5 Steps to Make a Great Impression During a Job Interview

5 Steps to Make a Great Impression During a Job Interview5 Steps to Make a Great Impression During a Job InterviewThere are many ways you can win over even the stodgiest of hiring managers and land the job. Make a great impression during a job interview with these five steps.1. Be on time.Its the first sign of how serious you are about the job interview. Are you on time for your interview, are you early for it, or do you saunter in sixteen minutes late? Whether you have a Skype interview for a telecommuting job or an in-person interview, make sure that you are not only on time for it, but early. If youre going to do a video interview, ensure that your equipment is working and that your Internet connection is strong. And if you have to go to the companys HQ, find out ahead of time how far away it is, and leave yourself a big cushion of time should you hit traffic, not be able to find parking, if your train runs late, or you simply cant find the building. Youll thank yourself later for those extra minutes.2. Do your research. If you thought that you could just show up at an interview and wing it, think again. Believe it or not, the hiring manager has done a lot of research on you before you even sit down in front of him. He knows what schools youve gone to, what companies youve worked for- he even knows about your spring break vacation photos to Punta Cana. Thats why you should definitely do the same. Before your interview, go online and find out as much as you can about your interviewer (from the trajectory of his career to how long hes been working at the company youre applying to). See which schools he went to and uncover any of his hobbies. That way, youll have instant icebreakers once you shake hands that go beyond idle chatter. Youll make a great impression during a job interview if you know that your interviewer graduated from the same school as you or that you share a mutual love of scrapbooking.3. Offer proof.Its not enough anymore to say that you multit ask, or that you are a team player. These terms have lost their impact on hiring managers. Everyone multitasks today. So youll need to step outside of terms that are often tossed around during interviews and provide some serious proof of your strong job candidacy. If the punkt requires someone who thinks outside the box, showcase instances from previous work experiences that spotlight that. If youre applying for a telecommuting job, highlight those soft skills that employers look for in remote candidates, such as the ability to work independently, problem-solve, self-manage, and your strong communication skills.4. Know your place. Sure, you applied for a specific job within the company, but thats not enough of a reason for you to get the job. Youll need to know the ins and outs of the company and why you are the perfect person for the position. The goal is to leave the interview with your prospective boss feeling without a shadow of a doubt that you are a fab fit for the job. Unders tand the company culture and how your previous successes will help you shine in the job.5. Have a plan. Its hard to predict how the first few days and weeks of a new job might go. But that shouldnt stop you from telling your hiring manager what your 30-day plan is should you get hired. Let him know that after you get settled into the job, your plan is to accomplish X goals by the end of your first month. That forward-thinking mentality not only shows confidence, but a super strong interest in the job that managers can appreciate. It will also spark a new conversation about how other employees have handled their first few months on the job, which can already put your potential employer in the mindset to offer you the positionJust as there are many ways to botch it, there are many ways to make a great first impression during a job interview. No matter what position, industry, or field youre interested in, these five tips can help ensure a smooth, dare we say, easy job interview that r esults in a bonafide job offer.Readers, what are some of your tried-and-true tips to use during a job interview to make a great impression? Let us know in the comments