Nail an Interview and Land a Job After Graduation

You did it! You graduated! You stayed up many late nights, slaving and cramming for your exams. You spent hours languishing over literary works in the library. And, you invested invaluable effort in understanding inertia and ions. It’s a huge accomplishment and you should enjoy your success. However, there are new opportunities knocking on your degree-decorated door. As tough as the current job market is and as challenging as the economy is, jobs are available. You may have the focus to search for a job or internship, but are you equipped with the communication skills to make the most of each interview? Are you the master of the skills required to land the job?

While you may have gained communication skills interacting in team sports or academic clubs, or at sorority and fraternity parties, entering the professional world requires a certain colloquial ability. If you want the job, you have to talk the talk. And, that doesn’t just mean answering some rehearsed interview questions; it means interacting with potential decision makers, building rapport, and following up on the relationship.

According to a new study from the Economic Policy Institute, the young adult labor force fell almost 6.5% in the past three years. Meaning, competition in the job market is more aggressive than ever. So, possessing more than just the requested requirements is imperative. What makes you more likely to be hired than another candidate with comparable qualifications? It’s how you communicate and how conversationally comfortable you are and you make the interviewer(s). So, here are some conversation tips and rapport building techniques to get you to talk the job talk. [[Category: Student Job Search]

Steps

  1. Meet, greet and take a seat. That is, shake with a firm hand, introduce yourself confidently and sit down prepared to impress. Obviously your name should be known, but that does not prevent you from offering the gift of your name regardless: "Debra Fine, thank you for the opportunity to interview with you." Don’t forget to listen to how the interviewer introduces himself. Is he Jon or Jonathan or Mr. Wright? If it’s the latter, say, “Hello Mr. Wright, I’m Debra Fine and it’s nice to meet you.”
  2. Get physical. Making eye contact in an interview is one of the most important moves you can make. It says, “I’m confident and capable.” Use your convincing smile to show that you’re personable and friendly. With this physical activity you’ll have a winning formula for positive non-verbal communication.
  3. Listen loudly. In an interview, it’s important to listen to how the interviewer describes the job and listen to the questions being asked. Let the interviewer know you are actively listening by offering verbal cues such as: "That is interesting," or "Tell me more..."
  4. Speak sensibly and bookend with small talk. Begin and end your interview with small talk. Approach interviews prepared to talk about the industry, current events, the weekend and even the weather to prevent awkward moments or appearing distant. Don’t just answer inquisitions, elaborate on interview questions to show that you’re mature enough to have an adult conversation. If you get an opportunity, try to make a more personal bond. If an interviewer asks you where you grew up, say, “I’m originally from Dallas, Texas. What about you?” Or, if you’re asked about how your weekend was, reply with more than the cursory “good.” Make conversation and say, “I had a great weekend; I went to the new Impressionist exhibit at the museum. Have you had an opportunity to view it yet?” If you can draw a connection with this individual, and he/she with you, it will make your interview a bigger success.
  5. Don’t rely on digital dialogue skills. You may be extremely advanced at texting on your phone or networking on LinkedIn, but it’s critical that you aren’t just a technical device talker. Before an interview, practice calling your friends instead of texting them or meet in person for a more intimate conversation. Be particularly aware of your body language and tone since this is a 3-D interaction. For example, it’s easy to casually slouch when typing or texting, but when you’re engaging in a face-to-face conversation, you should sit straight up and in a professional position. And, instead of using slang or pop culture abbreviations as you would with your digital dialogue, use your most sophisticated vernacular.
  6. Interview the interviewer. Show the interviewer that you are groomed for sophisticated conversations by asking intelligent and thought provoking questions at the end of your interview. Use this time to ask how the decision maker originally got into marketing or what the interviewer’s career path has been.
  7. Snail mail a thank you. Before leaving an interview, get the interviewer’s business card. This will ensure you have the proper spelling of the individual’s name and also address. If there are multiple interviewers, be sure to collect all their cards. You’ll want to send a proper thank you note through the mail, not email, because your communication shouldn’t end when you leave the interview, and a personal note delivers a lasting positive impression.



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References

  • Shared with permission from EPI.Org
  • Author and keynote speaker Debra Fine began her career as an engineer, not a field that chit-chatters usually pursue. In fact, most engineers are more comfortable with computers than people. When Fine did attend social functions, she often lurked in corners, avoiding conversation at all costs. Debra designs her presentations and books (Hyperion) for people who feel the way she used to. She teaches conversation skills and networking techniques that help in developing business and social relationships. Debra’s newly released (2008) The Fine Art of the Big Talk: How to Win Clients, Deliver Great Presentations, and Solve Conflicts at Work (Hyperion) is her second in the “Fine Art” series following her best selling book The Fine Art of Small Talk: How to Start a Conversation, Keep It Going, Build Networking Skills—and Leave a Positive Impression (Hyperion).
  • Debra is 14+ year member of the National Speakers Association and has presented her programs to over a thousand groups around the world for clients that include General Electric, Lockheed Martin, Cisco Systems, Alaska Forum on the Environment, American Bar Association, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, Credit Suisse First Boston and New York University Stern Graduate School of Business. She currently maintains a speaking schedule of an average of 90 to 100 presentations per year.
  • Additional information about Debra and her work can be viewed at www.DebraFine.com.
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