Starting the Interview properly

You have finally landed an interview with one of your top target companies. You have done your homework; read the company press releases, mission statement; read the management profiles and the linkedin profiles of the interviewers.

One thing remains: get there on time without being stressed out so you can put all your energy into the interview. If you can afford the time, go a day early and scout out the drive, find the parking and find a local coffee house nearby. Find a place to have lunch close to the interview location.

If you can't scout the location a day ahead, make sure you arrive 45 minutes ahead on the day of the interview find your parking and the coffee shop. Find out about lunch spots nearby, you will need this information later. Ask the barista if people from the target company come in for coffee and can he/she point out or introduce you to someone who works there. Ask this person what it is like to work there and what the hiring process is like. Most people are helpful and know what it is like to be a job seeker. It gives you experience talking and learning about the company with first hand information.

Enter the building 10 minutes early and do not take a seat – stay standing. Do not smoke, do read a magazine, do not drink or chew gum. Make sure your cell phone is off. Do not check your messages on your phone. All these measures effect your body language. You have precious little time, about 6 seconds, to make a favorable first impression. Do not squander the opportunity to get the interview started in a positive fashion.

Do talk with the receptionist in a friendly manner like you did at the coffee shop. Treat her with respect and try to establish rapport. Many times interviewers will ask the receptionist for his/her opinion about job-seekers. You need to practice talking about yourself and the hiring organization. Don't waste an opportunity.

Researchers report that many times the decision to hire someone is made before they say a thing. We are animals, we like someone right away – or dislike them – instinctively. Body language is instinctive. 70%
of communication takes place between people through body language and tone of voice. It happens quickly, so practice being ready to meet the interviewer .

Power poses can help get your body hormones balanced. Just two minutes of power poses can make a big difference. Step into the rest room and practice posing for 2 minutes. Watch this video from Dr. Amy Cuddy
to help you understand the value of power poses:

The interview starts the moment the hiring manager steps into the room. Walk tall with a smile on your face, greet the person warmly and be ready to offer a great handshake.

Let the other person intiate the handshake. Shake hands firmly but not too powerfully and look the other person straight in the eye. During the introductions it is better to shake hands with the committee
members. With each greeting look directly at the other person, say your name and hand them your card – and collect their card. You will need every card to send a personal note as a thank you and a extension of the interview. You need those cards for follow up.

Sit up straight in your chair at the beginning of the interview, with your back against the back of the chair. Sitting on the edge of your chair can come across as being a little tense and might give the impression that you feel uncomfortable.

It is good to turn a little with your shoulders towards the person speaking and to lean forward a little. This shows an interest in what the other person is saying. You can emphasize this by tilting your head a little.

When nervous we are often inclined to fold our arms across our body. Folding your arms is a defensive move. It is better to let your hands lie loosely on your lap or place them on the armrests of your chair. From these positions it's also easy to support your words with hand gestures. Ask if you can take notes, but be wary of tapping your pen. In most cases it is better not to make too many hand movements at the start of the interview but add them slowly throughout the interview.

Start with small talk. Give the interviewer time to adjust notes and prepare. Talk about the neighborhood that you scouted out before the meeting. Ask about the best places to get lunch after the meeting. Mention the places that you learned about at the coffee shop and let him/her recommend the one they prefer.

If in the interviewers office take note of family pictures and/awards that are on display. Take clues from these to ask soft questions about local sports teams. Find out where they are from originally, their hometown. Share a success story about your hometown. You are on your way to establishing rapport with the interviewer – and one step closer to landing the job.

In the next article, I will talk about reading body language during the interview process.