Interview Tips — DOs and DON'Ts

by Andrew Davis

Andrew is President of Synergistech Communications, Inc., a technology industry recruiting firm in Napa, CA.

DOs

1. Visit the company's web site to get a sense of its products and marketplace. To dig deeper, research them using these resources.

2. Be prepared to discuss your specific contributions to the projects included in your portfolio as well as the improvements you would like to have made. People who take responsibility for the deficiencies of their work and learn from their experience, while remaining pragmatic about deadlines, are much more likely to be hired.

3. Ensure that your portfolio contains no errors (typographic, formatting, etc.) that would reflect badly on your professionalism.

4. Prepare a list of questions you'd like to ask at the interview. Candidates who don't ask questions (about the department, the company, responsibilities, tools, benefits, etc.) generally do not appear interested in the job and are seldom offered it. To get some ideas, review Questions to Ask Potential Colleagues, Questions to ask about a Company, and Questions to Ask the Hiring Manager.

5. If you're interviewing for a position for which you feel exceptionally qualified and are confident that you understand the core skills to do the job, we suggest that you take the opportunity to summarize your résumé in terms of what you understand the job requirements to be. Prepare a 1-3 minute speach about:

• what you imagine they need done and what kind of skills you believe the right candidate must have to succeed
• what you've done — and, just as importantly — what you hope to do (that's relevant to their needs)
• your strengths and how complementary they are to (your understanding of) the company's goals

6. Remember that your main objective is to help the interviewer understand what you can do to make them look good, and how you've succeeded in similar situations in the past. Make it clear early on that you can learn almost anything, are sincerely interested in their products or services, and are committed to helping them succeed.

7. Get plenty of sleep before your interview. If you're tired it will show as disinterest and boredom.

8. Arrive 15 minutes early.

9. Bring at least two (2) clean copies of your résumé.

10. Some companies require you to fill out an application form before the interview. If the application form asks for your salary history and you choose to omit that information, just write in "call" (or something similar) to indicate that you didn't ignore the instructions but instead wish to discuss those details in confidence.

11. During the interview:

• Make eye contact, especially when you're speaking.
• Uncross your legs and arms, and face your interviewer.
• Smile and don't be afraid to show your passion for the work. Pay close attention to what your interviewers say, and answer their questions clearly and succinctly, then ask if they would like more information.
• Give clear examples of past achievements or experiences that prove your points.
• Share personal opinions only when they're strictly relevant.
• Always ask questions that demonstrate your interest in the subject being discussed — an interested but underqualified candidate will be hired almost as readily as a qualified but passive one.

12. Send each interviewer email to thank them for their time and interest in your services, even if you're not sure you want to work there.

DON'Ts

1. Don't be late. Circle the building, park and meditate, or sit in the lobby and read magazines but do whatever it takes to be at the right office door 15 minutes before they expect you. We know it seems obvious, but being on time the first time you go to a place may prove challenging if you underestimate travel and parking time. If you have not been to the building before, be sure you have reliable directions and have researched traffic patterns so you can get there with time to spare.

2. Don't criticize former colleagues, employers, or clients. Badmouthing only proves that you can't be trusted not to disparage your peers and managers in the future.

3. Don't forget your portfolio. Unless you have been told you that it will not be needed, bring it.

4. Don't discuss money in the first interview. Say that you need to educate yourself more about the opportunity and think about it overnight before you can give an appropriate number. If pressed, give them the range of salaries for the jobs for which you are interviewing. If you are interviewing for a Synergistech job listing, contact us for useful information on salary negotiation.

5. To the eternal question, "What should I wear?" we reply: Don't make a fashion statement.

• Attire for women: conservative (and matching or complementary) colors, unprovocative styles, minimal makeup, and low heels. For a first interview, heels and hose are fine, but stick to low heels for the second and third interviews.

• Attire for men: conservative, clean, unwrinkled, unlogo'd shirt with a collar, pants (not shorts or jeans) that have a discernible crease, and relatively well-cared-for leather shoes (not sandals, boots, or cross-trainers). For a first interview, a sports jacket and tie are entirely appropriate, but a three-piece suit is overkill.

6. Don't yawn, look bored, or look at your watch. (Seems obvious? You'd be surprised what hiring managers tell us about what they see from otherwise high-quality candidates.)

7. Don't let your answers ramble or wander off topic.

8. Don't blame, judge, or let yourself become defensive.

9. Don't let down your guard. It's a bad idea to get too familiar with interviewers, even if "everything went really well" and you're just chatting with your potential colleague or manager in the lobby. Remember, they are evaluating you continuously until the offer is signed.

10. Don't cancel the interview less than 24 hours in advance even if other prospects look much more promising. It makes you look flaky. An exception to this would be if you have already signed another offer letter and would be wasting the interviewer's time.