In 2009, Colleen Perrone—an executive recruiter with The Caler Group in Boca Raton—wrote an e-book, Don’t Interview: Audition, as a guide to help displaced professionals dive back into the job market. Here are her favorite interview tips.
• Be prepared: Do some homework about the company and the person with whom you’re interviewing. Look at LinkedIn. Read the company website. Notice résumé details—like awards and civic interests and where your interviewer went to college.
• Arrive on time, looking great: Do not be late. In fact, arrive 10 minutes early. And Perrone always tells clients, both male and female, to wear business attire. “I don’t care if the company says ‘casual attire,’” she says. “You want to look your best.”
• Review your résumé: The night before the interview, re-read your résumé at least three times. Maybe you wrote it a while ago, and something’s out of date. Also, don’t be afraid to talk about your weaknesses and how you overcame them.
• Listen carefully: Answer what was asked. Don’t babble. “The answer should really not be more than two minutes,” she says. ”Don’t go off on something that has nothing to do with the question.”
• Have one good story: Perrone says it’s important to have at least one good story about what YOU accomplished at your last job. It’s OK to tell a little tale about how you won over a customer, fixed a problem, or came out ahead of the competition.
• Do a soft close: As things wind down, and you’ll be able to sense this, make sure you take a moment to wrap things up. If you love the company and want the job, say that. “I really think I could add value,” might be one way to put it. Ask for their impressions, perhaps something like: “Do you see me as being a good fit for your company?” Be frank, honest and professional, but don’t gush.
