5. Your Preparedness
"It really comes down to a candidate's preparedness for a meeting," Good says. "Interviewers can tell if you've done your homework on their company. One of the first questions they'll probably ask is for you to tell them what you know about their organization. Failing to answer this basic, common question could set the whole tone."
You should not only be ready with responses to the most common interview questions, but you should prep your own set of questions to ask concerning the job's responsibilities, the corporate culture, and about what to expect next in the hiring process.
A few other signs that you're prepared for the interview: the materials you bring. Carry hard copies of your resume, your work portfolio (if you have one), and a pen and pad for taking notes.
6. Your Enthusiasm
There's nothing wrong with letting a potential employer know how much you'd like the job. In fact, a little enthusiasm is preferable because you don't want to convey indifference. Says Sunderland: "I've found a lot of people will finish an interview and say, 'Thank you so much for your time.' What they really need to say is, 'Thank you, and I'd really love to have this job.'"
7. Your Qualifications
You can't just nail an interview with good fashion sense and social graces; you also have to prove your competency. Your resume and cover letter contained enough qualifications to secure an interview, but once you're in the room, you have expound on your accomplishments and expertise. Treat each question's response as an opportunity to prove you're the right fit for the position. "Focus on the impact you've had in your career and in your prior work history," Good says, "whether it was saving your company money, or creating an innovation."
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Melville Huie of NY 12:10PM July 02, 2012
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