No matter if it’s your first job fresh out of high school or if you’re working on your third career change, job interviews can be frightening. If you’ve already experienced a few interviews in the past, you’ll know that no two job interviews are the same. Some of the questions and scenarios your potential employer throws at you can sometimes even make you wonder if you’re cut out for the position you applied for.
Some people can walk into a room with an interviewer and completely knock them off their feet with their charisma and preparedness, while others may walk into that same room and feel like they should’ve called in sick to a job they don’t even have yet. Applying for a job and getting an interview are just the first steps to getting hired. Now, the real work begins.
A job interview is much more than just sitting in a room and selling yourself to a company to see if you’re the right fit for the role. It takes the same amount of dedication as the job itself, and interviewers can tell when you’re not prepared or if you didn’t do your research. Even if you’re not the most confident person, or if you start to second guess your abilities, getting through a job interview can be a breeze as long as you follow the steps to success.
Step 1: Prepare to talk about yourself. “Tell me about yourself?” When asked this question by an interviewer, they often don’t really care to know that you like to collect stamps or rock climb on your free time. This question is asked because they want to know about your professional experience and see if you’re the type of person that fits their company culture. If you do decide to bring up your hobbies or interests, make sure that they relate to position that you’re looking into. Building model train sets in your spare time can be seen as a positive when it comes to paying attention to detail, or rock climbing could mean that you’re not afraid to take risks.
Talking about yourself also means that they want you to be honest with the type of person that you are. Be prepared to talk about your strengths and weaknesses. Saying that you have no weakness is never a good idea because everyone has a weakness, so to deny it is simply not true.
Interviewers ask you for your weaknesses to see if you can be honest with yourself, but that doesn’t mean that weaknesses have to be viewed in a negative light. Your weakness may be that you’re not a good writer, but as long as you’re not applying for a position that requires writing skills then it shouldn’t sway the way the interview goes. A weakness can also be viewed as a strength, depending on what it is. For example, your weakness may be that you often tend to help others complete their work even when you know they’re capable of doing it on their own. This weakness can also be viewed as your willingness to help, and you can revert back to a strength of being a team player. Just remember that weaknesses aren’t always negatives.
Step 2: Always do your research. Sounds simple enough, but what exactly does it mean? Being prepared starts with doing your research on the company you are interviewing for. It’s easy to just Google search a company to see who they are and what they do, and most of the people that will do the interviewing know exactly what it says in their search results. Doing a full, deep search on a company, including the key employees in the company better prepares you for one of the most basic interview questions you’ll be asked: “What do you know about us?” Answering this question with the basic information you quickly found online can be a surefire way for the interviewer to not pay any attention to anything else you have to say, no matter how great of a candidate you may be. They can see through the fluff.
Researching a company not only lets you know the benefits of working for them, but it can also let you know any negative reviews or issues that they’re facing. Initially, it may sound like bringing up these concerns to the interviewer would be a bad decision, but in reality, it will show them that you actually want to know as much as you can about the position you’re applying for. In addition, this may also open up the opportunity to let them know how you can help resolve the potential issue with a positive solution. Asking the right questions and giving uniquely personal answers to your interviewer puts you in a much better position than saying something like, “I saw the job posting and I thought it would be cool to work here.”
Step 3: Practice, practice, practice. Practicing for an interview may sound silly, but it definitely helps. Practice in the mirror by yourself, with a group of friends and family, or even record yourself to hear how you sound or what you look like. These practice techniques can make a huge difference between walking into an interview prepared or coming into an interview nervous and stumbling over your words. Keep in mind that what you think doesn’t always come out how you want to say it when you speak. Practicing gives both your brain and your mouth a chance to connect more efficiently and work on what you’re going to say before you say it, rather than trying to answer questions without organizing your thoughts ahead of time.
Step 4: Know your setting. A company may choose to do group interviews instead of one-on-one situations, while another company might host an interview with the supervisor and manager both present instead of two separate interviews. You are typically informed beforehand what type of interview you’ll have by whoever set up the interview. If it isn’t specified it’s important keep an open mind because you may not get the same one-on-one time with the employer that you would in a single person interview so you may have to change up the way you prepare. Group interviews take less time and aren’t focused on just you, so the chances of you getting time alone with the employer is slim to none, but it can also work as an advantage if you’re nervous about being alone in a room with just one other person.
When it comes to a job interview, a first impression is almost always a lasting one and it highly influences an employer’s decision on whether they want to hire you or not. To put things into perspective, the same way you feel when you meet someone for the first time is exactly how the person interviewing you feels, because unless you two are acquainted, their perception of you is a clean slate. With that being said, there are a few things you can do to make sure your first impression is a good one.
#1: Be on time. While this may seem obvious to some, it isn’t for others. Being on time doesn’t mean being there as soon as the interview starts. “To be early is to be on time” is an incredibly valid statement that’s said often, and you may think it doesn’t apply to you. In reality, it does - especially in the case of a job interview. You should never leave a potential employer waiting, even by a few seconds. To alleviate this issue, you should aim to be at least 15 to 20 minutes early for your interview and it would be advisable to allot more time if you live further away.
Give yourself extra time for factors that are out of your control such as traffic, weather or parking. If you’re taking public transportation and are given the option to be an hour early or a few minutes early, it’s a good idea to be an hour early because you never know if an unexpected turn of events can throw off your timeline. Arriving early and sitting in the company’s waiting area is a better option than running frantically to make it on time, and showing up to your interview out of breath. As noble as it may be that you got there by any means necessary, employers don’t have the time or energy to care why you’re late considering you agreed upon this scheduled time in advance.
#2: Dress the part. What you wear plays an important part in your first impression. Some people already have their “interview outfit,” while others wait until the last minute to throw something together. Don’t be the latter. Figuring out what you want to wear days before the interview gives you the chance to look at it over time and perfect it, and even gives you enough time to change the look completely if you’re not happy with it. What you wear should give you confidence because if you look good, you’ll feel good. Your interviewer may notice if you’re second guessing your attire when you’re fidgeting with your jacket that doesn’t quite fit, or looking down at the shoes you thought would match better than they do.
Not all interviews require you to wear a nice suit or pantsuit. Some interviews can take place on-site in a construction zone or even inside of a chocolate factory, so putting on your best clothes isn’t ideal. Depending on what the job is, you may get away with wearing nice button-down shirts and slacks or a nice blouse/skirt combination. If you’re unsure of what to wear during your interview and it isn’t specified, don’t be afraid to ask. It’s better to ask and show up in comfortable clothes than not ask and wear open toed heels through a messy setting.
#3: Confidence is key. Walking into a job interview, you should remember that you were chosen for a reason and individually picked out of a pool of other qualified candidates. For this reason alone, you should be confident because you’re already one step closer to getting the job than the other applicant that didn’t get selected. Not everyone has the most confidence in themselves, and it may show in their everyday lives. Not speaking up in certain situations or feeling that you’re not good enough can leave your confidence levels low or sometimes non-existent. It’s important to remember that confidence can come from many sources and it should truly shine when you get in front of your potential future employer.
#4: Ask the right questions. There is a saying that there is no such thing as a stupid question. While this may be true, there is such thing as the wrong question. Asking questions is expected in a job interview, but asking questions that could make you miss out on the job isn’t the best idea.
For example, asking how much you’ll get paid, especially during a first interview, is a bad idea. It gives the employer the impression that you’re just there for the money and not really interested in working for them. The first interview should focus on you being a potential employee, why you should be hired, and also if you’re a good fit for the company.
- What are the company’s goals and how would I fit into them?
- Is this a new position?
- What type of culture does this company have? What type of people work here?
- Is there anything else you’d like to know about me?
- Is there room to grow with the company in this position? If so, what is a good timeline?
These are only a few questions that you can ask, but as long as the questions tie to your interest in the company and its growth, then don’t hesitate to ask your interviewer.
As the interview comes to a close, make sure you ask the question of what happens next. Asking this question shows that you’re interested in continuing the process and also gives you peace of mind on what to expect next. Ask when candidates will be contacted and on what basis. Is everyone getting contacted or just people that make it to the next step? Should you wait a week for a response, or a few days? Answers to these questions can put your mind at ease instead of waiting for your phone to ring day after day.
Writing a follow-up email to thank all the interviewers for their time can be helpful when it comes to landing a job. A well-written, thoughtful follow-up email leaves a lasting impression and puts you a step ahead of the candidates that chose not to follow-up. It shows that you’re still interested and also gives your interviewer(s) an idea of what type of person you are outside of a professional setting. If there were issues that were raised during an interview, it also gives you a chance to address them and explain how you plan to fix or adjust any potential negatives. Be sure to thank them, express your gratitude for the employer's time, and assure them that you would be a perfect addition to the company.
