She Wants to Know Interviewing Do's and Don'ts

Joan writes:

I could not find anything specific to interviewing do’s and don’ts on your site. Can you help?

The Career Doctor responds:

Interviewing is perhaps the most critical point in job-hunting, where the job-seeker has to use persuasive communications skills to show that s/he is the perfect candidate for the position. And we have quite a lot of information and resources on interviewing. But, because you asked, here are just a few of the most critical do’s and don’ts of interviewing:

• Do your research and know the type of job interview you will be encountering.
And do prepare and practice for the interview, but don’t memorize or over-rehearse your answers.
• Do dress the part for the job, the company, the industry. And do err on the side of conservatism.
• Do plan to arrive about 10 minutes early. Late arrival for a job interview is never excusable. If you are running late, do phone the company.
• Do greet the receptionist or assistant with courtesy and respect. This is where you make your first impression.
• Do bring extra resumes to the interview. (Even better, if you have a career portfolio, do bring that with you to the interview.)
• Don’t rely on your application or resume to do the selling for you. No matter how qualified you are for the position, you will need to sell yourself to the interviewer.
• Do greet the interviewer(s) by title (Ms., Mr., Dr.) and last name if you are sure of the pronunciation. (If you’re not sure, do ask the receptionist about the pronunciation before going into the interview.
• Doshake hands firmly. Don’t have a limp or clammy handshake!
• Do have a high confidence and energy level, but don’t be overly aggressive.
• Don’t act as though you would take any job or are desperate for employment.
• Don’t say anything negative about former colleagues, supervisors, or employers.

Read more Interviewing Do’s and Don’ts — and find lots more tools and resources about job interviewing in this section of Quintessential Careers: Guide to Job Interviewing Resources.

And don’t forget that we DO have a Job Interviewing Tutorial for Job-Seekers.