You did it! You just got the call — You’ve officially scored an interview for your DREAM job (ok … it’s just a part-time job) but you got an interview! How exciting!

But wait — that means you’ll actually have to go to the interview and do well in order to get the job. Anxiety starts … sweaty palms, butterflies in your stomach, an overwhelming sense of doom takes over.

First, take a deep breath. You’ve GOT this! After all, your resume and application were impressive enough to interest the business, so you’re already ahead of the game. Here’s some tips on how to really nail your first BIG interview:

• Get to the interview on time. While your dream job may involve specialized skills and education, being ON TIME takes absolutely no special training AND it makes a fantastic impression on the interviewer (BONUS)!
• Do your homework. No, I don’t mean that you should make sure your trigonometry homework is done before you go to your interview. Research the company that you want to work for prior to the interview. Knowing some details about the company shows the interviewer that you are truly interested in their business.
• Be HIGH ENERGY without appearing too desperate. Don’t let your nerves get the best of you because you may come across as desperate to the interviewer. Relax and show your personality. This is the best way for an interviewer to see if you’ll fit in with the business!
• Never badmouth a current or former job. Never. Not ever. Even if your current job is a lesson in ‘What NOT to do’ – you can still put this in a positive way. For example, let’s say that you currently work for a supervisor who is constantly berating employees. When the interviewer asks about your current position, turn it into a positive! “I value everything this job has taught me, including the importance of valuing employees.” Even though your current supervisor doesn’t value the employees, you can honestly say that you now realize how important it is to feel valued!
• Always send a thank you note after the interview. Even if you feel that you did horrible or it isn’t a position you really want to take — send a real — hand written — thank you note. This simple act immediately displays your professionalism — plus it gives you the chance to reinforce all your positive qualities!

Interviews can be scary — whether it is your first job or your tenth — but taking a deep breath and going in with confidence will make you stand out. Who knows — you might even score the dream job of a lifetime!

- Author: Ruthann Varosi, Marketing Manager at Extra Credit Union

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