5 Tips for a Great In-Person Interview

You make it through the phone interview and now it’s time for your in-person interview.  In-person interviews can be intimating, but these 5 tips will help you ace the interview and get the job offer.

1. Do Your Research

Doing your research on a potential employer before an interview is going to make the whole process easier.  First, visit the prospective company’s website.  You should review their mission statement, “about us” page, and solutions pages.  This will help you to understand their business, how they do business and their long term goals as an organization.  Second, make sure you research your interview to learn more about his/her background.  You may have thing in common in your background that will help you connect during the interview.

2. Get Ready

Always look your best when going to an in person interview.  Every company has a different culture and dress attire.  Feel free to ask prior to your interview.  Don’t wear a lot of perfume or cologne—this can be distracting to the interviewer.  Also, be sure to bring a notepad and pen along with your resume and cheat sheet. Plan to arrive 15 minutes early to the interview.  Arriving early shows the interviewer your interest level in the job and your professionalism.

3. Be Confident

Body language and eye contact are very important during an interview.  Remember to be confident and relax.  The best interviews feel like a normal conversation between two people. Make sure you allow the interviewer to finish their questions before responding or answering.  Most importantly, be confident!

4. Sell Yourself

When you are answering questions during the interview, relate your experience to the open position.  This will help the interviewer understand how your past experiences will translate into the open role.  Take some time prior to the interview to identify past accomplishments and experiences that you can relate to the open role during your interview.

5. Follow Up

It is a good idea to send a “thank you” email or letter within 24 hours of your in person interview.  This note is a good opportunity to reiterate why you are a good fit for the role, add any information you may have forgotten during the interview, and to ask for the position.  The in-person interview is typically the final step the interview process.  It is an opportunity to represent your background beyond your resume and show what you bring to the table!