After writing about how to negotiate your salary recently, a couple of readers pointed me to another job-related tool on the web. Steinar Skipsness has created a microsite called How to Nail an Interview. Here’s how he describes it:
What is it that certain people say or do during a job interview that makes them stand out? Why do some people struggle to find work, while others land a job in no time? I wanted to know, and the only way to find out was to experience the interview from the other side of the table. If I could be the one asking the interview questions, not answering, I could see first hand what made candidates stand out. I could then take that knowledge and cater my behavior in any future interview to give myself the best chance of getting hired.
To conduct his research, Skipsness rented office space in downtown Seattle, posted a “help wanted” ad on Craigslist, and then (legally) videotaped interviews with applicants. Skipsness received hundreds of resumes and conducted 28 interviews, from which he culled the following 20 tips:
- Your resume has 10 seconds to sell.
- Be on time.
- Turn off your cell phone.
- Know the company and why you want to work there.
- Bring extra resumes.
- Bring a notepad.
- Dress conservatively.
- Clean up your online presence.
- Don’t make jokes.
- Don’t babble.
- Don’t badmouth a boss.
- Don’t flirt with the interviewer.
- Don’t play with your face or hair.
- Some things are better left unsaid.
- Have good eye contact.
- Have goals.
- Have accomplishments.
- Have passion.
- Ask questions.
- Send a thank-you note.
For each item, Skipsness provides additional information (why should you send a thank-you note?), and for many of his recommendations, he includes video from the interviews that demonstrate what not to do. Would you hire this guy?