By: Beth LaGuardia Cooper
Vice President, Marketing at American Public University System
You’ve prepared for the content of your first in-person interview, but have you thought through the rest of the interview? Here are some tips to help.
#1 Make a reconnaissance trip. OK, so #1 is actually something you do beforehand, but it’s about physically getting to the interview so I included it. I know it sounds elementary, but it’s a must. You do not want to show up late or frazzled to the interview because your navigation system isn’t up to date. At that point, you would have to dig yourself out of a bad first impression.
#2 Arrive early, and hang out at a nearby shopping center. Do what works for you, and don’t deviate. If coffee makes you jittery, for goodness sake avoid it. If distractions help you remain calm, visit an interesting store or read the paper while waiting. Plan to arrive at the front desk of the interview 10 minutes early. You don’t want to be too early, or too late. If you have to park in a garage or it appears that there is a long walk or sign-in desk between your car and the office of the interviewer, allocate time as appropriate. (Refer to #1.)
#3 The interview starts before you arrive and continues after you part ways. How embarrassing would it be if the interviewer turned out to be the guy you tailgated and gave a “friendly” hand gesture three blocks away or the person you cut off to park closer to the coffee shop across the street. Many interviewers ask the receptionist or others who encounter interview candidates how they were treated. (Refer to the Golden Rule on that one.) Also, assume that the interviewer can see you in the parking lot and as you drive away.
#4 Don’t neglect to send a thank you note. Feel free to send it via email if you prefer; in fact, the advantages would be the immediacy and potential that you’ll receive a reply from the interviewer. If you prefer to send a handwritten note, send it promptly after the interview. Either way, include specifics that will resonate with the interviewer and remind him or her of your strengths.
Sometimes it’s the little things that make a difference. These tips are common sense, but you would hate to do everything else right and miss on these points. Best of luck!
The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will. – Vince Lombardi
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