Well done! To land an interview is a big accomplishment. Your first reaction will probably be excited relief. Then comes the next thought: “I don’t want to blow it! How can I make sure I nail the interview?” You made a good impression with your application; now you need to follow up with a great personal impression.
You’ve got to prepare. One great strategy is to practice with a mock interview. Before the big day, ask someone in the know to help. Some people even make a video of themselves in a practice interview so they can see how they come across when they answer questions. Think about the questions your interviewer is most likely to ask. Practice your answers, but be careful to sound natural and not to sound too staged.
It’s possible that they’ll throw you a curveball and ask a question you never expected. Just stay calm and answer the best you can. Do your homework! Make sure you know about the company and the job responsibilities. Interviewers often ask why you want to work for them. Make sure you have an answer that shows you know about the company.
It’s natural to be nervous, but it’s important to look confident. You’ll feel more confident if you look professional and feel comfortable. Choose clothes that are conservative. Save the tee shirt and jeans for when you get home and need to unwind!
Finally, before you go, make sure you know exactly where the interview is. Sometimes we think we know where something is, but the exact street address can be tricky to find. You do not want to get lost or have to walk very far before your interview. Allow plenty of time to arrive early so you can relax a bit. Never be late! It’s important to make a good first impression. Trust us. An interviewer will not be impressed by someone who can’t be on time.
ALAN: Hey, guess what? I got the call.
LIA: The call? What are you talking about? What call?
ALAN: I got a call about that job I wanted! Remember? You helped me with my résumé. It’s the supervisor position, and I’ve got an interview tomorrow! Wow, if I get this, it’ll be a real feather in my cap. I’m pretty excited.
LIA: That’s awesome, Alan. And you’ve worked there for quite a while, so you’ve already got your foot in the door. Where’s the interview?
ALAN: It’s at the head office.
LIA: Oh boy. Where on earth is that?
ALAN: Oh, it’s somewhere down Industrial Road. I have the address written down somewhere. I have a pretty good idea of where the office is.
LIA: A pretty good idea? You’d better make sure you know exactly where it is. Industrial Road is pretty long, and there are a lot of cul-de-sacs. Whatever you do, you can’t be late! You have only one chance to make a good first impression, and you’ll blow it if the interviewer has to wait for you. Being late will not help you nail the job.
ALAN: Yeah, I thought of that. I think I’ll drive down to the office tonight and check it out. I’ll be more confident in the morning if I know exactly where I’m going, and how long it will take to get there.
LIA: Good plan. Don’t forget to leave extra time for traffic in the morning. Have you decided what you’re going to wear?
ALAN: I think the company is pretty casual, so I thought I might wear my new jeans. And I bought a new pair of sneakers last week. What do you think?
LIA: Aacckk! No way! If this is a supervisor job, you may need to dress a bit more upscale. Even if jeans are okay on the job, I think you should wear some other pants to the interview. I think you should even wear a suit jacket if you have one. And how about a tie? Even if it’s a casual place, you will look very professional to the interviewer.
ALAN: Okay, okay. So, I guess that means no sneakers, too. Well, the good news is that if I don’t get this job, maybe I can get a job as a fashion model.
LIA: Haha. Well then at least you won’t have to worry about clothes.
| Tip 1 |
Yes, you need to think about how to dress for an interview, but just as important is to think about what you eat before the interview. You’ll be sitting pretty close to the hiring manager, so you may want to think carefully before you have onions and garlic for lunch! Also, spinach in your teeth is not a good look for anyone. Be sure to check the mirror before you go out! |
Usage reminder: Pretty can mean beautiful, but it’s also an informal way of saying quite or rather.
For example:
Pretty excited is the same as quite excited.
Pretty casual is the same as rather casual.
Pronunciation Pointer
Practice:
- In spoken English, going to sounds like gonna. (What are you gonna wear?)
- Got to (must) sounds like gotta. (You’ve gotta prepare.)
Fun Fact!
During a job interview, an interviewer asked if the candidate would like some coffee.
The candidate said, “That sounds great! Do you mind if I eat my doughnut with that?” Um . . . he did not get the job.
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VOCABULARY
blow it: ruin your chance to do something
come across: seem to someone
confident: sure of yourself
conservative: traditional
cul-de-sac: a short street that is closed at one end
feather in one’s cap: an accomplishment to be proud of
first impression: how you seem to someone when he or she first meets you
follow-up: continue with something you started
foot in the door: first step in working toward a goal
head office: the main office of a company
in the know: an expert at something
land: get something you’ve tried for
mock: practice
nail: do something perfectly
natural: normal
on time: arrive when you’re supposed to be there, not late!
quite a while: a pretty long time
reaction: response
staged: looking too practiced or memorized
strategy: plan
suit jacket: a business-style jacket to wear with pants
unwind: relax
where on earth: a stronger way of saying where
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