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Interview Blues

Greg Dewar
The Commuter

Sunday, May 31, 2009

There’s something about a job interview, regardless of how amazing the opportunity is, or how confident in your own abilities you are that seems to reduce you to your basic building blocks. Even the stoutest of socializers can be reduced to a wallflower- hugging the punch table at the prom, wishing he had the courage to ask that girl to dance.

So it was that today I ventured down to Eugene to interview for the position of columnist with The Eugene Daily Emerald. I spent most of the day prepping: thinking of all the questions that I ask people when I interview people to work at The Commuter and how I would answer. I also thought about how my answers have evolved since I first got hired on at The Commuter as features editor back in 2007.

My hair was perfect, my clothing was freshly washed and prepped. I shined my shoes, cleaned up my truck (just in case they encountered me in the parking lot), ate a hearty meal, made sure to take a breather from prepping and to relax and enjoy the sun by doing some pushups and tanning a little, and then I was off.

It was not until I got there that I realized I hadn’t brushed my teeth after lunch, and I began to stress that my breath may not be all that fresh! I found a vending machine in the UofO’s EMU, because I’d arrived an hour early and proceeded to “mouth-wash” with a SoBe life water and pray for the best as I had no idea where to purchase mints near the EMU.

It seems like every time, no matter how “ready” I am, I forget one thing…to press my pants, to wear my tie, to shave, you name it. Always, it adds to my nervousness: my usual cool facade melts away, and I find myself wondering on the drive home “Why did I answer that that way?”.

Here are some tips to help you with your next interview that I discovered (thanks to www.careercc.com):

1. Plan Ahead: Research the company, the people that will be interviewing you, and the position you are applying for. Also be sure that your own work and life history is researched so you can back up your accomplishments with fact.

2. Role Play: Put yourself in the position of the interviewer, search online for questions often asked in interviews and imagine the type of questions you would ask. Aloud: Ask them to yourself and respond!

3. Eye Contact: Show your potential employer how much you want the job by looking them in the eye as you’re answering questions.

4. Be positive: Avoid negative comments about yourself and past employers.

5. Adapt: Listen and adapt to your potential employer’s interviewing style and your surroundings. Pay particular attention to the way your employer is dressed to tailor your presentation.

6. Relate: Try to relate your answers to the employer and the position, focus on your achievements relevant to the position.

7. Encourage: Demonstrate interest by asking the interviewer about their company . Encourage them to be forthcoming about their company.

And here are a few additional tips from me:

1. Keep your chin up: Tell yourself you’re going to do well and eliminate negative self-talk.

2. Don’t beat yourself up mid interview: If you feel you’ve answered a question in a less than desirable manner, roll with it, turn it around to a positive, or show your flexibility by accepting their advice.

3. Think of a few ideas beforehand on ways you might improve your interviewer’s company: Show them that you’re thinking about the future and you’re already bringing ideas to the table.

4. Maintain an upright posture, shake everybody’s hand that you meet, and work in a polite joke or two when you can. Don’t forget to smile!

5. Don’t beat yourself up on the way home: positive thinking, even after the interview goes a long way. Stay confident and envision them calling you to tell you that you got the job. That positive energy just might help.

6. Roll with the punches: If you didn’t get the job, don’t let it bring you down, just keep on trucking, because you are a valuable asset to any company! Learn from this experience and do better next time.

Remember these 13 things the next time you’re preparing for a job interview, and best of luck in the future!

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