I am addressing now to the candidates for a position in a company, potential future employees.
I consider important never close the door on an opportunity until you are sure about it.
The next DOs and DON’Ts are some common sense suggestions I have gathered during my experience in HR.
DO’s
- Be sure you know exactly where the office is and how long it takes to get there.
- Dress appropriate: first, your personal grooming and cleanliness should be impeccable, second, dress for the role
- Be prepared: remember the interviewer’s name, make some research about the company.
- An interview is a two-way street. It’s your opportunity to discover if it’s the right company for you.
- Be honest and be yourself.
- Be confident and respectful!
- Keep to the point. Ask for clarification if you don’t understand a question.
- It helps you to avoid assumption.
- Highlight your strengths in a factual manner. Take advantage of the opportunity to add anything else in your favor if asked.
- Be interested in the job! Always indicate your interest in the job for which you’ve being interviewed.
- Do show what you can do for the company rather than what the company can do for you.
DON’Ts
- Don’t be late. Being late shows disrespect and sets a bad precedent.
- Don’t wear heavy perfume or cologne. The interviewer may not share your tastes.
- Don’t treat the interview casually, as if you are just shopping around or doing the interview for practice. This is an insult to the interviewer and to the organization.
- Don’t make excuses. Take responsibility for your decisions and your actions.
- Don’t lie. Answer questions truthfully, frankly and as close ‘to the point’ as possible.
- Don’t sweat, chewing gum, answer the phone during the interview, don’t be overly familiar.
- Don’t respond in a general, vague, or hesitant manner.
- Don’t interrupt the interviewer. If you don’t listen, the interviewer won’t either.
- Don’t offer any negative information about yourself.
- Don’t emphasize money. Your main interest should be the job itself
- Don’t express resentment. Avoid derogatory remarks about present or former employers.
