297: Do's and Don'ts of Interview Etiquette
Do's and Don'ts of Interview Etiquette
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Typically, my episodes around interviewing are the most downloaded. I’ve done more than 25 episodes on interviewing; if you want to see all of them in one place, head to my Podcast page!
Today, we’re covering interview etiquette — what to do, and what not to do.
I want to start with some basic “do’s” — go through them quickly so we can spend time on the more nuanced aspects. I’ve talked about several of these points on previous episodes, so I’m including links to those here.
Another note: I’ve talked about how to prepare your behavioral interview stories in multiple other episodes, as well as how to answer difficult questions like “tell me about yourself” and “what is your greatest weakness?” so I won’t be covering those here.
Dress appropriately.
I just covered this topic in episode 291, so I’ll simply say wear professional attire that is in alignment with the company’s culture.
Bring your documents.
In addition to multiple copies of your resume, bring any other documents the employer requested.
Research the company.
I teach my clients that their questions for the employer should come organically, as a result of their research of the company and the industry. Strive for questions that are unique to that company, rather than questions that would apply to any job you might apply for.
Above all, avoid asking questions that can easily be answered with a little research — it will show that you didn’t do the basic amount of research.
Plan to arrive early to an in-person interview.
Aim for 10-15 minutes early, but not too early as that may throw people off. If you are interviewing in an area you aren’t familiar with, try to visit the area ahead of time so you’ll know where you’re going that day.
Make a good first impression.
A firm handshake, eye contact, and clear enunciation of your name goes a long way. I broke down the anatomy of a proper business handshake in last week’s episode 296.
Display appropriate body language.
I also covered this in episode 296 — whenever your nonverbal communication is at odds with what you are saying, a trained interviewer will believe your body language.
Maintain a positive attitude.
Keep your energy level up and show appropriate enthusiasm for the job and the company.
Three-step closing.
At the close of the interview, thank the interviewer for his/her time, re-state your interest in the position (if appropriate), and ask about the next step in the hiring process.
Now, let’s dig into three points that I want to spend a bit more time on.
Active listening.
One of my greatest frustrations with actual interviews and the clients I coach is when they don’t listen to my question before responding. It’s okay to take a moment to think before responding — and by all means, ask for clarification if you don’t understand the question or want to make sure you are on the right track.
I often ask my clients two- or three-part questions, to see if they can keep track of my question. It’s okay if you don’t remember all the parts, as long as you remember there WERE multiple parts. Ask the interviewer to repeat the other parts of the question.
Follow up within 24 hours.
This is usually going to be in the form of an email — speed is of the essence, although you can get creative in some situations.
Here’s a good format for a thank you:
Sally,
Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to interview me for the Accounting Manager position at ABC. I was so impressed by your history with the company and how you’ve moved up so quickly!
I am confident my experience at NoName Accounting has prepared me well for the role, especially my unique experience working with [something they seemed to hone in on during the interview].
As promised, I’ll touch base with you by Friday of next week to see how the process is coming along. I’m really excited about this opportunity!
Best,
[your name]
Be patient.
Avoid the temptation to follow up earlier than agreed upon during the interview, but do follow up. After the initial follow up, I recommend touching base between 1X/week and 2X/month, depending on the timeline the employer has stated to you.
Keep the employer posted on job offers you get from other companies during this time.
Besides the opposite of the Do’s I already talked about, here are the most important Don’ts to keep in mind:
Don’t interview just for practice.
When someone tells me they plan to do this, I cringe. First of all, you are wasting the employer’s time. Secondly, you aren’t going to get feedback on your interview, so all you are really doing is cementing any bad interview habits you have.
Off-color language.
Even if the interviewer uses slang or curses, YOU shouldn’t. It might be a test — and it most certainly won’t reflect positively on you.
Not making sufficient eye contact.
Throughout the interview, you should be making eye contact at least 75% of the time when you are talking, and nearly 100% of the time when the interviewer is speaking. A lack of eye contact signals a lack of self-confidence and/or interest in the position.
Focusing on salary and/or benefits.
Especially with your initial interview(s), the focus should be on the requirements of the job and your suitability for that job. While the employer may initiate a question about your salary requirements, YOU shouldn’t initiate such a conversation.
Checking your phone.
With the exception of an emergency — let’s say your partner is going into labor at any moment — your phone should be turned off and put away.
Providing negative personal information.
I teach my clients to provide personal information in small doses during their interview — as long as it is neutral or positive. Examples would include: In the process of building a home, recently adopted a dog, learning a foreign language.
Negative personal information typically includes children — unfortunately, especially if you are a woman. Don’t bring up health conditions, injuries, dicey personal relationship situations, etc.
Watch what you say about previous employers or experiences.
The important thing here is to keep it factual, with no opinions or color. While many “experts” will tell you to never say anything negative, I teach this a little differently. You may need to state the truth as to why you are leaving a company, why you were terminated, or why a big project failed — just stick to the facts and don’t let your emotions have any place in your story.
A good example: “I’m looking to leave XYZ because there have already been three rounds of layoffs. While I’ve been spared so far, I believe it is time for me to look for my next opportunity.”
A bad example: “I’m leaving XYZ because my boss is an idiot and I cannot work another day with her.”
Do NOT bring anyone with you.
If someone has to drive you to your interview, they need to remain in the car or go find a coffee shop. No children, pets, or security “woobies” either.
Don’t mispronounce or misspell names.
I get thank you emails all the time from people who spell my name Lisa – or they pronounce my name as “Leh-sa.”
Ask, repeat it back, ask questions if necessary – whatever you need to get it right.
Don’t answer questions with a simple “yes” or “no.”
Provide sufficient details, with examples whenever possible.
Don’t try to fake it.
If you don’t know the answer to a question, say so. If your knowledge of a subject they bring up is limited, let them know. This will come across as much more authentic than trying to wing it — and they will know if you try.
DIY vs. DFY
DIY:
Once again, my DIY recommendation for interviewing is to find a free online AI tool that will not only help you improve your responses, but point out non-verbal issues.
DFY:
Of course, my suggestion here is to secure the services of an interview coach like myself. Not only will you get expert feedback from a professional, you’ll leave with tools and strategies to improve your approach to difficult interview questions. Perhaps the most beneficial outcome of interview coaching is the increase in confidence you’ll experience — worth the price of admission.