Job Interviews: Tips & Advice (pt 2)

It's now the big day of the interview! Hopefully, you've gone through the steps outlined in part one of this little two-part article, have an amazing cover letter and resumé, and are feeling prepared. Now what?

In the second part of this two-part interview series, we're going to dive in and approach the interview itself and what follows (yes, there is something to do even after the interview is over).

Let's jump right in!

During: Deep breaths!

You've made it. It's time to shine and show these people what you've got! You're all dressed up, you've done your research and ready to tackle this interview.

Walk into that room and personally greet each person there, take a moment to look them in the eyes and shake their hand. Make it personal, because it's possible that you're the 20th or 55th person that they've seen that day.

Now is the time that they review your resumé and start asking questions. Easier questions will be related to your experience and job history and harder questions will be more open-ended and general in terms of your responsibilities.

Here's a secret: you don't need to know the answer for every question. Don't know? Tell them that you're not sure but would be interested in knowing more. Or admit that you don't have a ton of experience with the topic of that question but are dedicated to learning more if hired.

But more than anything, be you! Let your personality shine and really enjoy yourself. If you feel yourself getting nervous or tripped up: pause, take a deep breath, smile and continue.

After: Follow-up

This is an important aspect of interviews that most people aren't aware of: the follow-up. Now, I want to be clear that this doesn't mean e-mailing the recruiter or interviewer a million times asking how you did (please don't do that).

But, what you can do is send a e-mail, or even a handwritten letter, thanking them for taking the time to speak with you. This is sometimes a game-changer and really shows your interest in the position and also some common decency.

Finally, order a pizza and watch a movie. You did a great job and deserve it!

Final Notes

I hope that you find this latest addition to the career section helpful! Interviews can be stressful, but we all go through it and the more prepared you are, the better you'll feel.

As usual, feel free to comment below or reach out on Twitter with any questions.

Thank you!