Interview Coming Up? Here Are 8 Tips You Need To Read Now

Congrats on the interview! First of all, pat yourself on the back for making it this far. Your resume and application have already made it through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), the hands of several HR members, a phone interview, and now to the hands of your future employer. This final step in the hiring process can make or break your chance of securing the position, so here are a few ways you can make sure it ends in your favor.   

Follow Instructions

Carefully read and re-read the instructions the hiring manager gives you for your interview. If it is up to you, schedule the interview on a day when you know will be able to attend. Do your best to clear your schedule the hours before and after the interview, you don’t want to be in a time crunch either way. Be sure you have the correct address, and maybe even practice the route and parking options near the interview location. Bring any materials they ask for, including several extra copies of your resume. First impressions matter! This is the first time you show the employer that you know how to follow directions and you care about the company you aren’t even a part of yet.

Practice

The worst thing you could do is be silent when asked a question, or get caught in la-la land when the interviewer tells you about the position. It might sound crazy, but go ahead and talk to yourself in the mirror. Check your fidgeting, facial expressions, mannerisms, etc. Grab a friend and practice your handshake. Another great tip is to prepare stories to tell that highlight your job experience. You can tell about a particular time at a previous company where you helped an angry customer with their purchase, or when you fixed the computers after a network crash. Highlight the experience you have that is relevant to the job you interview for.

Be honest

Lying in an interview about your past and personality is only going to hurt you. There are nicer ways of phrasing your weaknesses in an interview so you can still make a good impression. For example, if you were fired from your last job and left it on bad terms, you can say there was a misunderstanding in your previous position, but you enjoyed the lessons that you learned while you were there. Or maybe if you have a hard time taking criticism from your superiors, you can talk about how excited you are to receive direction from those who have experience in your field. Avoid trash talking your previous employer or coworkers at all costs, this is a professional job interview, not a gossip session.

Dress to Impress  

Make sure you know what to wear well before the actual interview. If the interview is in the early morning, you should pick out your clothes the night before to avoid putting yourself in a stressful situation. When choosing your attire, make sure it is appropriate for the job you apply for. For example, you should wear nice dress clothes to a business interview, but you might look out of place in a 5 piece suit to interview at a small diner. If the job is more relaxed, be sure to look your best in some casual dress clothes.

Don’t stifle your personality

Nobody wants to talk to, interview, or hire a robot. You can show your fun personality while staying within the boundaries of the job. Highlight the parts of your personality that will help you when you get hired. If you interview for a customer service position, be sure to be friendly and engaging. If you apply for a more serious job at a law firm or title company, display your professionalism by sitting up straight and planting both feet on the floor.

Bring prepared questions

At the end of an interview, your interviewer will most likely ask if you have any questions. If they don’t, be sure to ask some anyways! The employer could assume you weren’t listening, or that you are uninterested if you have absolutely no questions after the interview. Here are some sample questions to get you started:

What are you looking for in your ideal candidate? What is the biggest issue your company faces right now? What are the qualities someone would need to excel at the position I am applying for? Do you enjoy the people you work with? What is your favorite thing about this job?

If the interviewer honestly has left you with no questions to ask, ask a personal question. People love to talk about themselves, so get them talking! Ask them how they got started with the company, their previous jobs, or even what they like to do outside of work. Making a personal connection with the interviewer is a great way for you to make yourself stand out against the other interviewees.

You have to want the job.

The employer will be able to tell if you want the job with just a few minutes of conversation. If your heart isn’t in it, you probably didn’t prepare, you are sloppy or not focused. These are the sort of things you can hide from your interviewer in a phone interview or application. It’s not worth it to drag yourself through an interview if you absolutely do not want the position. Don’t set yourself up for heartbreak if an employer turns you down again, when you could have avoided this entirely! Show the employer that you want the job and are up for the challenge by keeping eye contact, asking questions when you have them, and establishing rapport throughout the interview.

Send a thank you note.

No matter if you feel the interview went well or not, reach out to your interviewer in an email. Sending a thank you message tells the employer: Hey I still remember our interview, I’m here and waiting for your response! It shows professionalism on your end if you reach out and let the interviewer know that you appreciate the time they took out of their day to chat with you. This also increases your chances of getting hired, because it shows the employer that you care. Don’t let them forget about you!

Interviews can be daunting if you are unprepared. By following these steps, you will put yourself in the best possible positions to receive a job offer!