"Interview Survival Secrets from the Mock Interview Squad," originally published in the January-February 2005 issue of Between the Lines, is reprinted here in three parts. It’s good information, well worth repeating. This is Part One.

by Karen O’Keefe, Rebecca Forrest, and Jean Fudge

In an interview, you want to find out about the position and the environment, give job-related information about yourself, and leave a good impression, all while being relaxed. That’s a tall order for anyone, so we hope our advice and anecdotes will help you survive—or even thrive—in an interview.

Preparation Is Key

1. Flex. Allow plenty of time for the interview—like two hours more than you think you could possibly need.

   Forrest: Be ready for any extra interviews, tours, or testing the employer wants you to have. Expect skill or behavior tests. Don’t say, as one applicant did, that you consider testing an invasion of your privacy. And don’t give the impression that you can’t wait to leave. Avoid explanations about having to pick up your kids, dry cleaning, dog, car from the impound lot, or spouse whose driver’s license was revoked because of another DUI.

2. Look the part. A clean, well-pressed suit is best. Even if you know the company is business casual, it’s a good idea to wear standard business attire. Keep in mind that many managers frown on anything less than a suit. Make sure your hair is neat, your shoes are polished, and you practice excellent personal hygiene. Bring a few tissues—just in case. Use cologne or perfume sparingly. Scents smell different to each person, and many people have allergies. There’s nothing to be gained by asphyxiating the interviewer. One more point: Travel light. Leave your purse or briefcase in the car and put your car key in your portfolio or pocket. It’s much easier to navigate without baggage. If possible, leave your coat in the car, too.
    
3. Be on time or early. If you’re unsure of the location, take a practice trip. Remember that the impression you make starts in the lobby. Interact professionally with everyone you meet.

   O’Keefe: I once got stuck behind an accident and arrived two hours late for an interview. I called from my car to explain, but I was totally flustered when I finally did arrive. Situations like that can happen, but make them the exception and not the rule.

   Forrest: Don’t ask for special favors, like using the phone or borrowing a dollar for the soda machine. Don’t ask the receptionist to give you “the scoop on this guy/gal.”

   Fudge: Get clear on the spelling of your destination and the directions. Once, an interviewee called to say that he missed the interview because he got hopelessly lost. Instead of going east on I-275, he went west. Instead of exiting in Milford (Oh.), he exited in Guilford (Ind.).

4. Be prepared. The Boy Scout motto involves doing your homework, including researching the company as well as being able to answer a variety of questions. With the Internet, you should find plenty of information. Go beyond the company itself in your research. If the ad mentions a special skill, research that as well.  
5. Prepare for common questions. Many people stumble on questions that should be easy. When prompted to “Tell me about yourself,” answer in terms that apply to the job. In fact, your whole interview should have one focus: “Am I right for this position, and is it right for me?” Many people have trouble talking about weaknesses. Instead of using the worn-out “perfectionist” answer, give a genuine weakness and tell what corrective steps you’ve taken. Be careful what you identify as a weakness, however. Don’t admit to something as damning as laziness, absenteeism, or bad temper. An example of a good answer is to say you aren’t naturally organized, but you have overcome it by using the Outlook calendar or another tool. Lots of resources are available to help you find (and develop answers to) common questions.

   Forrest: Above all, stay job-focused. Please don’t answer, “Tell me about yourself” with what someone said to me years ago: “I guess I’d say I’m dead.” Rule of thumb: If your answers cause the interviewer to pinch herself black and blue to keep from laughing, you may have blown it.

6. Bring your résumé and references. Not all interviewers are as prepared as they should be.

   O’Keefe: I’ve had interviews with people who had never even seen my résumé. It’s impressive when a candidate anticipates the interviewer’s need and says “No problem—I brought extra copies.”

   Forrest: If your résumé says “references on request,” assume the interviewer is requesting. Bring several printouts of your references with everything—addresses, emails, work and cell phones, and even home phones if you can. If your references could be hard to reach at their offices, find a way for the interviewer to contact them. But before listing people as references, clear it with them first and find out what they’ll say. Format the reference page to match your résumé and print it on the same paper.

7. Be prepared to take notes. If you bring a planner or notepad, it shows that you’re organized. If you’re nervous, notes help you stay grounded. For example, when asked for “three things,” write down a “3.” Or if you think of topics you want to address, jot down key words. And remember that interviewing is a two-way street, so you should be interviewing the interviewer. Take notes about salient issues that will help you make a decision. Overall, note-taking shows a skill that writers should have, and it helps you stay on track—more about that later.

   O’Keefe: Once, an interviewee asked me for paper and a pen when he wanted to write something down. Not good.

   Forrest: One person I interviewed wrote derogatory comments on his tablet. Watch what you write and what you doodle—some people can read upside-down!

8. Bring a portfolio. Make sure it’s neat, organized, and labeled. Also make sure you know what’s in it. If you didn’t produce it, don’t include it. If the interviewer doesn’t ask to see your samples, offer them. When confidentiality is an issue, you may be able to show samples but not leave them. Or, in more extreme cases, you may have to blacken out or disguise things like product or company names (you can substitute “ABC product” or “XYZ Company”). If you have a lot of samples, use tabs to arrange them in categories. This allows you to quickly find what you need.

   O’Keefe: Once I interviewed a woman who was intimately familiar with her writing samples; she proved it by going right to certain pages and talking through them. I am underwhelmed by people saying, “I don’t know—it was a long time ago.” Expect people to ask questions about your samples.

9. Start positive. Go in with your chin up and your mind open. It’s easy to psych yourself out ahead of time, saying, “I don’t have a snowball’s chance.” You don’t know the situation. Maybe there’s a shortage of folks with your talent, maybe you’re the only applicant who can write a coherent cover letter, or maybe you’re the only one in their price range. Consider the odds: The best is just as likely to happen as the worst. Also, don’t be paralyzed by the illusion of perfection. The whole interview process can be a perfectionism trip. If you make a mistake, recover as best you can. Don’t beat yourself up. Perfection is impossible; perfectionism is a useless torment.