How to Present Yourself in an Interview

Inteviewing is an acquired skill. You can learn how to anticipate and prepare for certain questions, and you can learn how to present yourself in the best way possible.

But as with any other skill, the more you practice and the more completely you prepare for each interview, the better you will perform and the more comfortable you will be.

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." -unknown

When going on an interview, you want to present yourself to your best advantage. This is your chance to let the people interviewing you learn about your skills, knowledge, and strengths as you put your best foot forward. How do you do this?

First Impressions

Appearance counts, and is the basis for forming first impressions of a person. A neat, well-groomed appearance in an appropriate clothing comes across much better than casual clothes, or inappropriate makeup and jewelry
Friendly, open people are also perceived more positively. When first meeting the employer, greet them with a firm handshake, a smile, and look them in the eyes. Listen attentively and don't interrupt.

Be On Time

Being late does not impress interviewers, and creates the impression that you would arrive late to work. So try to get to the interview on time, or even a few minutes early. This will give you a chance to do a last minute check on your appearance in the restroom, and to fill out any paperwork.
How you fill out your application paperwork will also reflect on you. Take your time, and make sure that it is filled in neatly, with correct spelling. You can write "negotiable" under the salary box, since you will want an opportunity to discuss this with the manager you are interviewing with.

Do Your Homework

One thing that will positively impress not only the interviewer, but also managers who may interview you, is knowledge about their company. Take the time to research the company, and be familiar with terms used in the area that you are interviewing for. Being familiar with the company products, the services that they offer, and who their major competitors are will show that you have a real interest in the company.
Sources of information can include friends who work in the industry, a company's annual report, web sites, articles, trade journals, or visiting professional meetings. This will also allow you to begin networking with people who can answer your questions and who may have helpful advice.
Bring several copies of your resume (2 or 3) in a folder or portfolio since you may meet with several people during the interview. A cover sheet with personal references should accompany it. The resumes should be on the best quality paper that you can afford, and be professionally printed. Remember, they reflect on you, and the interviewers will be looking at them later, so they should leave an impression of professionalism.

Do your homework BEFORE the interview. This will make sure that you can:
Answer Their Questions Well

During an interview, you will present yourself well if you answer the questions completely and concisely (nodding or grunting "yes" and "no" to questions, or rambling for a half hour when asked about your experience are both equally bad). Instead, well thought-out answers that demonstrate your skill and strengths as they relate to the position you are interviewing for will come across much more favorably.
Be as positive as possible during the interview. Do NOT speak negatively of a former employer, even if they are the worst possible, since this will be considered a problem area with you, or a bad attitude.

Use concrete examples of problem-solving and strengths when answering questions (see article on "Know Your Strengths" for more information). Highlight these strengths in the interview.

The interviewers will be asking specific questions about your abilities, knowledge, and skills. Try to answer each question, sharing your strengths that would be useful for the position being considered. If you are unsure of the answer let the recruiter or employer know how you would go about finding the answer (this could demonstrate your problem solving skills).

Be honest, and NEVER lie or try to avoid answering. Do NOT say, "You can find that on my resume" since they are interested in YOU and how you interact with others, and your personal knowledge base. They can read the resume later. But do make sure that all information on your resume is correct, since the company will check on references, dates and job information.