Congratulations, you’ve planned your next job interview! Now it’s time to prepare for the interview so you can make the greatest impression possible and leave the hiring manager feeling good about your candidature.
The impression you make on the interviewer often can outweigh your actual credentials. Your poise, attitude, basic social skills and ability to communicate are evaluated along with your experience and education.
In this article, we discuss 7 ways to make a great impression in a job interview.
Re-read the job description
You might wish to print it out and start underlining the exact abilities the business wants. Consider examples from your previous and current work that meet these standards.
Research the company and interviewees
Understanding crucial information about the organisation you’re interviewing with will help you feel more confident.
There are numerous sources for this. Search the company’s website and the internet for information on leaders and company direction.
To gain a sense of the company’s ideals, look for speeches and articles made by its leaders and the person conducting the interview. Reviewing the company’s website, social media posts and news releases might help you grasp its goals and culture. background makes you a great fit.
Practice your answers
Prepare your answer to the common question, such as, “Tell me about yourself, and why are you interested in this role with our company?”
The idea is to quickly communicate who you are and what value you’ll bring to the company and the role. This is your elevator pitch.
Use the STAR method
Prepare to be asked about times in the past when you used a specific skill so you can answer with a story using the STAR method – situation, task, action and result. The STAR method is a structured way to answer behavioral or competency-based interview questions.
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Have samples of your work ready
It’s likely that the interviewer may enquire about your prior related work. After reading the job description, consider past employment or volunteer activity that demonstrates your success and expertise performing the kind of tasks they ask for.
Using examples from your prior experience to demonstrate your ability to meet the job requirements is one of the finest methods to make a positive impression during an interview.
Prepare insightful interview questions
Finding out if this is a good fit is the goal for both you and the interviewer. During an interview, Jack Welch, the legendary CEO of General Electric and best-selling author, famously stated that he determines whether a candidate is intelligent, driven and likable – as simple as it sounds, those three simple elements really matter.
I’ve found that asking questions and listening during an interview is the key way to not only learn but also to connect.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos goes above and beyond in his hiring process to ensure he hires the right people for his team. On Inc.com, he shares the three questions he asks himself before hiring anyone.
The takeaway from Jeff Bezos is that it is crucial to make a connection with the person who is interviewing you. The best way to do this is by interviewing them as well and making the interview more of a back-and-forth dialogue.
Bottom line: Be prepared to answer questions, but also to ask them.
Interviews are a two-way street. Employers expect you to ask questions. They want to know that you’re thinking seriously about what it would be like to work there.
Here are some questions you may want to consider asking your interviewers:
- Can you explain some of the day-to-day responsibilities of this job?
- How would you describe the characteristics of someone who would succeed in this role?
- If I were in this position, how would my performance be measured? How often?
- What departments does this team work with regularly?
- How do these departments typically collaborate?
- What does that process look like?
- What are the challenges someone in this role might experience?
Arrive early and make a great first impression
Arrive ten to fifteen minutes prior to the interview time. To ensure you arrive on time for the interview, plan your route.
Before your interview, think about practicing. Choose a backup plan in case there are closures or delays if you’re using public transit.
Keep your nails neat and clean, brush or style your hair, shine your shoes and pay attention to the little things. Examine your clothing for loose threads, pet hair, stains and holes.
Employers will find it easier to relate to you if you are sincere throughout the interview. Keeping the interview light-hearted and productive can be achieved by smiling and maintaining an optimistic demeanour.
With any interview question you answer, tie your background to the job by providing examples of solutions and results you’ve achieved in your career. Use every opportunity to address the requirements listed in the job description.
After your interview, it’s appropriate to ask your interviewer, hiring manager or recruiter about what you should expect next. This will likely be a follow-up email with the results from your interview and additional requirements like an assignment, reference list or another interview.
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