A friend told me about a job she thought I would be good for. They have asked me to come in for an interview.  The problem is that this is my first interview for a serious job.  What do I do?
The first thing to do is congratulate yourself for having cleared the first big hurdle.  You would not have been asked to come in for an interview unless they thought you were a credible candidate.  In other words, the hiring manager is already reasonably certain you can do the job.  Capitalize on this fact.  Be confident.

There are eight cardinal rules to good interviewing:

1. KEEP IT BRIEF
While every question is unique, requiring a thoughtful and well-crafted response, most of your answers should be no longer than about two minutes.  An exception to this rule might be the question commonly asked first – “Tell me a little about yourself”.  In this case, you’re usually safe taking between three and four minutes.  Remember too that most of us tend to talk too quickly, particularly when nervous.  Try not to cram twice the content into half the time while at the same time speaking twice as fast.

2.  STOP TALKING WHEN YOU’VE ANSWERED THE QUESTION
The times we regret having said something are usually the times when we’ve simply said too much.  Most of us are uncomfortable with silence.  Some interviewers know this and will purposefully remain silent after you’ve answered one of their questions to see if you will say more.  Sometimes it’s fine when we do and sometimes we wish later we hadn’t.  When you’re done answering, stop talking.  If you do find the silence awkward you can ask a clarifying question like, “Have I answered your question?” or “Would you like more detail about that?

3.  LISTEN CAREFULLY
Keep in mind the old adage about human beings being given two ears and one mouth so we could listen twice as much as we speak.  This may not be possible during an interview but it’s a good way to remember to pay attention.  Don’t assume you know what your interviewer is asking until you’ve heard the whole question.  If you don’t understand what you’ve been asked, seek clarification.

4.  DON’T BE MODEST
It seems that modesty is a fundamental prerequisite for Canadian citizenship.  Which is lovely really, but counterproductive when it comes to interviewing.  While you don’t want to be perceived as a braggart, you do need to promote yourself.  That’s one of the reasons you’re there.  It’s okay to say, “We did this or that”.  It confirms that you’re a team player.  But make sure you also identify what your role in the accomplishment was.  How did you personally contribute to the success?

5.  DON’T EXAGGERATE
This rule goes hand in hand with the one above.  While you need to promote your successes, don’t go overboard.  Don’t claim credit for someone else’s achievement or pretend that you alone are responsible for your current employer’s success.

6.  TALK IN CONCRETE TERMS
This is one of the most important rules.  Teach yourself to be specific and concrete when answering an interviewer’s questions.  The best answer will almost always involve a story, preferably a success story or an accomplishment.  If the interviewer points out that this position requires someone who is good at managing detail, don’t just tell them that you’re detail oriented, prove it by telling them a story about how your detail skills helped you accomplish a specific challenge.

7.  NEVER DEFEND OR ARGUE
This one sounds like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many people get themselves into hot water by being defensive or argumentative in an interview.  Remember, the customer is always right - and in this instance, you are the seller they are the buyer.  This would include being careful not to criticize the firm or its leadership for perceived mistakes or shortcomings, even if you are asked what you would do differently if hired.  It’s one thing to offer a suggestion based on what you know has worked for you in the past.  It’s another to imply by your answer that they should have done it this way from the beginning.

8.  MAKE CONNECTIONS FOR THE INTERVIEWER
Finally, when you tell your success stories make sure you link the benefit of your experience to the immediate needs of the company.  For example, if you have just told them how you improved your current employer’s accounts payable process by streamlining the monthly report, go on to point out that those same skills could be put to good use in helping them achieve success in the work they described in their job description.