I wanted to give a pretty hands-on blog about interviews. We all go through interviews, and whether you've done only one job interview, or a million, each time can be a bit nerve-wracking. I know for me personally, I never expected to go into sales, as my degree is in English, and I was nervous when I first interviewed for my first sales position. As I've continued to interview for jobs, as well as recruit people for my company, Anderson Atwood Consulting, there are many patterns and techniques I've learned that can help you succeed in interviews, that you may not have even known about. 
So let's get started, shall we?
1. Make eye contact
I can't tell you how many people I've interviewed that are extremely shy or nervous, and because of that, won't make eye contact. Eye contact is extremely important in showing confidence and honesty to whoever you're talking to. It gives the subliminal message that "I'm equal to you, respect me and listen to me." People who avoid eye contact, studies have shown, appear more untrustworthy and nervous, and because of that, seem unsuccessful. Employers are looking for people driven by success, and confident in what they do. By giving eye contact, you show confidence right away.
2. Make the most out of the small talk 
While many interviewees just want to cut to the chase, small talk is important as it shows the interviewer how well you can socialize and relate to other people. While this may seem trivial, it's extremely important, especially in the world of sales. If you can't befriend a customer and enjoy a conversation about his/her day-to-day, then you won't be as successful at making the sale. Invest in the small talk and show your interviewer that you are capable of socializing and relating to anyone. It'll help you in the long run, especially if there are a lot of candidates for the position. You'll stand out as more memorable and personable, which is what almost all employers are looking for.
3. The Waiting Room is impression #1
What I mean by that is that employers, or even their PAs, will pay attention to what you are doing when they come to fetch you from the waiting room. As a recruiter, I have definitely done this before and noticed that most of my interviewees are on their phones while they're waiting. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, those who are reading books, or newspapers, tend to stand out to me more than people on their phones. As many employers enjoy the old-fashioned work ethic, many of us also enjoy the old-fashioned technology, such as books, and may give a more favorable impression if we see you reading a book in the waiting room, as opposed to being on your phone.
4. Phones away!
Speaking of phones, this should seem pretty self-explanatory, but do not ever look at your phone during an interview. Even if your interviewer is looking at theirs, looking at your phone gives a message of rudeness, and implies that your time is better used on your phone, then winning in an interview. With that being said, make sure your phone is on silent or off when you begin an interview. The last thing you want is your phone interrupting your impressionable answer! Keeping your phone off and away shows you respect your interviewer, and are more attentive and wanting the position.
5. Take water in the interview with you
Many interviewers provide water for you during an interview, but I always take some if I'm interviewing with me. It not only shows I'm prepared, but I'm also health-conscious, which a lot of employers see as a bonus, as you'll cost less overall as an employee for their company. Plus, drinking water during the interview allows you to pause and collect your thoughts before coming up with an impressive answer.
While I'm not an interview expert, everything I've just told you is from my own experiences and successes of my employees in their own interviews from when I recruited them. I hope that these tips help you along your career path, and to let me know if you have any favorite interview tips that you use.
Until next time!
-Katie.
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