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The official job interview definition:
a meeting in which an employer asks the person applying for a job questions to see whether they would be the right person to do that job.
So what does that mean? It means your application resume/cover letter and/or application were good enough to be noticed by the hiring manager and you have moved to the pool of candidates who will be considered for the job.
You will not know how many candidates were chosen. Some job search apps let you know how many people applied, but you will not be able to tell how many people are going to be interviewed.
Depending on the job, there could be a dozen or so who will have a screening interview (usually by phone) as the first step. Or maybe you’re one of just a select few being considered.
It doesn’t really matter, because your preparation should be the same regardless.
For assistance with your job search, download my FREE Job Search Readiness Checklist here.
This is the time to pay attention to details
When you are contacted to schedule the interview, whether it be by phone, Zoom/Teams or in person, you want to listen or read carefully and follow the instructions.
Whether contacted by phone or email to schedule, you will be asked either to negotiate a date/time for the interview or if you can be available for a specific date. Either way, be sure to be flexible.
If you are asked about a specific date/time, do all you can to make yourself available then. Don’t launch into a litany of the other things you have to do that day. Figure out quickly if you can move things around and be available.
If you absolutely can’t:
- because you have an appointment with a specialist that you scheduled six months ago at that exact time
- you’ll be in the air at that exact time (if you’re on vacation you can still do a phone or virtual interview from wherever you are)
- you’re taking a final exam at exactly that time
then apologize and set a different date or time not too far out.
I have had candidates who are not currently working suggest interview dates two weeks in the future. It makes me wonder how much they want to work. You don’t want to give the interviewer the impression that you’re not really interested before you even get to the interview.
Be sure to immediately put the interview into your calendar.
If it’s a phone interview
Have your phone out and ready at the time of the interview. Don’t leave it in the kitchen while you run to the bathroom. This seems obvious, but I’ve seen it happen more than once.
Do not be out doing errands at the time of the phone interview. Even though the interviewer can’t see you, it is very obvious if you are doing something other than paying attention. You can’t be in your car waiting at a drive-thru window because you are going to have to place your order, which is not something you should be doing during a job interview.
You don’t want to be someplace noisy, like in a store, or on the street. Plan to have the phone interview in a quiet place free of distractions.
If it’s a virtual interview on Zoom or Teams:
Practice before the interview. When you get the link, click on it. It should say something like “this is meeting is schedule for [date and time]. That’s good; it means you will be able to get into the interview when it’s time.
On the day of, click the link a few minutes before the scheduled start time. That way you will be there and ready when the interviewer opens the meeting.
Dress business casual. That means shirt with a collar as opposed to a t-shirt or tank top.
Pay attention to what is behind you on camera. Most places in your home will be fine, but you don’t want to have anything with political slogans or anything that anyone could consider offensive (even if you don’t).
A first interview is not the time to introduce your pet. Keep the door closed or whatever you have to do to keep the interview from being interrupted by your furry friend. Once you have the job, if you’re working remotely, your cat or dog can join you. Mine enjoys a good Zoom meeting and believes herself to be more interesting than the actual topic, which is usually true.
If it’s an in-person interview
Write down any instructions (which door to use, the building number, who to ask for, etc.) and use this information.
Arrive ten minutes early and go in. If you are earlier than that, sit in the car or go for a walk until ten minutes before the interview. Don’t make it the interviewer’s responsibility to find you someplace to wait.
During the interview
This is the preliminary meeting during which the interviewer is deciding whether you are a viable candidate and you are deciding if you are interested in this position or this company.
You will want to have done some homework beforehand. Never come into an interview asking what the company does. It is good to ask specific questions that come from the research you already did.
Listen to the questions and answer them thoughtfully. Be honest, while showing yourself in the best light. If this is your first job, no one expects you to have a lot of work experience. It’s your first job. But you also have to know why you applied and what you can bring to the table.
If you applied because you just want a job, any job, you might want to keep that to yourself.
If the job is in a field that you studied in school, then you can talk about having always been interested in the field and how you can’t wait to get started.
If the job is in childcare, talk about all the babysitting you did while you were in high school and how you loved it. Only say this if it’s true, of course, but if you’re applying for a job in childcare there must be some reason that you love it and can explain.
If you are applying for a social services job, talk about how you’re always the person that your friends go to for help, how your family always took in foster kids, or how you always thought social services was the field for you, but you want to try it out before going back to school. Do not say anything that isn’t true. If you’re applying for a job in the social services field, then something like that has to be true.
If you really don’t know what you want to do and are therefore applying for a retail, customer service or restaurant position, that’s fine. Say that you’re not sure yet, but want to learn and you believe that particular company, restaurant, etc., would be a good fit because of something you discovered during your research (it has so many chains across the country, it is known for being a good neighbor, they are committed to promoting from within the company, or whatever it might be).
The important thing is to make it evident that you have given this some thought.
When it’s your turn to ask questions
Do not ask about vacation and sick time in a first interview.
Do not ask how to request time off.
Do not ask if there is an annual raise.
These are important, but your goal during this first interview is to make it clear that you are interested in the job (if you are) and that you would be a valuable asset.
The rest comes later. For more on interviewing, read these posts.
If you’re having trouble getting interviews or need assistance with your job search, download my FREE Job Search Readiness Checklist.
