Conquering Your Interview: Make a Great First Impression

Are you looking for a new job this new year? I've been on many interviews and I actually quite enjoy them. I have created a FREE product available in my TpT store of every interview question I have ever been asked. I would write them down in the car before driving away. Then I studied them for my next interview. 

It's hard not to feel stressed, but I loved talking about all the great and amazing things I did/can do. It's a free brag session. Here are some of my personal beliefs during interviews.

Tips and Tricks:

• Arrive 15-20 minutes early, if you're on time...you're late
• Dress for the job you want, not the job you have
• Invest in a good outfit (a suit if you can), bag and a pair of shoes that make you feel like a boss
• Check out portfolio folders to hold extra copies of your resume/cover letter, pad and pen
• Mint chapstick or lipgloss can help with after lunch breath if you're squeezing in an interview after lunch
• Talk slower than you think you should, being nervous you naturally speed up. Slow down!
• Stop and take a pause. Gather your thoughts. Avoid saying "um", "like" and other fillers
• Talk about experiences and successful moments in therapy, show them what you can/have done
• Be prepared. There are common questions you can have answered prior to the interview
• Ask questions at the end of the interview, you want this to be a good fit for you too

*Don't forget to ask about parking when you're scheduling the interview and how many resumes they may need you to bring.

I wore this to my graduate school interviews (Suit dress/blazer combo from H&M). 

Grey/Black/Blue are classic colors for an interview, you can never go wrong when you wear them. 

I always wore pearl studs and my hair up in a pony tail so I wouldn't futz around with it.

Simple black shoes with a larger heel were comfortable and easy to walk in.

I love this interview bag, found it on Amazon (Anne Klein)

This was the outfit I wore for all my clinical fellowship interviews, classic black and I would swap out the shirt underneath (Suit from Macy's and top from NY&CO).

*Different colors represent different features of a person. Blue is said to show the person is trustworthy and loyal!

Check out a portfolio folder to hold all your needed papers, and even put little notes to yourself to help you with talk points during an interview.

I went to Ireland and bought myself a special brooch that I wore for a conversation starter!

These are the outfits I wore after I had received my CCCs. I would wear the pink outfit (LOFT) for a second or final interview and the red one (from NY&CO) with more modest shoes for demo lessons (never knew when I had to chase down a student). I wanted them to remember me. 

*Wear a watch, it shows that you are reliable and prompt!

Resume/Cover letter Tips:

• Research the facility and take key words from their mission statement and use those words in your document
• Use bold and italics to help organize visually on the resume
• Use the cover letter to tell elaborate on why they should bring you in for the interview
• Bring extra copies of your resume and cover letter

Example of write up for private practice/homecare

Example of write up for school

Parting Advice:

Before the interview take 2 minutes to power pose! These poses below when held for 2 minutes have been scientifically proven to increase serotonin (the feel good hormone) and decrease cortisol (the stress hormone). They're very easy to incorporate into your day!

• Stand up straight with your hands on your hips, like WonderWoman
• Sit in a chair and place your feet up on the table
• While standing lean on/over a table with both hands

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