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, 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.