Score! You got the interview! Now what?
Now it’s time to prepare. Don’t expect to walk into an interview without preparing beforehand. You may think you’ve got the job in the bag, but a little bit of preparation before the interview can make a huge difference during the interview.
What do you need to do in order to rock your interview? Here are ten tips that will help launch you to the top of their list.
1. Research the company beforehand
Go into the interview knowing enough about the company so the interviewers don’t need to explain everything to you. Do your research beforehand and you can use the information you learned to your advantage in the interview. You can offer up advice or things you would be able to bring to the company that would improve their business (and make them more money). Your suggestion(s) could be the key to landing you the job!
2. Have an answer to fall back on
Interviewers have a habit of asking hard or tricky questions. They use these to gauge your personality and other factors of your work ethic, but they can easily trip you up if you don’t have an answer prepared. Think about hard questions that may be asked, like “What are your weaknesses?” or “What do you do when you’re stressed?” and come up with an answer for those questions. That way if the question does arise in the interview, you won’t be caught off-guard and you’ll be able to give them a stellar response.
3. Dress to impress
No matter the interview, you’re going to want to wear something nice. Depending on the job you’re interviewing for, you’ll want to wear a nice dress/suit or something professional, like nice slacks and a shirt that will make you look ready for the interview. First impressions mean a lot in an interview, and what you wear is one of the biggest indicators of your professionalism.
4. Arrive early (so you’ll be on time)
Make sure you know where you’re going before you get in the car to go to the interview. I once went to an interview but got so lost I was 30 minutes late. Don’t be me. The easiest way to make sure this doesn’t happen is to seek out the location of the job beforehand. Google it. After you Google it, get in your car the night before and find the location of the interview. This way you know exactly where it is so you won’t have to worry about it the day of. Make sure to give yourself enough time to get ready for the interview so you are ready to go and not worried about getting lost or showing up late.
5. Be professional
Being professional is a range of things, among which are being respectful, sitting up straight, making eye contact, having a firm handshake, and being kind and courteous in your speech and language. The way you present yourself is a strong indicator of who you are. Employers want to hire someone who is all of the above, but also fits into their unique workplace culture. Be yourself and be professional and they'll see you're exactly what they're looking for.
6. Smile!
Smiling says a lot about you. A smile will brighten your face and make you look presentable in the interview. It will say a lot about your personality and indicate to the employers that you’re truly interested in the job. A smile will especially help if you have a phone interview. Smile when you’re talking and the employers can hear the smile in your voice on the other end. A little smile can go a long way.
7. Don’t psych yourself out
If you convince yourself you’re not qualified for the position or that they won’t hire you - then they won’t. Don’t psych yourself out of the job before you even get the interview. You applied for the job for a reason, so don’t tear yourself down with anxiety over it! If you've at least landed an interview, that's great! It means they want to talk to you about the job, giving you a foot in the door. Make the most of the opportunity by thinking about all the skills and qualifications you DO have that would make you the perfect candidate for the job - then prove it to the employer.
8. Show the interviewer(s) you want the position
Without expressly saying that you want the position, you can show the employers you really want the job in the way you act and the way you talk. Talk to the employers about what you already know about the company and what you can offer them that nobody else can. Show them that you are the best candidate by highlighting the skills and qualifications that are perfect for the job and you’ll stand out above the rest. Your body language is something they will be reading during the interview. They're looking for someone who is eager, professional, and ready to take the job. If they get the feeling you're not interested, or hesitant, they'll be that much more likely to pass on you.
9. Have questions to ask
Chances are, at the end of the interview they will ask you if you have any questions. You should always have at least one or two questions to ask the employers in an interview. Make a mental list of things you want to know and don’t be afraid to ask them. Asking questions proves to the employer that you want the job and are genuinely interested in finding the answer. Don’t ask mediocre questions, like what the pay is, or what your schedule would be. Ask valuable ones like “What is the company culture like?” or “Tell me about what you do for the company?”10. Follow up within 24 hours
Once the interview is done, make sure to get the interviewer's names and email addresses so you can follow up with them within 24 hours. Anything more than that and it could be too late. When you follow up with the employer and your interviewers, you are further demonstrating your interest in the job and your character. Thank the employers for their time interviewing you and express that you hope to hear from them soon about their decision.
Once the interview is over and you've followed up, there's not much else you can do except wait. What’s done is done. But the following all of these 10 steps to prepare for your interview can really make you stand out from all of the other candidates and more than likely land you the position.
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