Minor details play major role in interview

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Everything was going fine. You and the interviewer seemed to "click." In fact, the interview even lasted longer than you expected. But after waiting anxiously for two weeks you found out you finished second. What went wrong?

If you find that you are getting close to getting the jobs you want but losing out in the last lap, you may be stumbling on some little-but important- details.

Here are some minor details that could play a major role in getting the job you want:

·        Eye contact. Employers will base a lot of conclusions about you by watching your nonverbal behavior. Fair or not, they only have a limited amount of time during which they must make some judgments about you. When you are talking to the interviewer, it's important to look them in the eye. If you have trouble with this, look them in the nose-it gives the same affect but they won't notice where you're focusing.

Scientists who study body language have found that we look at people when they are talking but we tend to look away when we are talking. But these researchers have also found that if someone looks away from us frequently, we tend to interpret this as lying or exaggerating behavior. Obviously, in an interview situation you're going to be nervous and so you will need to fight the tendency to look away.

·        Don't assume you have the job until you get the offer. Even if you hit it off with the first person you interviewed with don't be lulled into complacency. You will probably be called in for subsequent interviews with other people and they have the power to knock you out of the running. Treat the secretary and your future peers as well as you treat the hiring manager. That means asking them good questions, treating them with respect, sending individual thank you letters and graciously repeating an answer to a question you may have been asked three times.

·        Have a crisp image. According to a major survey, the major thing that turned off hiring managers in the first minute of an interview were unshined shoes for men, and limp, "fingers only" or wimpy handshakes for women. Regarding men, interviewers have mentioned to me that frayed ties and collars or hair that is swept in an exaggerated way to cover a bald spot also creates a poor image. For women, extra long fingernails and multiple earrings in one ear can turn interviewers off.

·        Try to control when you are going to be interviewed. According to a recent study by Robert Half, 55.8 percent of the time the last person interviewed gets the job. The first person interviewed is hired only 17.6 percent of the time. Don't schedule your interview for a Monday; the least amount of hires come from Monday interviews. The worst time of day to be interviewed is in the late afternoon; these interviews have led to the fewest hires.

·        Be on time. Another recent survey shows that 93 percent of the time, this will be a serious strike against you. Being much too early is also a bad move, since the interviewer will be annoyed if you arrive early and say "I'll wait"; the interviewer will feel uncomfortable if you arrive more than 15 minutes early.

·        Don't let your guard down when the interview is officially over. When you are walking down the hall chatting or eating lunch remember you are still in the interview. If you know someone who works in the company watch what you say to that person, since it is likely to be repeated to the hiring manager.

·        Watch what you eat and drink. It's wise to decline a cup of coffee during an interview so you can concentrate on what you want to say instead of fidgeting with a styrofoam cup. If you go to lunch, order after the interviewer and chose something easy to eat in the same price range. Never drink alcohol even if everyone else is.

·        Bring copies of your paperwork with you. Even if you sent in your resume, reference letters and other credentials, be prepared if your interviewer has misplaced them. You can also refer to them as you are illustrating points. Bring along the names and addresses of all former companies you worked for and former supervisors’ names; you may need it if you are asked to fill out an application. 

Do you need answers to tough job hunting questions? Are you looking for some added punch to help you stand out from the crowd? Joan Lloyd’s has developed job hunting tools that can help you to maximize your job search:

Savvy Negotiation Strategies to Get Paid What You’re Worth on a New Job (Detailed, 8-page PDF by email – no shipping charge)
Easy, Step-by-step Guide to Using the Internet to Land a Great Job (Detailed, 10-page PDF by email  – no shipping charge)
The Resume That Opens the Door and the Interview That Gets the Job (Detailed, 37-page PDF by email – no shipping charge)