How to Ace your Job Interview

Posted by Mick Kopp | June 19, 2008 .

I have interviewed over a thousand people over the course of my career. This experience has helped me gain some useful insider information, that I would like to share with you, about how to give a jaw dropping, amazingly good job interview.

The following information comes directly from what I, and those who have worked under me, have experienced while interviewing.  Most of these ideas and instructions should be common sense.  However, you would not believe how many people out there do idiotic things to sabotage themselves during a job interview.  Don’t be one of those people!

I’m going to share with you a powerful success secret at the end of this article. This is something that almost no one does, but once you do it, you’ll be hooked.  You’ll never go to another interview or meeting again without using this success secret first!

Don’t skip through this post.

There’s valueable information throughout this post, so read it thoroughly.

Let’s get a couple of things straight, so you will be able to understand where an interviewer is coming from.  Here are a couple of things to remember before getting started.

First impressions mean everything.

If you don’t make a good first impression, you will not get the job.  Unless, of course, the company is desperate, or they just hire everyone.

Yes, you are being judged.

The person that is going to interview you, and possibly everyone that they work with or know will be judging you.  Why?  Because most people don’t make decisions by themselves. They rely on the thoughts and feelings of co-workers, friends and family to help them to make a good choice.

As a rule, people like people who are like them.

They are uncomfortable with people who are more successful or less successful than them.  They tend to like people who have the same interests, the same goals, the same education level, the same hobbies, and have the same religious beliefs, to name a few.

Your interviewer may be as nervous or more nervous than you are.

Just depending on their interpersonal skills, many managers are scared or unsure about the interview process.  They don’t want to miss out on a good person, and they are afraid of hiring the wrong person.  All you have to do, is make it known that you are the right person, and you are in short supply. 

Prepare yourself

  • Take a bath before you go on your interview.  Do not use heavily perfumed soaps.
  • Brush your teeth.
  • Put on some deodorant.
  • Wash your hair.
  • Get a fresh hair cut or hair style.  Nothing freaky looking, like dreads, an 80’s boufant, a mohawk.  If you think it might be inappropriate, then it probably is.
  • Men should have clean shaven faces, or nice and neat facial hair.  Odd looking facial hair, such as an extra long beard or curly mustache just makes you look like a weirdo.  Trim it or shave it off.
  • Women should shave their arm pits and their legs if they are going to be exposed.
  • Take out all piercings.  Women may wear simple studded earrings.  Nothing flashy though.
  • Leave gaudy jewelry at home.  If it looks expensive, cheap, big or brings attention to itself, it’s bad.
  • Stay away from the cologne or perfume.  Your interviewer may be allergic to them.  If you stink so bad that you need this, then I suggest you bathe twice before you go.
  • Women should wear light makeup.  Unless you are horribly ugly.  Then by all means pile it on.  Please don’t make yourself look like a street walker, though.  It will do you more harm than good.
  • Stay away from cigarettes.  They stink and you want to smell fresh and  clean, or at least have no smell at all.
  • Stay away from alcohol and drugs.  I always know when people are drunk or high.  If you think you can have just a one drink and no one will notice, think again.  Also, if you have such a problem that you feel that you must have these substances to interview, you probably should seek help.
  • Do your homework.  Find out as much about the company as you can before the interview.  The more familiar you are with the company, the more you’ll feel like a good fit to them.
  • Go to the bathroom before you go to your interview.
  • Take an extra copy of your resume along with you, even if you’ve already given them one. Resumes seem to get lost easily, and if you have an extra on hand, you look good for being prepared.
  • Bring whatever documents you need to get hired, such as your driver’s license and social security card, in case you get offered the job today.  These things
    should be kept in a slender organizer or leather notebook along with
    your resume.

Arrive at your interview 15 minutes early.

Promptness counts, big time!  Some people won’t even consider hiring someone who doesn’t show up early. 

Here’s something most people don’t think about. Sometimes the time on the clock is irrelavant compared to the amount of time the interviewer had to wait around for you.  Put yourself in their shoes.  You might have finished your last interview 30 or 45 early.  Now you have to wait around for the next person to show up.   This can make for a long wait that just makes for another interruption for a busy interviewer.  Even if you show up right on time, they will still feel like you were late.  Show up a little earlier and you’ve helped them out a lot.


Right before the interview:

  • Before you leave your car or walk in through the door, you should check yourself.
  • Have a mint  or gum before you walk in, just to make sure your breath does not stink.
  • Make sure you don’t have anything stuck in your teeth.
  • Double check your attire.  Check to see if your tie is straight, your fly is zipped, your shirt is buttoned, your shoes are tied, your hair is straight, and your pimples are popped,etc.
  • Leave behind your chewing gum, cigarettes, drinks, and food.
  • Leave your cell phone in the car.  If you don’t have a car to leave it in, then turn it off and put it in your pocket.
  • Leave behind your purse or backpack.  You’re not going shopping.
  • Be prepared to wait patiently.  Most interviewers will talk to many
    people during a day.  Some idiots schedule you all at once.  Just be
    patient, you’ll get your turn.


Dress for success.

You get lots of brownie points just for looking good!

  • Navy blue is still the thing to wear to your first job interview. A suit with a tie (no ties with pictures) for men.  A dress or dress suit for women.  For your second interview, wear a black or a dark gray suit.  Whatever you do, don’t wear the same thing twice.  This counts.
  • Wear clothes that cover you.  Low cut blouses, backless dresses and short skirts don’t belong at a job interview.  This is mostly for women.
  • Also for women, don’t wear stockings or panty hose. If your legs don’t look good or aren’t shaved, don’t wear a skirt or dress!
  • Cover up all your tattoos.  Even if you are a blue collar worker, it pays to look as professional as possible.
  • Shine your shoes properly. Probably the most overlooked thing that you can do to help you stand out.  Everyone notices you when your shoes look good. 
  • Wash your car before you go!  Remember everyone is watching.  It could be your future boss, the receptionist, a co-worker, maybe even the CEO. A clean car makes a great impression.


Do not: do these things during an interview.

  • Brag. Nobody likes it, and most will think you are blowing smoke up their ass.
  • Talk to much or too little.
  • Talk about your personal problems.
  • Ask what the benefits are, or how much you will make, until the very end of the interview.
  • Say anything negative about yourself.
  • Talk badly about the company, the person interviewing you, or any other person that works there.
  • Talk bad about your old employers or co-workers.
  • Lie.
  • Act like a suck up.
  • Flirt with the person interviewing you, or anyone else for that matter.
  • Cross your arms or your legs.
  • Act nervous, shake your leg, fidget, whistle, or clench anything.
  • Act desperate.  Saying things like “No one will hire me. I can’t find a job.  Please hire me, I need to pay my bills.” It’s a sure way to not get hired.
  • Ask anyone for anything. (pen, paper, coffee, the bathroom etc)
  • Tell anyone you’ve been sick, what medications you take, or that you have back problems.
  • Offer your opinions, unless someone asks.  Even then, be tactful when you respond.
  • Act like you know more about something than the person who is  interviewing you does.
  • Interrupt the person interviewing you.
  • Bring your cell phone.
  • Answer your cell phone, if you accidentally brought it with you.  Don’t even look at it to see who’s calling.  Turn it off quickly and apologize for the interruption.
  • Bring anyone else to the interview, not even if it’s an emergency.  You are better off rescheduling.

Do these things during your interview:

  • Smile and have a good attitude.
  • Maintain good eye contact.  It’s not a staring competition.
  • Sit up straight.
  • Put your hands in your lap, or let them lay comfortably on the arms of a chair.
  • Sit with your feet flat on the floor.
  • Be respectful.
  • Be agreeable.
  • Listen intently.
  • Show some interest and enthusiasm about the position.
  • If your interviewer makes a joke, laugh at it.
  • Answer all questions in a truthful and positive manner.
  • When asked about your old employers, know what you are going to say prior to saying it. Have a few good things to say about each one of them.
  • Ask questions about the company and position for which you are applying.
  • Unless someone asks you to address them by their first name, you should call them Mr. or Mrs.
  • Tell the interviewer “Thank you,” for the interview.

Know the answer to these questions.

You won’t get questions exactly like these, but most of the time you’re going to get something similar.  Giving the answers to these questions quickly and easily will portray confidence and make you look like you have your stuff together.

  • Tell me about yourself?
  • What are your goals?
  • How will your previous experience help us?
  • Where do you see yourself in 5,10,20 years?
  • Who is your role model and why?
  • What did you do at your last job?
  • Why are you leaving or why did you leave your last job?
  • Why did you get fired from your last job?
  • Why do you want to work here?
  • Tell me what you know about (your chosen field of expertise)?


Now here it is! The secret that I was telling you about, that will help you to ace an interview.  I can’t promise that you will get a job.  However, I can promise you that this success secret will help you look and act more confident, be calm when others aren’t, and help you act like you know what you are talking about.  You’ll even feel better about how you interviewed, whether or not you get the job.

Success Secret:

“Practice asking and answering questions in front of a mirror.”

Look yourself in the eyes and ask the questions I have listed above, in front of a mirror. Ask yourself these questions as if you were the interviewer.  Then, answer the questions, while you are still looking yourself in the eyes.  Do this until you are comfortable, and can spout off your answers with ease and confidence. The more you do it, the more successful you’ll be at interviewing.  Feel free to make up and use other questions that you think you might get asked.

Let me know what works for you.  Good Luck!

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