felt the interviews went well. But I still didn’t get hired. I feel like why bother to get further education and have all the school dept when no one wants to hire you. I have in the past never had a problem getting a job, but I am 60 yrs old now and overweight and I think that is what is preventing me from getting a job. I am a good worker and very dedicated to whom ever I work for. So I can understand where you are coming from.
Hi Denise – Have you thought about volunteering in your desired field? You would gain experience and references.
I’ve been a retail sales manager for over 20 years. I’m no kid anymore, but I’m incredibly experienced and knowledgeable. It’s a hard road when you’re not 25 yrs old anymore. Most jobs (these days, anyway) all require a 4 Yr degree. I know a lot of people who spend their lives working towards a Liberal Arts degree, which means NOTHING in the real world, or degrees that are clearly not pertinent to the job market or what most employers really want. But it also seems that experience means nothing either. It’s a crap shoot at best. All you can do is work your “mojo” in your interview and be confident! The old saying “Never Let Them See You Sweat” is more than just a catch phrase.
i don’t know what to do because i completed only to the 9th grade in specail ed . Now i’m 54 yr.s old and have hard time doing aplications on line on the computer. i’ve never had a problem before now jn the last 2yr.s i can’t find a job. What can i do?
Hi Teri – Computer skills are essential in today’s job market. Have you thought about signing up for computer classes at your local library or community center? They may be free or will require a small participation fee. If you are not comfortable with filling out applications online, try going into the places you are interested in with your resume and hand. Ask if they are hiring and leave your resume behind. Be sure to dress as you would for an interview, you never know who you may meet!
I have been working in retail sales, unfortunately in my last job I was fired/terminated for not being consistently able to reach our sales goals. I have been looking for work for 4 months now, and have been interviewed several times already. And everytime the interviewer asks why I left work, i am always dumbfounded as to what to say. I have answered before that i was terminated because I wasn’t reaching the sales quota, of course it didn’t work. I also have told some that I quit because the job was not a good fit for me, also didn’t work. I have also told some that I was forced to quit by the management due to sales issues, of course you wouldn’t want them to think that you were fired for some illegal, criminal or reputation/credibility issues. Is it okey not to tell I was fired from my last job? Will they find out? Or…so what do I tell the interviewer the next time i get asked that question?
Hi Lisa – It is a good idea to be honest when asked why you are not longer with your previous employer. They may call your old supervisor as a reference and you won’t want to have conflicting stories. Area you searching for jobs in sales? If not, you could say that you accepted a position that you were not a right-fit for and and you now realize that sales is not the best path for you.
I’m 46 years old, have had numerous positions in several different fields. I don’t seem to be having problems getting interviews, but I am tired of hearing I’m “overqualified” for the position I’m applying for. Why can’t employers figure out sometimes people don’t care about that, they just want the job so they can pay their bills and get on with their life.
Hi Bill – We just wrote an article about this that I think may help you: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/im-overqualified/.
I want to say thank you for the vital information of what and how to handle a interview. I haven’t been on an interview in about 15 years and I just want to say that I followed your advice and was asked to a second interview. I had my second interview and I am now employed with that company. The information does work and once again I want to say thank you.
That is wonderful, Angela! You have completely made my day. Hope you’ll share your story – http://www.snagajob.com/resources/share-your-story/ We love to celebrate success
http://www.snagajob.com/resources/tags/i-got-hired!
This is good advice. Perhaps it’s because I’m a little older, but a lot of it seems like common knowledge. I’d especially like to know what kind of person is stupid enough to actually answer their phone during an interview. Just because it rings doesn’t mean you must obey it that second.
I have an interview later today. I’m keeping in mind all sorts of questions. I’m trying to remain calm and relaxed, but I’m anxious to get it over with. I usually ask for early interviews, but in this case I had to work with company standards and what times they had available.
I’m going to keep these four rules in mind. Thanks for the great advice.
You’ve got this, Shelia! Keep us posted on how the interview went and good luck!!
Hello, I’m also having a hard time with finding a job.
Its been since May of last year since i haven’t work and its really hard and you definitely have to have experience in rather were you wanna work.
I have tried so many times to make sure that I have giving everything i have to offer I dress up nice, and always early I’m very polite also. I feel that sometimes its hard if you don’t have enough experience but how are you ever gonna gain experience if they don’t hire you then it just take’s even longer to find a good job. It’s been very hard And I have tried everything
Hi Jennifer – I am sorry to hear things haven’t been working out very well. Have you thought about volunteering in the field you are interested in? This way you can get experience and also gain valuable references in your field of interest. It sounds like you are taking the right steps when interviewing. In a competitive market, you may be applying for awhile before you hear something. Good luck and keep us posted!
I just like to say this is a great site and is full of good information. I’m gathering and studying all the tips as if I was in school. I’ve worked for one company for the last 17yrs. Moving up through different positions (non-management) and then my final position of delivery driver for the last 3yrs, before I decided to resign. I resigned because the job was very demading, the physical stress was making me sick, long work hours and my doctor suggesting counseling. So I am a lot rusty at job searching and interviewing. My question is what do I tell a potential employer about the reason I left my last job, being that the jobs I am applying for are mostly similar to my last job, but they don’t seem as demanding. Should I be totally honest? I’m afraid it will make me seem weak or something, and take the focus off of my 17yrs of loyal and dedicated work.
Hi Reggie – I am glad you are using our site to assist in your job search! Try explaining that while you enjoy the field of work and the type of position, you realized, after 17 years, that the company wasn’t the right fit for you. Turn the focus around to the type of employee you are. Good luck with your searching and let me know if you have any other questions!
Thanks for all the tips are very helpful , i m very positive that i will get a job the right job for me will come . i know it !!
Hi Karen! It sounds like you have a great attitude, and that will take you far. Please keep us posted on your job search and let me know if you have any questions!
Hello!
To Whom It May Concern That…
If you please, I would like to work with you, and to get a job opportunity with your teamwork, I am appreciating, valuing, and interesting to this career.
The following data is my CV in English, please read it too, and make sure that I am too serious for this work…
Hi Ahmed! Your best bet would be to apply directly to the employer, they will most likely not see you on this blog. Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions!
They spelled “manager” wrong in this article -___-
“Getting random calls and texts while you’re talking with a hiring manger are mistakes that can ruin your interview. And if it does ring, don’t even think about answering your phone.”
Good catch! It has been fixed