The interviewing process is critical in landing a job offer, but sometimes it can be overwhelming. In this blog, we provide some tips and tricks to consider and practice when entering an interview to help you to be better prepared.
First Impression
This will (most likely) be the first time meeting the interviewer, so make sure your first impression is a good one.
Attitude
- Politely address the interviewer(s) as you enter and exit the interview
- Make your enthusiasm and excitement about the position clear through the interview process
- Relax and let your individual personality shine through
Attire
- Dress professionally appropriate for an interview
- How formally you dress will depend on the office/firm/field/position – take time to see what the common dress code seems to be on the company’s media
- Make sure, whatever you wear, that you are still comfortable
Know the Position
You will be applying for a specific job with specific responsibilities, so make sure you know what these specifics are heading into your interview.
- Review and re-familiarize yourself with the job description
- Know exactly what the employer is looking for in a candidate
- Take note of key experiences or skills they want the candidate to have
- If you do not quite meet all these, no worries, think what can you do to close these gaps
Do Your Research
One of the biggest mistakes you can make before an interview is not knowing the basics of the company or field you are applying for. Make sure you know the basics, and if you can dig deeper, the more you know the more you will stand out and impress.
Research the Company
- No matter scheduled or last minute interview – it will deem beneficial to research the company prior to your interview
- Look up their mission statement and know their values
- Familiarize yourself with any important projects (past or present)
- See if any general questions you may have about the company can be answered through their website
- Review the company’s social media sites, about page, blog and any recent press releases
- Find opportunities to share your familiarity with the company during the interview
Research the Industry
- Make sure you are familiar with the industry – this will allow for a better discussion with the interviewer(s) and allow you to give more in-depth responses to questions
- Research any trends that you could refer to during your interview
- Know who the major competitors in the industry are
- Being familiar with the industry increases your chances of getting the job
Know Yourself
This might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people freeze when it comes to talking about themselves or knowing why they would actually be a good candidate for the position.
Skills & Stories
- Think of a few career stories that you can draw upon during your interview
- Any stories that can demonstrate any of the NACE Career-Ready Competencies will be great examples
- Stories that highlight any specific skills that are also important for the position – demonstrate your proven skills
Uniqueness
- Find something unique about yourself to set you apart from other candidates
- Any specific qualifications?
- Any transferable skills?
- Previous background experience?
- Anything that shows you have a unique/different perspective on things?
- What makes you the best candidate for the role?
Connect
The more you can network, communicate, and connect to the company, the better your chances of getting hired.
- Follow the company on social media
- If time allows, see if you can connect with anyone who works there to ask any questions – can refer to this in the interview
- Develop a rapport during the interview
- Follow up after your interview
Q&A
It’s always good practice to prepare for any questions they might ask as well as having questions to ask yourself in an interview.
Answers
- Prepare and write down answers to typical interview questions
- Practice answering these questions to build confidence
- Generic or job specific questions will be good to look up
Questions
- Prepare questions of your own to ask in the interview
- Ask questions that relate to something that the interviewer mentioned during your conversation – show you were listening an attentive in the interview
- Ask questions that relate to the company its self – perhaps in relation to your research on the company
- Prepare to ask other questions that further demonstrate your interest in the role
