By Paul Hendrickson –

You spent months searching job boards and sending countless cover letters and résumés hoping someone would realize your potential. They were finely crafted documents, and you even sent a few in the mail on 32-pound paper with a classy watermark. You looked good – on paper. In fact, you looked so good that someone finally decided to give you a chance and requested an interview. Now you had to live up to all those great things you said about yourself in your cover letter and résumé. That fellow sounded like a superhero ready to take on the world.

When the day of the interview arrived, you were a nervous wreck. That superhero on your résumé transformed into something entirely different. You just wanted to find pants that fit and shoes that didn’t look like they were used for soccer practice. Where was your lucky pen? What happened to your favorite interview shirt? How many breath mints could you reasonably fit in your pocket? You grabbed a fresh copy of your résumé, a hot cup of coffee you prayed wouldn’t end up on your tie, and headed for the door. At that moment it dawned on you – you were not ready for this. For all the hours you spent building your résumé, you had not adequately prepared for the interview.

The interview is as important as the résumé. If you do not spend some time preparing for it, you are destined for a wipeout. I have reviewed hundreds of résumés during my career and interviewed people from all walks of life. Based on that experience, here are a few tips to help show your superhero side to a would-be employer.

• Do your homework

It is worth your time to research the organization and find out what you can regarding their history, current offerings, and future plans. You do not have to rattle off these facts during the interview, but it always reflects positively when a potential employer can tell you were interested enough to do your homework.

• Arrive a little early

Arriving a little early shows you are punctual and can manage your time. Use the time to make final preparations and remember to turn off your phone. If you get stuck in traffic, it is better to call ahead and let the interviewer know you will be late rather than show up late and offer excuses. Conversely, arriving an hour ahead of time can make you look desperate and gives you more time to get nervous.

• Dress professionally

Clothes do not define you, but they do send a message during an interview. If you arrive disheveled, you are already making an impression before you open your mouth.

• Ask questions

Write down some questions you have about the job and organization before you get to the interview. If you think of one during the interview, write it down and ask it at an appropriate time. Not having a question or two can make you appear disinterested or lacking curiosity.

• Listen carefully

You are there to learn about the job as much as they are there to learn about you. Try to understand what will be required of you should you get the job, and make sure you are clearly answering the questions they asked, citing specific examples.

• Articulate and accentuate your positives

Look for opportunities to demonstrate how you can help the organization. You want to point out how your job experience and training will make a positive impact without droning on too long. You are selling your services to the interviewer and they need to know what they are getting for their potential investment.

• Don’t get too personal

There are often occasions when two people will click during an interview. Some people are simply easier to talk to than others. Exercise caution in this area. Although it is good to be personable, don’t get too personal. Sharing too many personal details can negatively impact the interviewer’s impression of you, especially if you start to appear unprofessional.

• Thank the interviewer

These days most interviewers have multiple responsibilities and are carving out time from a busy schedule to hold interviews. You can leave the interview on a positive note if you acknowledge the interviewer’s time and thank them for taking a few minutes to talk with you. Some people will even send a thank-you email a day or two later.

Sometimes you will find yourself in the middle of an interview and realize the organization is not a good fit for you. Instead of tuning out use the rest of the interview as practice. You need to get comfortable talking about yourself in a way that demonstrates the value you add without oozing arrogance. Also, do not forget that interviews are a two-way street. Make sure you leave with enough information to make a decision should they offer you a position. Now go get them, superhero.