Interviewing? How to Make a Killer Impression

Yesterday I spent the day down at URI conducting mock interviews for the School of Business.  For all my companies out there reading this, it is definitely worth your time to work with the local schools.  The programs they are trying to build for their upper class men will not only benefit the students, but it will also benefit employers by teaching kids early whats expected in the working world.  Enough of my PSA though.  Almost all the students I interviewed said their number one concern is preparing themselves to make a killer impression on a potential employer.  This tip sheet is for them.

5 Steps to Making a Killer Impression
(Forbes)

1. Go in with a clear intention: Before you get in front of your interviewer think of what points you would like to get across and how you would like to be perceived.  Mentally visualizing these things will help you be able to convey them when it comes time, I.E. in your interview.
2. Think about what you're wearing: Before you get dressed be aware of the message your clothes, make-up, jewelry, watches and shoes are saying about you.  Your outward appearance is the first thing an employer will see and like it or not establishes some type of a judgment about you.  Make sure your outfit is saying what you want it to.
3. Body Language:  Be aware of what you are doing and how it can be perceived. Stand up straight, angle your body towards your interviewer. The way you physically respond can say a lot.  Slouching can be taken as low confidence, sitting angled away from the interview disinterest, and the list can go on.
4. Avoid Bad Days:  If you're having a bad day sometimes it can be hard to shake it.  The results can be written all over your face in terms of frowns, swollen eyes, etc.  Either figure out how to shake the mood or reschedule. The last thing you want is an employer to feel this is your day to day mood.
5. Be Interested and Be Interesting:  Make eye contact, listen to what the other person is saying.  We have all been taking to someone and known they are uninterested in what they are saying. Its a turn off.  Also be interesting.  Open up about what makes you unique.