Special Events
Anatomy of an interview 
What about DO’S and DONT’S when you’re sitting right there in front of the interviewer?
Let's set the scene ...
So you have arrived, nice and early, you smile and greet the receptionist nicely (or whomever has greeted you) and you sit (or stand) looking around, waiting excitedly thinking;this could be the one 
!
DO breath deeply to calm nerves
DO use any other simple techniques you have mastered to calm the nerves.
Just then your interviewer appears ... he/she is professional and looking friendly ... so what next?
DO shake hands with the interviewer when you first meet. Either extend your hand or shake theirs when it’s extended to you. It’s a polite form of greeting and widely accepted in our society as being ‘good manners’. If they refuse it - that's a red flag for YOU (unless they are disabled in which case OK)
DO wait to be asked to sit down and then wait for the interviewer to begin. It's likely they have a schedule to follow and as an interviewee your aim should be to fall in line with that schedule and make the process of getting to know you as smooth as possible.
DO smile and express yourself in this part of the interview .., nice weather, good car park, great office, good location ... all very acceptable at this time. If you use humor here, it should be well received. Just know that soon it will be time to get a little more serious.
DON’T feel the need to answer questions right away without first giving the question some thought. If it’s a behavioural question and you’re a visual person, then take a moment to ‘visualise’ a ‘time when …’.This way you can use your visualisation to describe ‘a time when … you solved a problem within the organisation and helped them save money’ or whatever the question is. DO take your time.
DO use humor to help your nerves but DON’T overdo it, DO check verbal and non-verbal cues for when it may be time to get more serious.
DO be aware that your interviewer is always watching you for non-verbal (what you do) and verbal (what you say) clues … do you say you love the location but your eyes tell a different story? Do you nod in the affirmative but your body language says 'no'way' … Your interviewer will be able to tell!
That’s why @2or3thingsIknow 's advice DO ‘always be yourself’ is the best! Because when you’re honest about yourself and the answers that you give, the genuine side of you will shine through and your prospective employer will be duly impressed.
DON’T lie, I know there’s speculation out there that stre-e-e-e-tching the truth is ok, but honestly it’s not worth it. It may not be picked up in the interview but sooner or later (through referees, other’s observations or your performance etc.) the truth will surface. So DO be honest.
@NikNik and @2or3thingsIknow Do you have any other great tips for when you're right there in the interview?
In the interview: DO ask questions.
In her article ‘Don’t ask that: dumb questions to ask in an interview!’ By Stephanie Castellano she claims people ask questions that are ‘dumb’ in her experience they are things like …
“How late do you consider too late for showing up to work?”
“When can I retire?” 
“Can I take a three-week vacation?” 
“When can I get a raise?” 
So DON’T ask those questions!!
Instead DO ask …
“What is a typical day like?”
“What qualities would make someone successful in this position?”
“What do you like most about working here?”
“Who was in this position previously, and why did he or she leave?”
DO ask questions that could give you valuable insights into what it’s really like to work at a particular company:
Stephanie says ...
“When first meeting with potential employers, it’s better to pose big-picture questions so you can
discover how aligned your skills and personality are with the role and the organization… You can delve into the details in future meetings.”
DO ask questions, practice them first with a trusted friend and work out whether they’re DO’s or DONT’S. Sometimes we just don't realise the question may not be well perceived that's why practicing is so important to do with someone you trust.
Do you have someone to practice interviews with? Have you ever asked something that was not well received? 
Well we have come to the end of another awesome Forum!
Big thanks to @NikNik and @2or3thingsIknow for sharing today, I hope you and others got something from the many DO'S and DON'TS we shared.
I look forward to catching up next week, same day and same place!
Enjoy your weekend and remember if you DO have an interview coming up or if you know someone who does, refer to this Forum for lots of DO’s and DONT’S and also remember to remain confident in the knowledge that if all else fails, you did your best and that’s all you can ask for. 
Look forward to more CareerChat soon!
Renstar
Thanks @NikNik yes absolutely - knowing they're just as much under the microscope them as you are is very calming.
I love the REFRAME going on here ... looking at things from a different perspective is very helpful for calming nerves!
Maybe we can discuss more about calming nerves in future CareerChats!
Great session today @NikNik and @2or3thingsIknow.
Thanks again for sharing 
