Four Parts:
A job interview is one of the most
drawn-out and intimidating ways of making first impression. However, it’s also
your opportunity to get on an employer’s good side, which can give you a
distinct edge over even those applicants whose credentials are better than
yours. To prepare for a job interview, use these pointers.
Research
the company's profile and background.
Start by looking into their future goals and plans. Conducting the interview
with this in mind will make you seem like a good long-term investment. You
should also be ready to talk in depth about the industry, the organization, and
the position you are applying for.
- Learn your interviewer’s name and job position before
going to the interview. You may need to call the company to find out.
- Talk to current employees. Show initiative while
getting a feel for the office environment. Learn as much as you can about
the company from people who work there.
- Know as much about the company as possible. You can't
change your employment history or your qualifications, but you can work
harder than every other applicant by being supremely knowledgeable about
the company. Use the company's website, their annual report, and
newspaper/business magazine articles to gather as much information as possible.
Think
of questions to ask your interviewer.
Participating actively during the interview gives a good impression of your
level of interest in the job. It's a good idea to come prepared with at least
three thought-provoking questions to ask your interviewer. (Avoid asking
anything that could be easily answered through a quick internet search, or you
will simply come across as lazy.)
- Ask questions that reflect your interest in future
prospects. “Which are new markets the company is planning to explore in
next couple of years?” or “What are the chances for professional growth
in this job opportunity?” Both show that you want to be on the same page
as the people you’ll be working for.
- Ask questions to bond with the interviewer and project
your enthusiasm. Inquire about his/her position and background or how
long (s)he has been with the company.
- Ask questions about what is discussed during the
interview itself. Though you may be tempted to respond to everything with
an “Absolutely!” or a “Sure thing!” to show how competent you are, this
will actually make it look like you’re not listening. Show that you are
paying attention by asking for more details whenever something isn’t
clear. (Avoid asking questions for the sake of asking, though, or it’ll
seem like you can’t keep up.)
Practice
with a friend. If you have a friend who is also
preparing for an interview, consider preparing together. Not only will this
give you a way to structure your preparation, but it will also help you get
comfortable with giving answers, telling anecdotes, and using appropriate
terminology. Practice giving concise, complete answers and maintaining eye
contact with the interviewer(s) while you give them. Make sure you aren't
speaking too slow or too fast and that your answers are stated with confidence.
- Get feedback from a friend. Even if you think their
feedback isn't on the mark, it's something to consider: We don't always
know how we come off to other people, and the actual interviewer
could share some of the same concerns.
- Know basically what you want to talk about before
the interview. If you're stumbling and fumbling for an answer on a very
basic question, you're not putting your best foot forward. Have your very
basic answers down pat, and anticipate some of the tougher questions before
you step into the interview.
Anticipate
questions from the interviewer.
It’s best to prepare for a wide variety of questions by thinking about your own
career goals, long-term plans, past successes, and work strengths, but you
should also brace yourself for the deceptively simple questions that most
employers like to throw at their interviewees.
- “What’s your biggest weakness?” is a classic canned
interview question that many people dread. Answering this question is a
bit of a tightrope walk: While you don’t want to be too honest (“I have a
really hard time staying motivated”), you won’t fool anyone by trying to
spin an obviously good quality into a weakness (“I just can’t bear to do
less-than-outstanding work!”). Instead, think of a genuine issue you have
as well as ways you have managed to work with/around it (“I’m not
naturally a very organized thinker, but I’ve become very organized on
paper and in my personal space as a result”).
- “Where do you see yourself in five years?” is another
common question that can take you off guard if you don’t see it coming.
Your panicked reaction might be to blurt out, “Working diligently for
you, of course!” but unless you are actually trying to get a job in your
chosen career, this probably isn’t a good strategy. If you’re going after
what will clearly be a short-term job – or even one that lasts only
several years – be honest about what your greater aspirations are (ex.
going back to school, starting your own business); ambition is a very
desirable trait in an employee – to say nothing of honesty.
- “Why do you want this job?” is so straightforward it
can throw you for a loop. If you’re going into a field you care about,
you will have a much easier time answering this. However, if, like many
people, you’re just trying to make ends meet, you can answer the question
by using it as a way of highlighting your skills (“I shine in fast-paced,
high-pressure situations and would love to have the opportunity to
cultivate my talents here”).
- “Why did you leave your last job?” is a common
question that shouldn’t be hard to answer provided that you didn’t have a
major blowout with your previous employer. If you did, be honest (without
being bitter or laying blame, as this will make you look ungracious and
hard to work with) and try to put a positive spin on things.
- Don't be afraid to admit that you don't know
something. While you definitely want to seem knowledgeable, don't lie to
make it seem like you know something you don't. You probably won't fool
your interviewer, and admitting to not knowing something is much more
impressive than lying during your interview. If need be, just acknowledge
that you do not know the answer but will find out more about it and let
them know afterwards.
1
Dress-for-work. In any workplace, your wardrobe is
a sign of your professionalism and is sometimes used to gauge your level of
competence. When your coworkers and customers look at you, they should
immediately feel comfortable working with you. It's easy to rule yourself out
of a job just because you didn't take care of your appearance. As a rule of
thumb, you should dress for the interview the way you would for the job itself.
If the job is unusually casual, however, you might want to show up in
business-casual clothes, but it's always better to be formal. Both men and
women should choose subdued colors (blues, browns, grays, black) which make a
professional impression. Make sure that your clothes are lint- and
wrinkle-free. Avoid wearing perfume, after-shave, or scented lotion (but do
wear deodorant).
For
women. Dressing professionally means
wearing a smart knee-length skirt suit in a dark color, along with sheer, non-patterned
hosiery, closed toe shoes and subtle makeup.
3
For
men. Choose a white shirt, dark-colored
suit and tie and dark-colored shoes.
- Applicants in the service sector may sometimes be
invited to wear business casual to an interview, although business formal
is optional and usually best. For women, this means a simple, knee length
dress with conservative shoes (no jeans). For men, this means dark or
khaki pants with a collared button-up and leather shoes.[1]
o
If you're unsure of the customary
interview clothing expected by the company, simply ask the HR rep or interview
liaison. There's no shame in it. There is shame in feeling horribly
under-dressed when you show up for an interview.
Show
up in the best possible shape.
Make sure you know exactly how to get there and, if you drive, just where to
park so that you can arrive 15 to 20 minutes before the scheduled interview
time. Go to bed early the day (or the days) before the interview so that you
look rested and healthy on the big day. Bring an extra copy of your resume,
CV, and/or references in case
your interviewer wants to go over any points with you or neglects to bring
their own copy.
- If the interview is in the morning, be sure to eat a
healthy breakfast. This is not just an empty suggestion. A breakfast high
in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and foods high in vitamin E, such
as nuts and seeds, will help improve brain function and leave you feeling
more alert and invigorated.[2]
o
Consider exercising before the
interview to annihilate stress and increase blood flow.[3]
If you're generally nervous or fidgety before an interview, it might be a good
idea to work out before your interview. Go hard for an hour, and give your body
at least another hour to calm down. Shower after exercising.
Show
courtesy to everyone during the interview.
This means everyone from the reception staff to the interviewer herself. You
never know who has input in the hiring process, and you can only make a first
impression once.
- Look everyone in the eye and smile. Looking people in
the eye will telegraph alertness, and smiling will signal friendliness.
- Speak clearly and say "please" and
"thank you." Make sure the people you talk to during the
interview can make out what you're saying. Talking audibly, with good
enunciation, tells people you're confident, while good manners tells them
you're considerate of other people.
o
Don't noodle around on your phone or
electronic device while waiting. In fact, leave it in your car. Even though
it's practically acceptable, playing around on your phone can communicate
boredom and frivolousness (even if that's not the case). Stick with a book or
review your notes while waiting.
Be
honest. Many people think that an interview
is the perfect time to embellish. While you want to structure your answers so
that your best, most qualified aspects take center stage, you don't want to
deceive or outright lie. Companies do perform background checks, and lying
about your experience is simply not worth it.
- In a pinch, take a cue from politicians. When a
politician hears a question they don't like, they simply answer a
different question. You don't want to do this all the time, but
you can do it in a pinch.
Keep
things simple and short. Talking
about yourself can be very difficult to do well: You're trying to convince
someone you don't know that you're qualified for a position without sounding
too cocky or pompous. Stick to what you know well, and keep things short and
sweet.
- Structure your answers so that you're talking in 30-90
second chunks. Any less and you're likely to seem unqualified; any more
and your interviewer is likely to lose interest in what you're saying. In
the "tell me about yourself" question, highlight 2-3
illustrative examples about yourself before wrapping up. [4]
- Don't use slang or off-color humor during your
interview. It's important not to say "awesome" or
"rad" during an interview, unless you're interviewing for the
local lifeguard position. It's also a good rule to avoid off-color humor;
you never know when someone might take offense, and it's best not to risk
it.
- Talk about what other people think you do well. Don't
add the preamble, "My friends think I'm a competent social
organizer." Just go out and say it with the right touch of
confidence and humility. Women tend to underestimate their overall job
performance,[5]
so be aware of that before you second-guess or undercut yourself, because
it's unlikely to get you a job.
o
Don't criticize your former
employer. When you're talking about your past experience, be courteous about
your former places of employment. Be honest about your experience — what you
liked and disliked — but don't indict your former boss unnecessarily. Your
class and restraint will shine through.
Be
personable. Try to come off as a genuinely
likable person if you can. If you're cynical, pessimistic, and absolutely
disabused of any faith in humanity, try to tone it down during the interview.
Being personable is about getting the interviewer's emotional side to like you
and believe in you. Employers don't always hire the candidates most qualified
for the job, but rather the candidates they like the best.
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