The Interview Opening

The day and time for the interview has arrived. Whether you are interviewing virtually, in person, or by phone, make sure you are punctual. Experts recommend arriving up to 15 minutes before the scheduled interview time. This offers a few minutes to check in, freshen up, and get your bearings before the interview begins (Augustine, 2021).

For virtual interviews, your preparation time should begin at least 10 minutes before the interview. This time should be spent checking your Internet connection, microphone, lighting, and ensuring your background is uncluttered (Augustine, 2021). It is also a good idea to have a glass of water nearby during the interview. Take a few slow, deep breaths and sit in the quiet for a moment before logging onto the interview.

Developing a Personal Pitch

Similar questions are often asked in every job interview. Most interviewers will begin by seeking to get to know a bit more about the person before they ask more in-depth questions. Therefore, it is crucial you develop your own personal pitch.

When an interviewer asks, “Tell me about yourself,” you should reply with a coherent, succinct message that highlights your experience, skills, and attributes. We sometimes refer to this as a “personal pitch” or “elevator pitch'' because it implies you must impress the listener and convey your ideas quickly. This pitch should be about 30 to 60 seconds long (the approximate time of a ride in an elevator). The personal pitch draws the interviewer into your story, making them excited to learn more about you and your accomplishments.

Think about writing your personal pitch as a speech. Grab the interviewer’s attention by giving the reason you are at the interview, then give them your accomplishments, followed by your character traits, and close with why you are the best person for this job.

This video explains how to develop a Personal Pitch, with questions to ask yourself as well as where to include various traits and skills. Watch for these tips and to learn why having bullet points is better than a rehearsed script.

Developing your personal pitch is fundamental to the interview and to networking, as we discussed previously. Once you have perfected the personal pitch, it is time to focus on what type of interview you will be doing. The next section highlights various interview formats and styles.