Okay, we fibbed. We have one more piece of advice before the interview begins. No, no, we mean it this time. But can you blame us? We really want you to get this job, and as a result, we want you to be as prepared as possible.
So take a deep breath and remember that during this interview, you should concentrate on these two things:
- Making the interviewers like you and respect what you could do for the company.
- Gathering as much information as possible.
If company officials believe that you can accomplish the company’s objectives, you’ll be considered for the position. However, as we mentioned in our previous blog post, being liked gets you an offer.
What about gathering information? Of what use is that? Well, that helps you to assess the interview after it’s over. Don’t attempt to process information during the interview—that will cause mistakes. Keep your focus on the overriding objective: getting an offer of employment.
Do everything you can to put yourself in a position to receive that offer. You can always decline it later, if you want to, but as we mentioned before, you can’t decline something before it’s even offered to you.
So—make the interviewers like and respect you AND gather as much information as you can. Doing these two things will aid you in your quest to receive an offer of employment. Focus on these tasks, and you will greatly enhance your chances for interview success.
All right, that’s the last piece of advice we have before the interview starts. We promise. Now get in there and knock ‘em dead.
(For more information about successfully preparing for YOUR next interview, download a copy of Dan Simmons’s e-Book, Put Your Best You Forward: Simple Steps to a Successful Interview.)