KNOW THIS BEFORE YOUR INTERVIEW.

This is not about prepping or interview questions, or any of that. You should have researched the company, the person interviewing you, and the role you’re interviewing for. Please tell me you’ve done that. What I’m talking about are the seemingly innocuous things that all add together in an interview that takes you from an A on paper, to a C in person. It still astonishes me how I will send a candidate, prepped, ready for their interview – thinking there is no way they cannot get the job – only to have the client call me back saying it’s a no-go. Sometimes, just sometimes, it’s because they didn’t adhere to these common sense rules of interview engagement.

Let’s begin.

1.      Do NOT arrive more than 10-15 minutes early.  Sometimes it does the opposite of what you are trying to accomplish (if I come early they’ll definitely know how eager I am to get this job!). It can actually de-value you. Hiring managers are busy people. Recruiters are busy people. If you have been given a time – most likely your interview will start on time or slightly after. That’s just the name of the game. But to show up 30 minutes early and having to awkwardly flip through the magazines available or even worse – your phone- is not a good first impression. Remember you always want to make people feel you’re a hot commodity and this is just a very psychological way of adhering to that. Keep it within the 10 minute rule, and don’t be late.

2.      Dress professional regardless of the role. It doesn’t matter what the job is. It shows you take pride in yourself, you take this interview seriously and it gives a great first impression. Always overdress and have an employer think you did too much, than to underdress and have them think you did too little.

3.      Don’t chew gum. Do I really need to say this? Apparently I do. Said.

* Edit thanks to some great feedback, let's throw in showing up with any food, coffee or water bottles, etc. It comes across as far too casual and sometimes even a little disrespectful. Allow them to offer you something to drink while you're there.

4.      Don’t talk negative about any of your last employers. People know this. But they don’t understand what it actually means. It means literally anything negative at all. Anything. So, you quit your last job because your boss was berating you every day? I think what you meant to say is – you left because you wanted to pursue a different career direction. Your future boss does not need to hear your dirty laundry. If you left due to a less than favorable situation, don’t lie but spare them the gory details. This is part of the interview – your future employer also wants to know that you are able to be professional even when it may not have been the best situation. This speaks to how you will handle yourself within their company. Always keep it positive, or at the very least vague.

5.      Ask smart questions. Oh, they have answered all of your questions in the interview? Doesn’t matter. If you don’t ask a question it shows you can’t think on the spot. That is why you always prepare at least 5-6 prior to going in. It shows you are interested. It shows you have actually put thought into the organization. It can separate you from the pack when you ask insightful questions. Always ask questions, but please…

6.      Don’t ask how much vacation time they offer or what the benefits are. You will find this out. I promise. An interview is not the place to ask. It gives the impression you a) are only in it for the money or the benefits, and b) that’s about it. Hiring Managers want to know and feel that you really and truly are interested in the role and the company. They want to hire long term employees. They don’t want to hire someone they think is in it for just monetary gain because it means that person is just going to leave the minute they find a better option.

7.      Your biggest weakness is the one you don’t overcome. Some employers may ask you - what do you think your biggest weakness is? Do not be fooled. They want to see just how honest and authentic you can be, without resorting to completely obvious answers – it creates a genuine connection between you and your potential new employer. Saying “I don’t have any”, or “My biggest weakness is that I’m too detail-oriented” – shows you are not putting thought into the question. The key is that you have to follow up your statement with how you overcome it. That is the point of the question - to find out if you are self-aware enough to acknowledge a limitation in your skillset, but be smart enough to overcome it.

8.      Put your social media profiles on private. Employers are always peeking at your on-line profiles before they interview you. LinkedIn aside, please do not allow public access to your Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, etc. especially if you are actively interviewing. We look. Sometimes we don’t like what we see.

9.      Send a thank you note. It’s a classy move to make that shows your professionalism. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but a simple note to say thank you for the opportunity does two things: it allows you to stay top of mind (which is helpful if the recruiter is interviewing a large number of candidates) and shows that you possess a level of professionalism and attention to details that is impressive. Will it be the deciding factor in whether you get the job or not? Not likely. But it can’t hurt and I’ve never had a client who didn’t appreciate one.

Alright, your work is done! Hopefully you wowed the interviewer and now you are waiting for the final word. Remember – there can be a lot of things happening in the background while you wait. They can be interviewing more people, debating on whom to move forward with, or maybe they have to wait for a final word from someone higher up. Regardless of what it is, you won’t know so don’t stress yourself out, just remember...

Above all else - do not harass the recruiter or hiring manager. People do this all the time because they just can’t stand to sit and wait. If they want to hire you – trust me, you will be the first person they call. Constantly calling, e-mailing, or even texting them for an update does the opposite of what you want – it annoys them. It shows you lack common sense. If they had an update - they would obviously call you. Be patient, ask for an update once and ask that they let you know either way. That is all you can do. Good luck out there.