We interview people on a daily basis and many of them have several questions about the interview process. Today, we answer some of the most common questions we get asked to give you a few tips that will give you an advantage going into your next interview.
What should I ask the interviewer beforehand?
The more information you have before your interview, the better. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if there is any info you need to better prepare for your meeting with the recruiter. In general, you should ask who you will be meeting with, how long the interview will be, any special directions regarding your arrival and checking in, and what you should have prepared to bring along with you.
–Tonya Winebrenner, Staff Source Recruiter
How much should I prepare?
AS MUCH AS YOU CAN! Make sure your resume is up to date and clearly organized, be sure you have quality examples of your past work, and run through a couple mock interviews with friends or family to polish your interview approach if you can. You can never be too prepared, but you can definitely be under-prepared. The best bet is to prepare to the point where you are no longer nervous about how the interview will go. It’s ok to be a little anxious about how it will turn out, but if you prepare well you shouldn’t feel any nerves about your ability to interview well.
-Maria Martinez, Staff Source Recruiter
What should I do if I’m going to be late?
Life happens, and sometimes we end up running late to our interviews. A lot of people panic when faced with this situation. Calm down. The best course of action when you’re running late to an interview is to call the office and let them know your situation. Give them a realistic timeline of when you’ll arrive and if asked to reschedule, be prepared with a date and time in mind. If they can still see you, apologize once when you arrive and then don’t bring it up again. You want your interview to be about your work experience, not a constant reminder that you got there late.
-Hailey Bengtson, Staff Source HR Assistant
Where should I sit?
You have two options here: the first being that after you shake hands with and introduce yourself to the interviewer, you can wait to be invited to sit down in an indicated chair. This is most likely how you will be directed to your seat for the interview. The other option is that after introductions, you can politely ask where the interviewer would like you to sit.
-Tyler Geeve, Staff Source Marketing Assistant
How professional should I be?
Everyone wants to put their best foot forward and to appear professional for their interview. However, you don’t want to come across as stiff or robotic. There’s a fine line between professional and friendly that you need to navigate in order to find an appropriate balance. Unfortunately, there is no universal answer for this. You will need to adapt to every new interviewer because each one will have different preferences leaning more towards professional or friendly. Be prepared, feel it out, and use your best judgment.
-Kailey Lessentine, Staff Source HR Assistant
What do I do if the interview isn’t going well?
The LAST thing you should do is panic. Nobody’s perfect and everyone has bad interviews from time to time. Pay attention to you what you are doing and try to determine what is turning the interviewer off. Are you not making enough eye contact or rambling too much? Whatever it may be, do your best to correct anything that could be turning the interview sour. Sit up straight, speak clearly, and give confident, steady eye contact. If you still see that the interview is not going well, don’t lose too much hope. Even a bad interview is a great learning tool for bettering your skills for the future.
-Colleen Nicholls, Former Staff Source Recruiter
When should I follow up?
After your interview, the recruiter you met with should give you a timeline as to when they will be reaching out to you. If that date comes and goes with no word back, it’s ok to reach out via email to follow up on your application and candidacy for the position. If your interviewer didn’t give you a deadline for when they would be reaching out, it is generally accepted to follow up with them after a weeks time.
–Tyler Geeve, Staff Source Marketing/Recruiting Assistant