Prepare to Own the Interview - Part Two
Dress for Interview Success
No matter if the interview is in person or via Zoom, I always recommend dressing for the position above the one you are applying for, and when appropriate, wear a suit. Remember how you felt when you were in your dress uniform? Yes, it was a pain to have to get that uniform out, make sure it was pressed, attach your medals and ribbons, etc. However, once it was on, you had that sense of pride and a higher level of confidence that is why they say dress for success! Remember, you only get one opportunity to make a “first impression”, so make it count!
Ready – Set - Go
If you are interviewing in person on-site, then you should show up no more than 15 minutes before the interview and treat everyone you interact with as a potential interviewer. If you meet with a receptionist, treat them with the utmost respect, as they are the gatekeeper, and if treated wrong, could influence the hiring decision. If the interview is via Zoom, then test your connection, and login 5 minutes early for the meeting.
Difficult Question
You should be ready to answer one of the most uncomfortable questions, which is to tell the interviewer what your greatest weakness is. Do not be intimidated by this question. Instead, use it to highlight one of your other skills. When I am asked this question, I say something like, “Well, I am not very artistic, so when I am preparing presentations and they need an artistic look, I partner with others on my team that are very skilled in that area.” Answering this way, I have stated my weakness and highlighted my ability to overcome that or any other weakness.
Show Your Interest
Finally, never leave an interview without asking a couple of questions. This demonstrates that you are serious about the position. One of my favorite questions to ask, is “What specifically are you looking for to fill this position?” I use this question because it allows me to see if I talked enough about my skills as it relates to what they are looking for. It also helps me to formulate my thank you email or thank you note that I will send once the interview is over. Caution, do not ask about salary or benefits which is typically addressed by the Human Resource or Recruiter, not the hiring manager.
Say Thank You
Send a thank-you note. If you are interviewing in person, then write the thank you note immediately after the interview and send it from the closest post office to the company location, this will result in the note-getting to the recipient in the next day or two. If the interview is zoom, then send a note via email thanking them for their time and consideration and send a note via regular mail. This demonstrates a desire to work for the organization and may put you over the top.
Still Serving Veterans is here to help. We have a workshop specifically on interviewing and in this workshop, we go even deeper into the preparation, the interview itself, and the things to do and not to do on an interview.
Advice offered by Jim King, U.S. Navy (retired), Chief Programs Officer, 256.771.7035, jking@ssv.org
Veteran-to-Veteran assistance - no cost, candid & caring!
