Breaking the Ice with the Interviewer

Interviewing can be one of the more stressful situations that a person can endure.  It doesn’t matter if you are a recent graduate or a seasoned worker of many years, interviews can be unsettling and can cause anxiety.

Once the interview is set, your mind starts racing and questions pop up:  “What if they ask me something I don’t know how to answer?  What if I say something stupid? What if my palms get all sweaty? Will they like me?”

Here are some tips to help you ace the interview:

• One major tip to keep in mind, interviewing is a two-way street!  You should be interviewing the company to see if it is a good fit for you as much as they are determining if you are a good fit for them!
  
  
• Be prepared. Do your homework on the company that you are meeting. Check the website and annual report (if available); research products or service so that you are knowledgeable before you go on the interview. never go to an interview at a company that you have not researched -- it will show!
  
  
• Find out the position of the person interviewing you: is it HR, a sales manager, a creative director, an office manager? This will help you when participating in the interview.  Prepare questions in advance and take them with you in writing. Times are changing and  many employers need to do more to encourage people to join their team, so asking questions will  help you determine is the company is a good fit for you.
  
  
• What do people enjoy talking about most? Themselves!  Include questions to probe why the person you are meeting joined the company, how long they have been there, what got them interested in the industry, etc.
  
  
• Immediately upon entering the office, take a mental sweep of the area. Does anything stand out? Are there pictures of kids, pets, and hobbies? That is a great way to start a conversation to break the unease – “Are those your dogs? What kind are they? How did you pick that breed? Or “I see lots of pictures of sailboats, do you have one?” Or “I see you have an award for Outstanding Employee of the Year, how did you achieve that honor?”  Making some small talk can offer you both a few minutes to get to know each other before getting into more serious questions. Putting someone at ease is an art and will take you far!
  
  
• Use proper body language – don’t slump or lounge in the chair; don’t be arrogant and look the person in the eye!

Keep in mind, the person you have an interview with could be new to their job and be just as nervous as you!