On-site Interviews 

Some people view the on-site interview with fear and trepidation.  They are afraid of rejection and can get sweaty palms and get nervous just thinking about it.  This is unfortunate because for you to have gone this far in the process, the company is essentially saying they like you and believe you may have the skills for the job.  It is a much better idea to view the on-site interviews as a chance to separate yourself from the competition by highlighting your strengths.  To help you in this aim, we have included some job interview tips to help tip the scales in your favor:

1.       Dress the part.   Get a good conservative suit or outfit for the meeting.

2.       Get physically fit.    If you overweight, it is a good idea to try to lose a few pounds during the interview process.   It will make you feel better by giving you more energy throughout the interview process, but it will also make it less likely that you are rejected based on such a cosmetic reason.   Since the interview process is likely to take a few months, you can reasonably expect to lose 10-15 pounds with a slight increase in your workout plans.   This can also be turned into a strength during the interviews when they are asking about what hobbies or things you have been doing.

3.       This interview is your sales presentation.   Think of this interview as a sales presentation in which you are trying to convince the interviewers to buy your product (you).   To further this goal, do not be afraid to take advantage of the interview to state your biggest strengths or minimize any concerns you think they may have in your candidacy.

a.        Your goal is to have the interviewer think you can do the job and to think you would be a good fit for their team.

4.       Be Prepared.   Have your answers ready for all the types of questions.   At this point, you should have your answers practically memorized.

5.       Bring copies of all your documents for the interviewers.   This should include additional school transcripts, resumes, writing samples, references, list of accomplishments and anything else that you can think of. 

6.       Get a good night’s sleep.   You want to be alert and full of vitality during your interview.   A good night’s sleep gives you great start. 

7.       Smile and try to enjoy the meeting as much as possible.   Recognize that this will be one of many interviews and to not take anything too personally. 

8.      Provide them with a takeaway.   Give them a list of your accomplishments in a bulleted list showing how you have met all their job skills.   This allows you to take the initiative and give the interviewers something else to consider.    Since the interviews are controlled by the interviewer, this will give you an opportunity to bring up some of your strengths and accomplishments that were not brought up in the interview.

9.       Get the contact information for thank you letters.   As with all other interviews, ask for their contact information and when you will hear from them regarding the next round in the interview process.

10.  Tell them you want the job.   Make sure there are no doubts.   Everything you do in the interview should be geared towards making this point known.

By putting your best foot forward in using these job interview tips, you increase your chances of making it to the final interview.   As with the other interviews, once you complete one you must immediately shift your focus to the next one.

*To get information on how to master technical efficiency tests, take a look at technical efficiency tests.