Congrats! You have landed a job interview. Getting to this step in the application process is a huge deal.
Now you need to make sure you do all you can to advance and become the final candidate who receives the job offer. Here are five of the most common interview tips:
1. Be Prepared
Be sure you take time to prepare for the interview. At a minimum you should understand the role and the company’s culture. Try to learn what current employees think about working there.
Prepare your responses to the fundamental interview questions used by most interviewers. These questions include details on your background, your skills, your interest in the company and why you think you are a good fit for the organization and role. Notice if an interviewer asks you to provide a specific example in your response and be certain you do. If asked about experience gaps, don’t hesitate to provide those that are real; you want to show that you’ve thought thoroughly about the opportunity. It’s okay to admit areas that challenge you. Offer ways in which you address them.
2. Dress Appropriately
The old adage of dress for the job you want, not the job you have still holds true today. Although we all know we shouldn’t judge a book by the cover, it is hard to an interviewer to overlook inappropriate or rumpled and wrinkled clothing. Take time to carefully select your clothing, Shoes are important to your overall appearance; make sure they are appropriate and clean. Practice good personal hygiene and look in the mirror before your head out to the interview.
3. Be Concise
Stick to answering the questions that are asked in a manner that is as efficient and concise as possible. In addition to your answers, the interviewer is also assessing your ability to communicate and your critical thinking skills. Stay away from long-winded stories especially those not relevant to the topic of the questions.
4. Do Not Speak Poorly Past Employers
You want your prospective employer to know that you can work well with other people and handle conflicts in a mature way. Avoid blaming or criticizing co-workers, supervisors or employers. Also, it is important to remember that it is a small world, and the person interviewing you may know your current boss or coworkers. Overall, it leaves a bad impression and causes the interviewer to wonder how you would behave if you would leave the new company on terms that aren’t the best.
5. Act Interested
Body language is key. Slumped shoulders, lack of eye contact, slowness when responding, and a general lack of enthusiasm for the company or role are telltale signs that you are uninterested. If you don’t act like you want the job, why would anyone hire you. Most of these examples may seem like common sense, but you would be surprised at how often mistakes occur. If you do your best to avoid these errors, you should have a short job search.
