How To Ace The 10-Minute Interview

Every job seeker knows there isn’t much time to make a positive impression during an interview. Human-resources managers say that they form a positive or negative opinion of candidates within 10 minutes. And some make impressions even more quickly. Eighteen percent of respondents claim they need just five minutes to draw conclusions about an interviewee.

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How can you make the most of the little time you have? Here are some tips:

Arrive on time: Although no one tries to be late, it’s easy to find yourself scrambling around the morning of your interview as the meeting time draws closer.

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One way to ensure you’re not late is to aim to arrive half an hour early. If you find you have time to spare, use it to review your resume, check your appearance in the restroom and make sure your cell phone has been turned off before stepping into the employer’s office. Show up five to 10 minutes before the interview is scheduled to start to prove that you’re punctual.

Bring reinforcements: Don’t arrive to the interview empty handed. Bring extra copies of your resume and any work samples you submitted or were asked to provide. Also prepare a list of references in case the interviewer requests this information. Compiling this document ahead of time is a good way to show you’re prepared. Also pack a notepad and pen before heading out the door. During the interview, note down key points about the job or company. These details will come in handy when crafting a thank-you note to the hiring manager and when evaluating the opportunity if you’re offered the role. Shake hands like you mean it.

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Assess your surroundings: Once seated in the interview room, take a moment to survey your surroundings, especially if you’re meeting in the hiring manager’s office. Give yourself a moment to compose your thoughts before responding. Then, speak clearly and at a comfortable pace. Try to maintain as natural a tone as possible. Watch your body language. Body language plays a significant role in the message you convey. For example, wiggling your foot, biting your nails or frantically clicking the pen in your hand will make you seem nervous, bored or distracted — and likely annoy the hiring manager.

Instead, strike a confident pose. Look the interviewer in the eye when speaking, and lean forward in your chair to show you’re engaged. Just don’t overdo it. An exaggerated or unnatural pose can come across as, well, just plain weird.