Never Let ‘em See You Sweat: Preparing for the Interview
by Laura Gassner Otting, President, Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group

(This article is reprinted with the permission of www.ExecSearches.com, for whom it was originally written.)

     You’ve heard the old expression: You never get a second chance to make a first impression. But what you haven’t heard is that most interviewers will size you up within the first ten minutes of an interview. If you don’t impress him or her immediately, you risk spending the balance of your interview with a person who is smiling politely but mentally reviewing their grocery list.
     Beat the draw of “milk, cereal, eggs, bread…” by being meticulously prepared for each phase of the interview. Wow them at the handshake and keep them engaged until “this way to your new office.”

Phase One: Clean Up Your Act

     An interview is a perfect chance to show off someone who looks better than you do on a typical Monday morning. Besides, the red-eyed, disheveled look went out with the last millennium anyway. Wear a clean suit with a pressed blouse or shirt. Don’t bring stale smoke or (does it even need to be said?) alcohol breath into an interview.
     Bring extra copies of your resume, business cards, a pad and pens. You never know when the one-on-one interview will turn into an unannounced group hug or an office tour. Don’t wear excessive jewelry, make-up or cologne; this isn’t a date.
     Get there early, or have the courtesy to call if you will be running late. At best, an interviewer can move some other appointments to accommodate you. At worst, she or he will seethe through whatever time is left in the scheduled interview. A firm, and please, dry handshake is always accepted.
     Above all, be friendly to the secretary when making an appointment. Candidates who abuse my secretary never get a second interview, no matter how qualified they are for a position. If I can’t trust you to be nice to my staff, can I really trust you to be nice to your own?

Phase Two: Above All Know Thyself, the Organization and their Needs

     If you don’t already know this, slowly step away from the interviewer’s office and put your hands where I can see them. You aren’t ready.
     Think through how you wish to portray each job you have held, both the positives and the negatives. Rehearse your transitions between jobs. You will be asked about all of this, and while you shouldn’t grumble about a previous employer, fudging through an obviously tough situation will make you look dishonest.
     Research the organization and its senior management, where they have been and where they wish to go. Before an interview, ask to see annual reports, strategic plans, or other material that will shed more light on the organization. Having a thorough understanding of the organization will help you better assess, and therefore better communicate, how they will benefit by bringing you on staff.

Phase Three: Tag, You’re It!

     At some point in the interview, usually about three quarters of the way through, you will be asked if you have any questions. If you say no, you will have lost a unique opportunity to learn about the organization, not to mention have yourself labeled as having no intellectual curiosity or enthusiasm about the position or the organization.
     Bring along good questions, albeit not too many. You will be judged both on your intellectual savvy, as well as your etiquette. Focus your questions on the future of the organization rather than the organizational chart or the salary range. Asking nit-picky questions will only make the interviewer think you are a small thinker; there will be time for the details later… when you are reviewing an offer.

Laura Gassner Otting is founder and president of Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group, a niche consulting firm dedicated to strengthening the capacity of nonprofits and their staff, and is available to discuss individual resumes, cover letters, and job search strategies.

Increasing the capacity of nonprofits and their staff.