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Before the interview, consider your skills and experience and how they align with the job's qualifications. Make a list of your top strengths, skills and achievements that you'd like to highlight during the interview. Consider asking your friends, family and teachers for their thoughts on your list.
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This can help you become more self-aware and give you the confidence you need to speak about your capabilities during the interview.
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Job interview preparation: Doing your homework on the employer is the foundation to a successful interview. An understanding of the employer and what they’re looking for will not only help you to predict the interview questions they’re going to ask but will give a clearer indication of the answers that they want to hear.
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What to wear for a job interview? Plan an outfit which fits the culture of the organization and shows that you’re professional. If you’re in doubt, it’s always better to overdress than underdress. Having said that, if the company’s dress code is very casual, you might look a bit too formal or “too corporate” if you wear a suit.
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Check for any employees’ photos on their LinkedIn or Facebook pages to discover what the dress code is or ask your recruiter. Whatever you choose it’s essential to appear clean and smart. Don’t wear too much jewelry and keep accessories to a minimum.
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Write a list of job interview questions and answers. Be ready to explain any gaps in your resume and the reasons why you left past positions. Look through the job requirements and think of concrete examples which you can give to highlight these skills. An easy way of doing this is to match the key skills in the job description to your experience.
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Apart from preparing your answers to all the common interview questions such as “Tell me about yourself?” or “Why do you want to work here?”, make sure you prepare examples of how you’ve added value using STAR format. What were your most notable accomplishments? How are they relevant to the job you’re interviewing for?
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Do you have examples of challenging situations you’ve overcome, dealing with conflict, working under pressure or managing important projects? Make sure you spend several hours jotting down some notes and preparing your answers to all the most common questions that are likely to be asked.
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It is important to give the impression that you’re punctual and you want to feel calm and in control. Arriving early will help to achieve both of these things. However, don’t arrive more than a few minutes early – arriving 20 minutes before your interview time might put your interviewer under pressure.
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Don’t wait until the last minute to choose an outfit, print your professional resume, or find a pen and notepad. Do all of these things well in advance and give yourself ample time to get to the interview.
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Being punctual and well-dressed are the key to this. Giving a positive first impression is crucial. Be warm and polite to everyone you meet. Give a firm handshake when greeting the interviewer and remember to make eye contact.
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Try not to smoke or eat right before the interview, bring a chewing gum if necessary to refresh your breath prior to the interview. Throughout the interview demonstrate an enthusiastic, positive attitude.
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The candidate who gets the job is often the one who performs the best in the job interview by showcasing why they are the ideal candidate for the job and organization. You have to see yourself in order to achieve this. Don’t hide your accomplishments, a job interview is no time to be modest.
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Prepare several specific, tangible examples that demonstrate the impact you’ve had in your previous/current role.
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Job interview technique: During the interview itself, the quality of your answers, and the delivery are key. Provided you’ve followed the previous steps, you should have a fairly good idea of what questions will be asked, and what your responses will be. Job interviews are stressful but careful preparation will give you confidence and help you deal with the stress.
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Your answers should be concise and focused. Showcase your skills and experience which fit with the job and the employer. Provide examples of your achievements using STAR format (Situation, Task, Action, Result) but try not to give long-winded answers. Stay positive. Don’t speak negatively about past positions or ex-colleagues. The interview is about you.
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This is one of the best job interview tips. You must ask at least a few questions to show that you’ve done some research, you are curious, and that you’re a serious candidate for the position. Even if the interviewer has given thorough explanations and there’s nothing more you want or need to know, still ask questions.
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The best thing to do is write a list of job interview questions days before the interview and add additional queries during the interview. Examples of questions to ask at the end include: – What do you expect your new hire to achieve in the first three to six months on the job? – How will my performance be measured in this role?
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– What is the official performance review process like at your company? – What is the most important and pressing problem for this new person to tackle? – What is the company culture like?
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The final impression you leave is likely to be remembered. Make sure it’s positive. Thank each person who interviewed you before you leave. You might also mention how excited you are about this opportunity after meeting with them.
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Job interviews can be tiring, it’s crucial not to give the impression that you can’t wait to leave and get home. The interview is a positive opportunity to showcase your talent and to learn about the company, make sure your words and body language reflect this.
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Send thank-you emails shortly after the interview, try to do it within 24 hours. Thank their for their time, re-emphasize your interest in the job and you can include any details you may have forgotten to mention in the interview. If you follow all of this job interview advice you will have avoided the most common pitfalls and will have made yourself a strong candidate for the job.
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If you find out you didn’t get the position, you can ask a question that can have a big impact on your future: “Is there any feedback you can provide so I can improve for my next interview?” If there’s an opening, you can even try a casual, “How did I do?” at the end of the interview.
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While some employers aren’t allowed to answer these questions, others are, and might let you know that another candidate was a better fit or tell you they weren’t sure you had enough experience and urge you to try again next year.