In today’s tight job market, it’s more important than ever to standout from other candidates. The face-to-face interview is your opportunity to shine. Here are some basic tips to follow when invited for an interview and some things to keep in mind to help you make a good first impression. Thinking through the details will reduce your stress level and help you feel more prepared.

• First and foremost, be early!  If you are unfamiliar with the area, drive by a day early to prevent the possibility of being late because you were lost.
• Dress to impress! Your personal appearance reflects your professionalism and how seriously you are taking this job opportunity.
• Smile, shake hands, use the interviewer’s name, and make eye contact.
• Be yourself! Your goal should be to represent your true self, in the best possible light of course. Pretending to be someone you are not won’t get you very far.  

These things may seem like “no-brainers”. It is normal to be a bit nervous, so be sure not to overlook the small details.

• Be aware of your language and how you articulate your words. Using slang (such as like, ya know, and kinda) can make you sound uneducated and unprofessional.  Take care not to use the same word repeatedly – for example; don’t begin every answer with “basically” or “well”.
• Stay away from negatives especially when talking about former employers or co-workers. For example, if you had a boss who was a micromanager, you might turn that around by explaining that you prefer a position with some independence.
• Provide honest and sincere answers with supporting examples that highlight your true life experiences.  Be specific! Stay away from generalities; interviewers want to know what you did, not what you would do in a given situation. Don’t force the interviewer to continually prompt you for specific answers – offer them up.
• Show confidence in your abilities. Know your strong points and be prepared to discuss them.
• Have reasonable career goals in mind and be ready to discuss your plans to achieve them.
• Take the time to think before you speak! Interviewers understand a moment of silence is helpful to collect your thoughts on an important topic or to recall details.
• Practice interviewing with someone you respect professionally and are comfortable taking constructive criticism from.
• Research the company – know their business so that you can discuss their products and/or services.
• Prepare a few questions to ask about the company or the position, but don’t drill the interviewer.

Ask about next steps in the employment process and when you might follow up.

• Reiterate your interest in the job, and always follow up by thanking the interviewer for the meeting. A quick phone call or an email is appreciated and will be remembered.

 Success factors that employers look for are: 

1. Positive attitude toward work
2. Interpersonal skills and teamwork
3. Communication skills (verbal and written)
4. Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
5. Accountability and self-motivation
6. Leadership
7. Flexibility
8. Confidence

 Demonstrating your competence in these areas will help you rise above the competition!  

 Julie Ashurst is the Human Resources Recruiter for Arizona Central Credit Union, where she has worked since 2006. She moved to Arizona in 1983 and resides in Glendale with her family.

LinkedIn is a social network site geared toward professionals. You can effectively use connections to network and find opportunities that may not be advertised elsewhere, and even apply for jobs.

• Company Search - One of the best ways to use LinkedIn is if you have a specific company you are interested in. You search that company, and hopefully find people who are connected to other people you know.
• Job Postings - LinkedIn allows employers to post jobs, which are usually high-quality, professional jobs.
• Status Updates - Similar to Facebook, LinkedIn has status updates. This can help you better inform your connections what your current interests are.
• Headline - LinkedIn provides a place to add a professional headline. Rather than “Consultant” make your headline more attractive by saying something like “Innovative marketer with a drive for results.”

Facebook is a social network similar to MySpace that many people also use for professional networking.

• Notes - Post a “note” on Facebook, explaining your employment situation and what you are looking for.
• Status Updates – Frequently post status updates relating to your job search, such as “I had a great interview this morning… keep your fingers crossed!” or “I have a networking meeting later today with a company I’m really interested in.”

Twitter is a social networking and micro-blogging service utilizing instant messaging. Companies and job boards post job openings on Twitter, and job seekers network through Twitter to help facilitate their job search. Users post updates on Twitter that are displayed on the user’s profile page and delivered to other users who have signed up to receive them. The best part of Twitter is that it allows you to connect with people you don’t know, based on common interests.

• TwitterJobSearch.com is a search engine that scours Twitter for positions that match the keywords you enter.
• JobShouts.com is a free resource for both employers and job seekers. Employers can post their jobs for free; those jobs are then automatically “tweeted” to users on Twitter. 

Take full advantage of the tools these websites offer to enhance your job search. It may be how you land your next job!

Julie Ashurst is the Human Resources Recruiter for Arizona Central Credit Union, where she has worked since 2006. She moved to Arizona in 1983 and resides in Glendale with her family.