It's interview time! You've done your homework on the company, rehearsed your answers to the toughest of interview questions, and dressed as the successful candidate. You couldn't be more prepared! Now what?

Arrive about 10-15 minutes before your scheduled time. Allow yourself time for checking in, receiving security clearance, or filling out a formal application. Unless reception alerts you that there is going to be a delay, remain standing in the soft seating area, showing you are ready and focused on meeting your key contact. Make sure your cell phone is off and out of sight.

When you arrive at the interview area, wait to be asked before taking a seat. You may be brought to an interview room where both parties sit at a round table together or to the interviewer's office where you will face each other across a desk. Don't be intimated by an office -- it's the person's "home." And while you want to be sociable, "Don't get too relaxed or familiar with the person doing the interviewing," advises Sharon Lawrence, vice president of executive career management for Right Management Consultants. "You are still a ‘guest' until you are invited to join the 'family'."

Whether it's an assistant or your key contact who approaches, make direct eye contact and extend a warm smile and handshake. (Practice your handshake ahead of time with close friends -- get feedback from both men and women.) Take your cues from the person as to the type of talk to engage in as you move to the interview area. If it's an assistant, it will likely be light social conversation. If it's your key contact, it may be about the interview process itself. Stay in the present moment and concentrate completely on the current conversation, this will help settle down your adrenalin and any racing thoughts.

Body language accounts for 55 percent of a first impression! So even though you may be well-rehearsed and confident about how you want to answer questions, make sure your body matches your messages. Sit up straight, don't slump. Actually practice sitting comfortably upright in a chair. Avoid crossing your legs (ankles are okay) or adopting a casual pose even if the interviewer does. If you are feeling too stiff, just relax your shoulders while grounding your body in the chair and your feet to the floor. If the interviewer pushes back in the chair and puts some distance between you from the start, respect the distancing and don't lean forward into "his space." Once the conversation gets grounded and going, you'll naturally lean forward while listening and answering questions.

Put your briefcase or portfolio on the floor (no backpacks!) and don't take out items until they are needed in the conversation. Keep your hands above board and gesture naturally. Don't fidget with your jewelry or pen and keep your hands off your face or nose. Some interviewers believe that touching or scratching your face or rubbing your nose after making a statement could mean you are being untruthful. Don't be tempted to fold your hands; it will fold up your energy. And, keep your arms uncrossed to show you are open to the conversation.

If you find that you are becoming overly conscious of direct eye contact and that your eyes are "locking" with the interviewer's, soften the gaze by looking instead at the person's nose. It will appear as though you are still making eye contact but will get you out of the direct eye trap which can cause you to lose your train of thought.

When asking and answering questions, speak from your gut rather than your throat or upper chest. This will help you breathe and keep your voice solid rather than getting too high or breathy. Keep your chin up a bit and be mindful of it dropping as you speak-- chin dropping will cause you to start speaking into your mouth rather than projecting your words out to your listener. Practice working with your voice as you rehearse your interview questions, and become conscious of how directing it differently produces a very different result.
"Don't appear overly anxious or desperate about getting the job," advises Lawrence, who is also a former vice president of human resources and has conducted hundreds of job interviews across occupations for the past 18 years. "Try to figure out what is keeping the hiring manager up at night and align your skills and abilities to solving the problem or being part of the solution." Let your body language make your offer powerful to the hiring manager: confident body language + articulated messages = job won.

Interviews are tough for everyone, but perhaps they are the most difficult for those who are midcareer or older.

Chances are if you're 45 or older, you're likely to encounter someone in the interviewing process who is younger than you. And, there's no hiding the passage of time on a person's face and body - it's going to be clear to anyone looking at you that age 30 is a distant memory.

Get those factors out of the way, and you've still got some hills to climb if you're an older job candidate - such as why you're looking for a new job at this point in your life and the fact that you may be interviewing for a job you're considered to be overqualified for.

So here's the scenario: You look older, your resume shows you've got perhaps too much experience and the interviewer looks young enough to have no idea who Ringo Starr is. Now what?

First, don't panic. The ever-fluctuating job market of the last decade has proven that no one is immune to layoffs, and even the best, brightest and most valued employees may find themselves looking for new jobs. So, you can forget the stigma of employers looking askance at finding older workers looking for new positions.

But that still leaves the other obstacles, such as getting a younger interviewer or manager to see you as part of the team and capable of taking direction from a younger boss if needed.

According to guidelines from the AARP, one effective response to the younger boss question is to say, "When I get to the point where I can't learn from someone younger or older than I, I will stop working."

Another key to helping a company see you as part of the team is to look the part. No, you can't hide the wrinkles or that you need glasses to see 12 inches from your nose. But you can make sure you're dressed in the latest styles appropriate for your age, and even be aware of some of the pop culture affecting today's younger generations. Take in some recent movies or art exhibits aimed at younger people, and be up on the latest personal technology trends. (Your own teenager may be able to help you with this.)

When asked about your level of experience, and perhaps you get hints that you're overqualified for a position, be ready to stress the skills and enthusiasm you can bring to a job and the sincere interest you have in working for the company. The AARP warns that questioning you about your age after age 40 can be considered discriminatory if it is proved you were not hired for a job because of your age.

Still, a better response to someone directly asking your age might be by replying in an upbeat tone, "How does my age affect my ability to do a job?" the AARP advises.

At the same time, show how your age could be an asset to an organization. Your experience of working with a wide variety of people should be seen as an ability to get along as part of a team. Emphasize that your life experience has proved to you the advantage of learning from others, no matter what the age.

Finally, the discussion is sure to turn to the subject of salary. It is clear that at mid-career, you will have achieved a certain pay level, which may concern a new employer.

Use the Internet, industry magazines and professional organizations to get a handle on what others in the position are making, so that you have some realistic expectations when you enter negotiations. If you can't find any good information, ask the interviewer for the salary range, which most will probably provide.

Question:

Recently I went on a job interview with a larger technology company. Most of the interview went well, but the interviewer asked a few questions which were geared about my age and my family. I was under the impression that these types of personal questions were illegal? Am I correct?


Answer:

Asking personal questions is not necessarily illegal, but the motive behind them might be. If discrimination is the result of finding answers to specific questions, then it becomes a legal issue. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 does not make it illegal for an employer to ask an applicant's age or date of birth. But the ADEA does make it illegal to deny employment because of the applicant's age. Ironically, however, most illegal questions are asked when the untrained interviewer is just trying to be friendly and there is no illegal intent behind the question. You must decide on the intent behind it before answering the question. If you feel it is an illegal question and decide to walk out, and the interviewer is innocent, you've lost your chance at any future consideration as their employer.

You have a few options if you find yourself in this situation:

- Briefly answer the question and move to a new topic.
- Ignore the question and redirect the discussion toward a different topic.
- If the question is blatant and offensive, you have every right to terminate the interview and walk out.
- Don't answer the question, but answer the intent behind the question. For instance, if the interviewer asks, "Who is going to take care of your children when you have to travel?" You might answer, "I can meet the travel and work schedule that this job requires." Or if he/she asks, "Are you planning a family in the future?" You might say, "Right now I am focused on my career and as a family is always an option, it is not a priority right now."

So before filing discrimination charges, know the intent behind the question. You have every right to ignore the question if you are not sure.

Best of luck in your job search.

Interviewing is like being selected to compete in the Olympics: you have outperformed hundreds or thousands of competitors and are down to the final round. You are now competing with the best of the best. How can you leave with the gold? Here are keys to making your interview a day for the champion.

Research your company. How can you convincingly show interest in a position that will take approximately 25% of the hours in your week with no knowledge of the general job description, the company, its goals, or its current events? You can't. Here is how to understand the company with which you will be interviewing:
Get the company's annual report from its Web site, if available
Visit its Web site to read about the direction of the company and any current media coverage
Look over the Standard and Poors Corporate Records
For smaller companies, call the city's Chamber of Commerce
For every company, you want the following company information checklist:
Services and/or products
Competition
Sales: any large increase or decrease and why
New products/services available from the company
International operations
Any media information on the company in the last year
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The Handshake. It tells a story about each person. Do you come from the top and give the power handshake? Do you shake hands very lightly? These examples may seem simple, but it is easy to start off poorly with a bad handshake. Avoid the light delicate handshake and the powerful over-the-top controlling handshake. Give a firm, full-handed handshake with members of both sexes.

Prepare yourself but do not memorize. If you try to memorize a response to the question, "What is your biggest strength?" you will blurt it out, privately congratulating yourself on your memory while the interviewer stares in disbelief at how quickly you answered that question without seeming to give it much consideration. When your interviewer follows with "Why do you consider that your biggest strength?" you realize that you were not prepared for that one. Instead, think of some challenges in your work background -- positive and negative -- and tie your answer to those challenges, your response, and the results. For example,

Challenge: Your sales division's productivity decreased, and it seemed your division would not meet/exceed annual goals.
Response: Observed the staff to see where bottlenecks were occurring. Determined a need for additional employee development and training. Focused on employee development through intense training.
Results: Hit corporate budget at year-end and was noted by management for exceptional problem solving and turnaround capabilities.

Now when asked "What is one of your biggest strengths?" your response might be: "My biggest strength is my ability to identify potential problem areas, solve the problem, and produce results. An example of this would be when my division's productivity decreased and it seemed as though we would not meet/exceed our annual goals..." and continue with the story above.
This same scenario would also work if the interviewer had asked, "Describe a difficult situation and how you handled it" or "What would management say about you?" Thinking through specific situations will allow you to choose scenarios most appropriate to the question.

Have questions for the interviewer. Here are some good ones:

How does my job fit with the mission of the organization, corporate performance, or profitability?
What will I be contributing to the organization?
What makes your company different from others?
What is your corporate culture?
What differentiates your company from your competition?
What significant changes has the company experienced in the past couple of years?
How would you describe the most successful employees in your company?


Mental Preparation. This may seem hokey, but it is proven to be a good tactic in any high-stress situation. As you arrive early for the interview (at least 15 minutes), and you are waiting to be called in, mentally prepare for your interview. Picture the interview going smoothly, the interviewer asking questions, and your answering them perfectly. Imagine the interviewer telling you that you seem perfect for the job as you leave even more excited about the position. These are some of the things that should be going through your mind. If you are nervous, start your mental preparation by taking deep breaths and thinking "You are" as you inhale and "relaxed" as you exhale. Repeat this procedure until you are relaxed. Avoid thinking, "What if they don't like me?" or "What if I get stumped?" and focus instead on relaxing. Just try it –- mental visualization worked for the Bulls and Phil Jackson, and it will work for you.

Close of the interview. You are ahead of the competition and on your way to the gold medal, but you get a cramp. Do you stop? Not a chance. You have to cross the finish line, just as you have to close the sale of yourself in the interview. The end of the interview is your time to close with "a positive, very interested in what you have learned" close. When the Interviewer is closing with "Well, if you have no further questions, then we are done," that is your cue to say one of the following:

Actually, I'd like to know how I should proceed from here. Should I contact you or will you be in contact?
How soon will I hear from you?
What is the process from here?
What would distinguish one potential candidate joining your company from another?
How do I prove my commitment to the organization?

Follow-up. You leave the interview and feel good about the position. Now go to your car and write down what just happened. Write the topics discussed, the characteristics the interviewer described for the position, and other details. This will help you write a thank you letter that shows both your interest and that you are a perfect match for the position.
There are, of course, as many ways to succeed in an interview as there are Olympic gold medal winners. The best advice is to relax and be yourself. Remember that your interviewer once interviewed for his/her job and understands the intensity of the interview process. By being as prepared as possible for your interview, you will enhance the qualities that have already made you a great candidate. Just remember that it takes preparation and knowing how to play the game with strategy and excellence to win.

Explaining Job Jumping

Q. -I am a 42-year-old male, laid off three times by three different companies since 1997. Currently, I am looking for a job for the 3rd time. How and where can I explain the reason I jumped from job to job? I don't want the employer to feel that I can't hold a job long.

A. -Unfortunately, the corporate restructuring, buy-outs and downsizing that leads to lay-offs looks to be more than just the current wave, it is becoming a permanent feature of our economy. This means recruiters now hear many stories like yours. Job jumping can occur when employees lack the commitment to remain loyal to an employer, or possess traits that leads to them to being terminated repeatedly. Recruiters are trained to look out for these. Being laid off three times does not mean you lack skills or loyalty, it means you have been incredibly unlucky. You have nothing to apologize for. So be confident and firm and concise when you tell employers about your situation, and resist the urge to over-explain. Your background checks and references will back you up.

Beating Interview Nerves

Q. -I have been unemployed for some time now. I have recently been lucky enough to even get the interview of my dreams, but I am so worked up about being a failure that I am not going to achieve my best standards. I get so nervous in thinking about going to the interview, I doubt myself that I can get this job. How can I control my nerves?

A. -You need to focus on building your interview skills. It is perfectly natural to get a little nervous before an important interview, but if you interview now for your dream job you risk damaging your self-esteem. I want you to do as many interviews you possibly can before the big interview. Book at least five this week. Choose jobs that do not matter to you - anything will do. Interview until you are an expert at selling yourself. Then interview some more until you get completely sick of it. Then you will be ready for an important interview. Do not wait until you land an interview for your dream job to build these important skills.

Do What You Love

Q.- I will graduate in December with a B.A. in psychology. I am only now realizing that I could have made more money just going to community college to become a nurse. I am in a dilemma - should I tough it out in the field of psychology (masters degree holders get paid about the same as nurses also). I do not plan to further my education in this field because of the poor salaries. Should I just forget about my degree in psychology and start over at nursing school or can the B.A. degree somehow work in my favor?

A. -I do not get a sense that you are really delighted about your future in either nursing or psychology. It's time to pick something that really turns you on or you will forever be thinking about what could have been. You have the chance to choose right now between a career doing something interesting, rewarding, full of challenge and fulfillment, or one that will make you a few more dollars in your first year out. There are psychology graduates working in human resources, executive coaching, sales, research for daytime television shows and just about any career you can imagine. It is time to make some bold decisions about what you would love to do. Create a vision for your career. The next steps will become a lot clearer after you do that.

Making a Career Change

Q. -I am a 38-year-old Teacher/Coach in Texas. I have been teaching Health/P.E. and coaching girls' sports for the past 13 years. I am looking to make a career change and have no idea where to begin. I do not want to go into the typical "sales and insurance" jobs that many educators leave the profession for. I want to get away from sports and education so my degree is useless. Where do I begin? I really can't afford to go back to school full time. What are my options?

A.- Begin by knowing you have options. What are the most a-typical jobs you can imagine for an ex-educator? Write a list of 50, and have fun doing it - make it wild! It may help to think of inspiring people you know who have made the leap. I can list an actor, a stockbroker, a director of training, and my own wonderful mother who left teaching and moved to Istanbul at age 54. She now teaches English to Turkish business people. Nothing about your degree or experience is useless unless you give up thinking you have choices. There will be some things you have to give up to make the change, like security, and some income. Don't worry, that's just the short term. Long term you have everything to gain.

Getting Into Teaching

Q. -I am 21 years of age and I want to be a teacher. At 19 I got my first teaching job in a small private school, however I know that this job is getting me nowhere fast. Please help me. I am trying to get a job at the board of education in my town. It is a great job because it will pay for me to go to school. Please give a sample cover letter / resume.

A. -First, let me say how much I admire your ambition and focus. I wish I had that at your age! I am not going to let you off too easily here - the best resume and cover letter are the ones written by you. Your skills, personal qualities, and experiences are things only you know best. The Internet is full of excellent references to help you get started. Try "15 Tips for Writing Winning Resumes" and "Making Your Cover Letter Count" in the CareerBytes archive.
Please call the board of education and ask what they look for in the teachers they hire. See if you can talk to some recent recruits and see what they did to get hired. Then write your own resume to reflect what they want. Show it to some teachers you admire and get their feedback. Take this initiative and I promise you will be noticed!