HBR Guide to Getting a Job

HARVARD MANAGEMENT COMMUNICATION LETTER

How to Ace an Interview

You get an interview through connections or maybe your resume. You get a job through body language and a few compelling stories.

by Nick Morgan

Nick Morgan is President of Public Words Inc., a communications consulting firm, and author of Trust Me: Four Steps to Authenticity and Charisma.

Think of a job interview as having two purposes:

1. Establishing basic trust with the interviewer.
2. Giving the interviewer a few clear ideas about what you can do for the company.

Achieving both of these goals when you're under pressure takes some planning and advance work. At the most fundamental level, you need to figure out how to align yourself with both the interviewer and the company. So begin ...