Prepare and don’t stress the dream job interview

QUESTION: I have an interview next week with “Company B.” (I’ve worked at “Company A” for over five years and it’s time to move on.) The job they are looking to fill sounds like a perfect match so I’d really appreciate your refreshing my memory about how to ace the interview.

Gillespie: From that smile on your face when you introduce yourself to what you are wearing (Hint: you want to look business professional), making a good first impression is key. How do you do that?

By, for example, not waiting until the last minute to select the clothes and accessories you are going to wear. If your shoes have seen better days, you have time to buy new ones. If you need a haircut, you will be able to visit your Hairdresser.

In addition, you will be able to make plenty of copies of your résumé, your references, and any letters of referral. Note: Do keep at least one of each for you to refer to at your interview.

You should also spend time becoming knowledgeable about “Company B.” This will work to your advantage when you are being interviewed because it shows that you have done your research about the company and that you are confident (just don’t be a braggart) you are going to be a good fit.

So, if you are not familiar with where “Company B” is located, make a couple of trial runs in advance (at different times of the day). It is also smart to give yourself plenty of time to get there the day of your interview, especially if you will be driving during “rush hour.”

That said, remember when you were in college and you would be up all night studying for a big exam?

Well, being prepared for an interview requires just the opposite. When you get home from work, if you haven’t done so already, you need to set-aside what you are going to wear, documents you will need to bring, etc. (Put everything in one place so you aren’t searching for, say, your shoes or your car keys in the morning.)

Once that is done, it is time to relax and enjoy the evening. Just don’t stay up late (Hint: if you have a hard time going to sleep, reading a boring book can work like a charm.)

You may submit job and career questions for Judy to judy@careeravenuesbyjudy.com