Most professionals know or are at least aware of the interview basics – ie. Dress professionally, be on time, exude confidence, research the company, ask questions, and so on…

Here are a few more items that shouldn’t be left off your list when preparing for a job interview:

Know your Audience

• You should not only the name(s) of the person you will be interviewing with, but also their title and hopefully some background on their career. For example, how long have they worked in this position? Have they held other titles at this same company? Where else have they worked? Searching online professional networks such as “Linked In” may give you some important insights into their expertise and in turn, the types of questions they may ask.

Remember to Close the (Deal) Interview

• There are many approaches to this, but all too often interviewees forget to take any. The best advice here is to keep it simple, to the point and be sure it includes the “enthusiasm” ingredient. The following is an example of a solid closing statement:
  • “This opportunity sounds like an exciting challenge – just what I’ve been looking for. I believe my …(list your strengths) make me the right candidate for this job. What will the next step in the hiring process be?”

Follow-up!

• I’m always amazed at this all too common blunder among interviewees. Following up after your interview with a “thank you” correspondence is still very important in the job seeking process. Contrary to some interviewee’s beliefs in this fast-paced electronic world we live in… you should still send out a thank you to all interviewers either via email or snail mail. Be sure to collect their business cards so that you have their contact information handy. Even if working through a recruiter this step should not be left out. Depending on how quick the hiring process appears to be going you may want to consider “cutting through the clutter” and sending a written thank you note to each of your interviewers. Be sure to keep it short, show your enthusiasm and include one sentence on why you are the perfect candidate.