Ten Interview Tips to Land the Best Job
As the Director of Employment at Southwest Airlines, my job was to hire the best. Every year, 2500 applicants out of 100,000 became our 'warrior spirited' employees. Southwest, like other top employers, is a coveted place to work and recognized as a Happy Workplace by Forbes and Fortune Magazine.
This is the second in my blog series about how to get hired by a top employer. Our previous blog, “Nine Tips to Find and Land the Best Job” is about how to get noticed. Now you’ve received an invitation to interview in person. You’ve just beaten out the competition. Here are ten tips to give you the best interview possible and land that job at a Happy Workplace.
1) Look in the Mirror: Start with this question - “Why me? Wh
at skills and attitudes can I bringto the table?” Remember, you’ve been competing against thousands of applicants and you have actually received the golden ticket. Start by honestly assessing yourself. Most of your remaining competitors, like you, will be looking at their skills, but just as important is your attitude. Top employers know that attitude is as important as skills. Here are some common attitudes top employers look for:
- Are you a team player? Have some examples of when you helped a fellow co-worker.
- Are you motivated? Think about times you took initiative when no one asked.
- Are you a good problem solver? Give an example
2) Be Prepared: Start by preparing long before the interview. Do your homework. Candidates who come in knowing about the company’s culture, mission, vision, values and history will impress. Here’s a good blog from Glassdoor to give guidance: https://www.glassdoor.com/employers/blog/a-checklist-for-doing-better-interview-prep/
If you don’t have a lot of time to prepare, here’s some good advice from Monster.com: https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/what-if-your-interview-is-tomorrow.
3) Practice: Review and practice common interview questions. Begin with the most important: Tell me about Yourself. One of the most informative blogs on how to do this is by expert Pamela Skillings, co-founder of Big Interview. https://biginterview.com/blog/2011/09/tell-me-about-yourself.html.
4) 
Appearance Tips. Recently I had a friend who was interviewing for an internship at a top employer. Through a text, he showed me his outfit and asked my opinion. I told him he was dressed for success. It showed he respected the company enough to take the time to look good. Remember that it’s always better to be overdressed. Keep accessories and jewelry to a minimum, try not to smoke or eat right before the interview and if possible, brush your teeth or use mouthwash. Don’t offend your interviewer with your “coffee breath”. Here are some great tips from the Balance: https://www.thebalance.com/tips-for-dressing-for-success-2061336
Turn off your cell phone and get rid of your gum. As an interviewer I was always amazed at individuals who actually took calls or checked their emails during interviews, and chewing gum does not look professional. Studies tell us that interviewers make decisions within 20 minutes of meeting a candidate. From my experience I agree with that statement.
5) Arrive on Time: There is rarely an excuse for being late. Know where you are going, practice driving there ahead of time. Arriving early allows you to observe the employees as well as take in the environment and the culture.
6) Don’t fill in the “Uncomfortable” Silence: Professional interviewers will try to get you to ramble, that’s when the applicant says things that reveals who they are; often in a not-so positive manner. Don’t fall into that trap. Once the question is asked, answer it like you prepared and no more
If it’s a question you hadn’t anticipated, tell the interviewer that you would like a moment to think about it. Only respond when you are 
comfortable with your answer. Then, if there is silence ask, “Did I answer the question?” Be succinct and to the point, then stop.
Once the interview starts, the key to success is the quality and delivery of your responses. Your goal should always be to come across as authentic and to respond truthfully. At the same time, you want to get to the next step, so provide focused responses that showcase your skills, experience, attitude and how you will fit in with both the job and the company. Provide solid examples of solutions and accomplishments and keep your responses short and to the point.
Finally, no matter how much an interviewer might bait you, never badmouth a previous employer, boss, or co-worker. Read more about interview mistakes in JobDig’s article, on Interview Bloopers : http://www.jobdig.com/articles/2075/Avoid_These_10_Interview_Bloopers.html
7) The Importance of Body Language: You want to portray confidence and professionalism in your interview. I call it “presence”. Video yourself through zoomus.com or with your smart phone and watch your body language. Practice good eye contact (no looking off in the distance), smiles, solid posture (no slouching), active listening and nodding. Here is a good article from Livecareer with more tips on body language: https://www.livecareer.com/quintessential/interviewing-unspoken-secrets
8) Ask Insightful Questions: Studies show that employers make a judgment about an applicant’s interest in the job by whether or not the interviewee asks questions. You must ask questions. This shows you have done your research and you are curious. A smart jobseeker prepares questions to ask during the interview. Here’s two good articles: Questions You Can Ask at the Job Interview, and Make a Lasting Impression at Job Interviews Using Questions.
9) Sell Yourself, then Close the Deal: The most qualified applicant is not always the one who is hired, rather the one who interviewed the best. Some liken the job interview to a sales call. You are the salesperson and the product you are selling is your ability to fill the organization’s needs, solve its problems, and add to its success. Don’t forget to close the deal by asking about the next steps in the process and the timetable in which the employer expects make a decision. See the article, Closing the Sale and Overcoming Objections in Job Interview.
10) Thank Interviewer(s) in Person, by Email, or Postal Mail: Common courtesy and 
politeness go far in interviewing. Start the process by thanking anyone you came in contact with during the interview.
Writing thank-you emails and notes shortly after the interview will give you an edge over any of the other finalists. For more tips on writing thank-you notes, read this article: 10 Tips for Writing a Job-Search Interview Thank-You Letter.
Succeeding in job interviews takes research, practice, and persistence. The more effort you put into your interview preparation, the more success you’ll see in obtaining job offers especially if you remember and follow these ten job interviewing tips.
As a seasoned interviewer for a top employer, I’ve sat through thousands of interviews with applicants who all have the same mission; get hired. The winner is the one who has done their homework. Be that person.
Lorraine Grubbs is an author, leadership development consultant and team building expert.