Landing an interview isn’t easy.
A lot of steps come before you can successfully obtain one. Your resume should be in tip-top shape. Your social media sites, especially LinkedIn, should be appropriately updated. Your application and cover letter should be tailored to the position for which you’re applying. But don’t fret: All of your hard work will pay off when you’re invited to come in for an interview.
To help nail your interview with confidence, consider these five tips:
Explore the Job Description
A job description is one of the most useful tools a potential employer gives you so use it to your full advantage! The person who wrote the position outlined everything he or she wants to see in a candidate, so it gives you a lot of insight. This provides you the opportunity to go through the responsibilities to ensure you are qualified. If you find skills you haven’t quite mastered yet, you’ll be able to brush up on them beforehand.
Do Your Research
Baseline knowledge is an easy way to impress the interviewer. It shows that you have done your research, and you really want the job. Some things you should know are what the company does, its mission, what products it offers and if it has multiple locations. You don’t have to know it all, but, above all else you should know the value you will bring to the company. The most successful candidates are able to express clearly why they are excited about the potential job, and can convey what specific traits will be brought to the table.
Prepare
It’s not possible to know every question that will be asked during an interview, but there are commons ones you can use to prepare. Some examples are:
- “Tell me about yourself.”
- “What drew you to this company?”
- “Where do you see yourself in five years?”
- “Give me an example of a time when … ”
Besides forecasting questions, bring extra copies of your resume, a notepad and a “brag book” of projects you’re proud to share. Being prepared is pertinent to acing an interview and showing your professionalism.
Be Confident
Go in with confidence. If you were invited for an interview that means, on paper, someone believed you were a good fit for the job. So own it! Hold your head high, walk with confidence, make eye contact, dress for success and listen to the full question before answering concisely. All of those key things display visual confidence.
Relate Personal Experiences to the Job
Last and most important, make sure to relate personal experiences when necessary! Interviewers find this most compelling when getting to know a candidate. As you’re going through the job description, think back to positions you have held, and usable examples that would enable you to excel in the desired job. Having impressive and relevant real-life experience will differentiate you from other candidates. Remember the projects that really set you apart from others, and provide details along with the end result. An interviewer truly wants to know you are the right fit for the position, and even if you’re not, you could be considered for another spot within the same company. They won’t know unless you relay your experience.
You’ve put in the time and effort for the interview; don’t sell yourself short by not being fully prepared for your dream job. You sold them on paper, now make sure you are just as presentable in person! Interviews are intimidating, but with these tips, they don’t have to be.
