The Importance of Saying Thank You

Whether you are a college student interviewing for an internship or a seasoned professional interviewing for a job, one of the most important aspects of interviewing is taking time to say thank you. The person you are interviewing with is taking time out of his or her day to learn about you, how you can help his or her business and possibly provide you with experience you will need in your career. Not saying thank you for this opportunity could be costly and can eliminate you from future opportunities.

When internships or job candidates do not say thank you for the interview, it often frowned upon and could eliminate you from contention. This person is taking time out of his or her day to sit down with you and not taking the time to say thank you can turn him or her off from wanting to hire you. The person interviewing you did not have to bring you in for an interview in the first place so not saying thank you can leave a bad impression.

After you interview, make it a habit to send a hand-written thank you note and an e-mail (if you have it) to thank the person for his or her time. Not many candidates take time to say thank you so sending a hand-written note (or typed) will set you apart from most other candidates. This will show the person you interviewed with that you do care, you are interested and you were grateful for the opportunity to sit down and have a conversation. This shows you are willing to take the extra effort to thank someone for his or her time and can put you in a positive light.

Even though it might seem tedious, taking the time to say thank you is important in the interview process. If someone is taking time out of his or her day to discuss a possible internship or position with you, it's important you show your gratitude and appreciation. Taking a few moments to write a note will show this person you care about the opportunity and can set you apart from other candidates. Take the time to say thank you and it can help land you in the right spot later on.

When Interviewing and If Needed, Have a Portfolio

Interviewing is an opportunity to prove to a hiring manager you are the best fit for a job and one of the best ways to show you can help this person make more money is to prove what you are capable of. In some industries, having a portfolio of work samples to show a hiring manager can help make you more marketable and appealing in a job interview and prove to the hiring manager what you are capable of doing. If needed, bring a portfolio or samples of your work to the interview to prove to the hiring manager how you can add value to his or her company and prove you are the right fit for the job.

Having a portfolio of material does take time but can set you apart from other candidates in the end. Taking time to look through documents you've written, proposals you've drawn up, pieces you've written, etc. can help you find the proof you will need to show a hiring manager your desire to earn the position. These materials also show a hiring manager your ability to use your skill sets to earn more revenue and money for the company.

Over time, it is difficult to save everything you've created for various jobs so have success stories from inside and outside the business world ready in hand as well. These stories may not be hard copy documents of writing samples, proposals or other materials you have put together at different jobs but can prove to a hiring manager what you are capable of. If you are apart of a non-profit, business, or social group, have a couple of success stories ready to go before that interview. These success stories will prove to the hiring manager you can use different skill sets for a wide range of applications and will set you apart from other candidates. The goal of the interview is to help prove you are a right fit for the company and with success stories, you can sell the hiring manager on how you can make him or her more revenue.

Having a portfolio can help set you apart from other candidates and prove to the hiring manager your talents and capabilities. Make sure you have one ready to go in order to prove you can help the hiring manager make more revenue for the company nd want you to be on his or her team.

Don't Give Up

During a job search, getting turned down for a job or several jobs is no doubt frustrating and can shake your confidence. Feeling like you are getting close to landing a position and then being turned down is difficult to deal with and upsetting. It's hard to get back up after getting knocked down but how are you supposed to get another job if you simply give up?

Getting turned down for several jobs is part of the job-search process and it's no doubt that it can be upsetting and frustrating. There are instances in which you might feel you are a fit for a position only to lose out because someone had more experience, the company decided to promote from within, etc. Sadly, rejection is a frustrating part of the job-search process but giving up won't help you get that next position.

Rejection is hard to take but there are ways in which you can still be considered for future positions with a company that turned you down. At certain times, sending an e-mail to the hiring manager or putting in a quick call to ask why you were not selected for a position could open the door for more possibilities in the future. That shows the hiring manager you are respecting his or her decision and it gives you an opportunity to learn what you could do different in your next interview. Taking a few minutes to find out why you didn't get selected could open the doors up later on for other positions and help you improve your interview skills.

If you find yourself getting rejected for quite a few jobs, don't be afraid to network with other people who could help you improve your interview skills, resume, etc. Take time to sit down with people you trust and explain how you answered certain interview questions, have them look at your resume, and offer them to provide feedback. Feedback isn't always easy to handle but can point you in the right direction on how to improve the way you interview, write your resume and cover letter, etc. Take time to talk with others on how you can improve your job search and get your foot in the door at more places.

Going through a job search is a difficult process and getting turned down can make it easy to give up. Throwing in the towel won't get you the next position and there are ways in which you can learn from getting turned down. Taking time to call the hiring manager to understand why you didn't get selected and seeking advice from others could help you improve your interview skills, your resume and get your foot in the next door. No matter how many doors get slammed on you in the job process, those who keeping looking for the open window to go through instead will find themselves back to work because they did not give up.

Before an Interview, Make Sure You Clean Up!

"This person wore jeans that had holes in them to the interview!"

"That person looked like they rolled out of bed 15 minutes before the interview started!"

"This person looked like he combed his hair this morning before coming into the interview!"

As bizarre as this sounds, making sure you look presentable for an interview is a key component to getting a job or internship. Not taking the proper time to look presentable or professional can get you eliminated from contention for a position easily.

Some companies or people in upper management have set rules and guidelines on how employees are supposed to look and dress for the position. Sometimes these rules are very strict and it's important for the employees to look professional while representing the organization. Dressing professionally and looking neat and trimmed will show the person interviewing that you can look professional while representing his or her organization for a job or internship.

Before going into an interview, take time to make sure clothes aren't wrinkled heavily, your clothes are clean, and that your attire is appropriate. Realize that not everyone may appreciate someone showing up in jeans, visible body piercings, unkept hair, or looking like you just rolled out of bed 15 minutes before the interview started. Take time to make sure you look presentable, professional and show you can be apart of the interviewer's organization.

When Interviewing, Relax!

Interviewing can be an exhausting and emotional experience but the best way to handle the pressure is to.....relax! Sometimes that is easier said then done but going in relaxed will benefit you in the long run and help you through the interview process.

By being relaxed, your answers will be more fluid, you will sound less nervous and you will be able to have more of a normal conversation with the person you are talking to. Showing nervousness can come across to the person interviewing you and can be noticed so the best advice is to sit back and relax during the process.

Below are some tips for being able to relax during the interview:

1) Get a Cup of Coffee or Water Before the Interview- Make sure you wait until the person who is interviewing you asks but having a cup of coffee or water during your interview can help you relax a little bit. You can take sips in between answers and having it with you can help make you feel more comfortable during the interview.

2) Do Your Homework Ahead of Time- Doing your research on the company beforehand will help you relax a bit because you will know how to answer the "What do you know about our company?" question. This will help you answer this question later on and also give you some ideas for questions to ask later on.

3) Be Yourself- Trying to be someone else will put more pressure on you and most people interviewing can pick out that out right away. Being who you are, being polite and being honest will help you answer the questions fluidly and also leave a better impression. Being dishonest and someone you are not only puts more pressure on you to hide behind the lie you are creating so be yourself and the answers will come.

4) Realize We All Make Mistakes- In my experience, I know I have never had an interview in which everything went perfect. Learn from your mistakes and move on the best you can. Making a mistake will only help make your next interview better and you can always learn from an interview experience good or bad.

Don't Forget To Ask Questions

An interview can be an exhausting and long process, however, it can make you or break you in terms of getting an internship or a job. Preparation is key to interview success but what you do towards the end of the interview can be a determining factor as well.

As bizarre as this sounds, candidates are sometimes eliminated from contention because they don't ask questions at the end of the interview. It might seem weird but not asking questions can leave the person you interviewed with questioning how interested you are in the position and wanting to learn more.

Some people prepare then ahead of time while others come up with them on the spot but do not forget to ask questions towards the end of the interview. When you are asked, "If you have any questions?", take a few more minutes or as long as the person will allow to ask questions about the company, where the company would like to grow, what the internship/job would entail, etc. The list goes on but don't be afraid to be inquisitive, learn more and find out more about the person you are interviewing with, the company and its goals. This will show the person you are interviewing with you are interested in the position you applied for and makes you more memorable as a candidate.