Preparing for a Great Interview - Part 3

You have found your way to part three in this short series on interview preparation tips. If you are just finding this part first, you may desire to first go back and read part one also, located HERE, since they cover consecutive tips. As mentioned previously, many of these tips can be applied to not only a position in customer service, but to pretty much all interviews in general.

We looked last time at things like not discussing the new job opportunity with your current employer, as well as suggestions to not leave your current job in a harsh or angry way - in other words, don't burn bridges with previous employers. Networking and having contacts, good friendly contacts, is never a bad thing. Before that we looked at things to do the night before, to be better prepared the day of. Now we have reached the day of the interview.

As mentioned before, give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination, especially if you are not exactly positive where you are going. It is always better to arrive early than rush in on time. Once you arrive, be sure to professionally and politely make your presence known. If there is a receptionist of someone you check in with, be sure to notify them promptly and make a good impression. Small comments are often asked and made between receptionists and interviewers about first impressions, so be sure to make a great one. If you have arrived early as suggested, use the time to go over your notes on the organization, as well as any other information that may be beneficial. Pick up flyers/brochures in their lobby if they have additional information about the company.

When you are called in by the interviewer, greet them professionally, with confidence and a firm handshake, thanking them for their time in seeing you for the interview. After this, you can expect a lot of the typical questions that interviewers ask, but also be on your toes for the more difficult ones. Always keep your cool, don't appear to get flustered, and try to answer all questions professionally and briefly. Never offer too much information or details, as you may ramble on with things that are going too far and revealing too much.

If you do not understand a question fully, ask for clarification. Better to understand and answer more accurately, than to misunderstand and answer off point totally. In all answers, be honest and accurate. If you try to make up stories on the spot, you may find another question approaches things from another angle, and your quick thinking may not be consistent with your previous story. So always be honest and stick to the facts. Where do you see yourself in five years? Why did you leave your last job? Why should we hire you, what do you have to offer? These are some of the generic questions you can expect, but next time we'll look at some specific questions that are less obvious, as well as other post-interview tips.

Have any tips or suggestions that you'd like to share? Feel free to post in the comments below.

Jeff McCormack resides in Virginia Beach, VA. where he works as a web designer by day. In his off time he is a husband, father, and musician. Aside from being a freelance writer for this Customer Service Jobs blog, he also seeks to assist in career choices and information by contributing to other Nexxt blog sites.