Are you a job seeker hoping to wow the interviewer?
The dreaded interview round
Congratulations, you’ve made it to the interview round—the part of the application process that every job seeker both dreams of and fears. Fortunately, we’ve put together some advice on how to make a positive and lasting impression.
Before you let the pressure get to you, give some consideration to the following ten tips for acing your interview and building your confidence. Remember, you were invited to interview because the hiring manager liked your application and wants to talk to you.
- Make yourself available. Your interviewer likely has a busy workload, yet he or she is still setting aside time to learn more about you. If the interviewer asks to speak with you at a time that conflicts with something else in your schedule, first see if there’s anything you can do to adjust your prior plans before saying you’re unavailable. It shows you care about the job and are appreciative of the time that person is setting aside to meet you.
- Research the company and position. This one should be obvious, but a successful interview means you have followed what the company has been up to lately and can reference their specific achievements or what you admire about their company culture. It will impress the interviewer and will allow them to see how prepared you are to start the job.
- Follow current events. You never know what type of questions or conversation points will come up during the interview, and arriving with a knowledge of current events and relevant business news will make you look like a savvy and well-rounded job seeker. Having the ability to follow trends is important in any job, and it makes your life a lot easier when the interviewer references a current event and you know what they’re talking about.
- Plan to arrive early. There are so many unanticipated things that can cause delays in your trip to the interview, and you don’t want any of them being the reason for lateness. In the case of a construction or traffic delay or simply getting lost on the way there, It’ll be a lot less stressful if you know you still have plenty of time to make it to the interview on time.
- Dress to impress. This is the company’s first impression of you, so your appearance must be composed professionally. A well-fitted suit for him or a sleek black blazer and pencil skirt for her should do the trick. Beyond what to wear, remember to maintain positive body language, meaning smiling brightly and no slouching.
- Think of questions ahead of time. The interview will always end with the employer asking if you have any questions. Always say yes. This is your chance to ask about important details, like what they enjoy most about the job or potential projects you could work on. Avoid questions about the salary and anything that makes you come off as pessimistic.
- Bring copies of your resume. Although your interviewer will most likely have your resume printed already, you should come prepared with additional copies if he or she would like to hold onto it afterward. It also helps to hold onto it for yourself, as they’ll use it as an outline to ask you specific questions during the interview. Expand on the bullet points you have given on your resume and show you know what you’re talking about.
- Take your time answering questions. Not every question will be a breeze to answer, and it’s okay to take a minute to compose an answer in your head. A minute of silence is much better than a long “ummm” or “uhhh,” and it will help you answer the question more succinctly as opposed to rambling.
- Thank them. As you leave, thank everyone you met in the office again for their time. Once you get home, follow up with an email to everyone who interviewed you as an added gesture of thanks.
- Be yourself. The most important tip for any job seeker is to show a bit of your personality. It will be apparent to the interviewer if you’re trying to pretend to be something you’re not, and the entire interview will run much smoother if you can be yourself and allow answers to come to you naturally.
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The post Job Seeker’s Journal Part 3: Ace the Interview appeared first on Business School Insider.
