Little over a year ago, I was ready to leave my job and find a new one.  Ever awaken one day and to realize it was time to get the hell outta Dodge and find yourself a new gig or you’d have to just shoot yourself right there on the spot? That was me – ready to leave, with no place to go. I ended up  going strong after three different jobs, and since any job usually means three to eight interviews before an offer’s ever extended, I had quite the opportunity to try out different techniques and approaches until, by “Interview 16,” I was a Master.  I knew everything there was to know about how to ace a job interview.  And so, Better Guy, my job interview tips.

How do I know I was a Master? I got offers from all three companies, three of the largest IT companies on Earth. Even took one of ‘em.

The point here is that I learned a lot about how to sell yourself, how to do the proper research, how to present yourself in the best light, how to perform on the interview, and most of all, how to whoop-ass on the other guys and gals angling for your job, your career and your money.

Want to know how to beat ‘em good? Want to separate yourself from the other faceless dingdongs you’re up against? Be Better Guys reveals the secrets to the best job interview tips.

How to Prepare

Do your research thoroughly.  Absolutely, the single most important action you can do to properly prep for an interview is to comb the web for all you can find about the company.  Yes, it’s a drag, but later, you’re going to purposefully show off the research you did during the interview.  Research the company’s products, its performance, recent articles written about the firm. Do your homework on the industry competition and even about the specific interviewer, if you can. Here’s why – when I was interviewing, one interviewer asked me point-blank if I knew about a certain product and my opinion of its adoption across the market sector. Now, I didn’t know much about the product, but I knew enough beyond-base-level information to impress the interviewer to the extent that she actually said, “That’s the best answer anyone’s given all month to that question.  Well done.” And Boris drains the three!

Get your questions ready.  Questions such as what specific tasks you would be expected to perform, the make-up of the other members on the team and what performance objectives the interviewer has for his team for the upcoming year. You can even be so bold, if you feel that you are having a good vibe, as to ask the interviewer what his or her opinions and experiences have been at the company – how many years there, what position the interviewer started in, what’s encouraged that person to stay at the company. Yes, some of your questions are based on your research, but others can be asked on the fly, if you sense strong rapport.

Rehearse your answers in front of a mirror. Like you’re auditioning for Simon Cowell and Paula “Kleenex” Abdul. The way you do this is by drafting out some potential questions, asking yourself, then answering them out loud, highlighting your strong points and accomplishments. This way, when questions come at you that are somewhat different than what you rehearsed, you can still answer in a way that steers the response toward your strengths. Make sure no one else is around when you practice or they’ll think you’ve been drinking too much Absinthe.

Bring more copies of your resume than you think you’ll need. Yes, this is obvious, but here’s why - you may be introduced to people on the way in, the way out, or in the hallway. You want to have something you can put in that person’s hands.  One day I was interviewed by seven people. I had five copies of my resume. This made the other two interviews for which there was no resume really hard, because I had to essentially recite my resume from memory instead of having an informed interviewer from the start.  Oops.

Get your go-to outfit cleaned and pressed. Think in advance what you plan to wear and make sure it’s ready for game time. This is serious competition, man, make sure your uniform’s up to muster. Opt for something more conservative than trendy, unless you’re interviewing to work on VH1. Check out What to Wear When: the Job Interview for specific tips.

How to Nail The Interview

Be on time. In fact, be early. Take the extra time to calm your nerves, get your pacing together, review your notes and research, and make one last pit-stop to straighten your tie, fluff your hair, and pop a breath mint.

The Entrance.  Knock your first impression out of the park. Walk in calm and gracefully. Not overanxious or wired. Here’s a little trick that works when shaking hands – firmly grip the interviewer’s hand (man or woman) without showing off your forearm strength and look the interviewer in the eye. When you do, give a big, happy smile and don’t let go. Not yet. Hold the interviewer’s hand while you lock eyes just a split second longer than you normally would. Extend niceties, like “Thank you for seeing me” or “I’m thrilled to be here.” The interviewer’s seeing lots of candidates. You have just reset his or her clock and now the interviewer’s focused directly on you because you made it that way.  Now let go. OK, you can let go now . . .c’mon, man, drop it, will ya?

Show Off Your Good Manners. Don’t sit down until you’ve been asked to have a seat.  When you do, ask “May I offer you a copy of my resume?” The answer will be no because the interviewer will have a copy on the desk. It’s just a nice touch to make the offer.  Throughout the interview, sit up erect, keep eye contact, keep slang and colloquialisms out of the conversation. No slouching, no nail biting, no foot tapping, no gum chewing, no jangling your keys, or cutting the cheese. But you knew that.

Establish a Connection. The interviewer will see a number of men and women all competing for the same job you are. You want to stand out from the crowd beyond your accomplishments and professional presentation (figure everyone interviewing is a strong professional with impressive achievements, good teeth and shiny hair). What worked for me, at the outset, was guiding the interviewer with some small talk about sports, where we lived, our respective hometowns, even a hot movie that’s in theaters. Anything that allows you to establish a connection with that person. A side benefit of good small talk is that it puts both of you at ease and can make for smooth sailing through the interview.

Honesty is The Best Policy. Always. It is really easy these days for companies to check up on the facts you so casually tossed out during your answering session. And if the interviewer takes notes and chooses to confirm any of your “facts” and finds out you were stretching things, you’re off the list, brother. Even if you don’t have the best resume in the world, talk up what you did with enthusiasm and gusto. But don’t lie. 

How to Sell Yourself. Regardless of what type of job your applying for, the interview is your sales pitch. It’s hard to talk about yourself without seeming like a cocky blowhard.  Bring your list of achievements in past jobs and drive the conversation toward them, every time. Serve up your accomplishments around how you helped the team, helped a colleague or helped a customer.  Also be ready to defend weaknesses in your resume (like when I interviewed for sales jobs with little to no sales experience).  Talk about what you did that made money, saved money or time, increased efficiencies or customer satisfaction. Wwhen you do, use quantitative data and numbers – eg. “I was able to reduce our division’s expenses by 42% year over year by stopping employees from expensing their happy hour tabs!”

Listen C-A-R-E-F-U-L-L-Y. Answer the questions you’re asked, and if you’re not sure, ask the interviewer to rephrase the question. And when the interviewer’s talking, be conscious to not sit there across the desk saying “uh huh, yep” as a nervous reaction because you think you need to show that you’re alert and paying attention. Sit calmly, listen to the details, and don’t make a sound.

The Interview’s a Two-Way Street. You want to know if you’d be happy coming into the place day-in and day-out for years on end just as much as the interviewer wants to be sure that he or she can stand looking at your mug day-in and day-out. So don’t be afraid to ask questions. In fact, prepare a few penetrating ones about the culture, what’s expected of you, the past performance of the team, or the make-up of the other players on your team. Not asking questions can give the impression that you’re not that interested or might be a meek dishrag. It’s also a time for you to show off your research by asking a question about something you read: “I recently read a Gartner report that said your company’s new suite of products is dog doo.  So, are they really dog doo?”

How to Close The Interview

First, the Obvious.  Besides the “thank you,” the firm handshake and the winning smile, now is the time to convey your sincere interest and enthusiasm for the job. In other words, it is perfectly acceptable to say these exact words: “I want to thank you for bringing me in today. I thoroughly enjoyed the time and I would be honored to work with you and your team.” Not “I’d be honored to work at this company” but “. . .the chance to work with you.” Personalize it. Simple, direct, different from all the other candidates. That’s your goal.

The Next Step. Finish up the interview by asking“So, what are the next steps?”  Ask when a decision will be made and who would likely contact you. Your interviewer won’t be detailed, but you’ll get a good idea of what the interviewer plans to do next – interview others, forward your resume on, toss you in the wastebasket. But at least you’ll know.

Write a Follow-up Letter. Not an email. Send a handwritten thank-you note as soon as possible after your meeting (because you’ll pick up the interviewer’s business card when you exit). Your letter should express gratitude for the meeting, reinforce your interest in the job, and recap your strongest points that indicate why you’re the right man for the job.

I have seen even the meekest of guys get hired for the job because they rose to the occasion and nailed the interview. It’s all about preparation – what you want to say, how you want to say it, and how you want to be seen. This is just like dating – the first impression is the impression. The more you practice, the better you’ll get. Just be advised that too much interviewing practice means you’re not getting hired anywhere!