Can I Wear My Nose Ring to the Interview?: A Crash Course in Finding, Landing, and Keeping Your First Real Job (27 page)

If you run into someone you know, be polite but brief—this is not the time for chatting.

Don’t offer to pay; if the interviewer proposed a lunch interview and suggested the place, he is taking you out. What would normally be a polite offer will in this context just create an awkward moment.

On occasion, you may be invited for a meal or drink so the employer and your prospective colleagues can “get to know you better.” But in fact there is no such thing as a purely social encounter when you’re applying for a job. Dress and behave appropriately. If no “interview” questions are forthcoming, don’t try to force the situation—go with the flow, without letting your guard down.

A
GROUP INTERVIEW MAY MEAN YOU AND SEVERAL INTERVIEWERS
, or one interviewer and several candidates, or several interviewers and several candidates. In a situation involving more than one candidate, you may be asked to participate in group activities, particularly if the job will involve working in teams. You will be under the microscope, so be prepared.

If you are one of several interviewees, you’ll want to draw attention to yourself, but you don’t want to look domineering or egocentric. Invite participation from others. “Katie, what do you think about that?” Link
to what others have said and give them credit for it. “Well, I think Rob makes an interesting point. What I would add is …” Do not be the person always answering the question or taking control of the conversation. Acknowledge the other candidates.

If you are alone with many interviewers, try not to be intimidated. Granted, it can be difficult. Try to think of it as having five perspectives on the job—if you end up getting it, you’ll already have met five people! Shake each person’s hand when you enter the room. If people are entering a room you’re already in, stand and shake their hands.

During the interview, vary your focus so that you spend time making eye contact with everyone. When someone asks a question, focus on that person as you begin to respond, then scan the group. As others speak, turn your attention to them. Don’t zone out on a spot on the wall. And don’t make the mistake of focusing only on the person with the most power; the others are clearly there because they have a say in the decision, too. At the end of the interview, try to get a card from each person in the room.

After the interview, send a thank-you note to each person who interviewed you—and of course to anyone who provided leads or links. (See pages 163–166 for more on proper thank-yous.)

In a group interview, don’t make the mistake of focusing on only the person with the most power; the others are clearly there because they have a say in the decision, too.

Y
ES, INTERVIEWS DO TAKE PLACE
at job and career fairs. They may be brief, but they are interviews.

Career fairs are peculiar as social circumstances go, so people tend to get nervous about them. First of all, don’t blow them out of proportion. They can be useful, but they’re only one small part of your networking strategy. Some tips to help make your experience successful:

Don’t linger at one booth, repeatedly circle the room like an animal stalking its prey, or keep coming back to the same booth.

Don’t be a booth hog; if there’s a line of people waiting but you have more questions, it’s fine to ask whether the representative has time to talk at the end, or simply reach out to her for an informational interview later on.

Don’t hand out your résumé at every single booth. Remember, you don’t want to get called in for interviews that don’t interest you.

Be prepared for on-the-spot interviews, but don’t assume the representatives have time for in-depth conversations. Express your interest, offer your résumé, ask pertinent questions, and move on.

Be flexible. Depending on the company, a booth may be staffed by an HR person, a recruiter, a person looking to hire, or a peer in an entry-level position. Though you should always present your “best self,” vary your approach based on whom you’re talking to. Unlike in a regular interview, you won’t be able to find out in advance. (But you can—and should—still research the company.)

Remember: Your dream job may not be open for six months. Once you’ve gone to the effort to make contact with people you meet at job fairs, keep in touch; thank them for their time and, if you want to learn more about the company, request a one-on-one informational interview.

PREPARING FOR THE INTERVIEW