10 tips for a great Job Interview

by | Sep 2, 2019

Have you managed to get to the next step in the recruitment process and been asked for an interview? We have listed the 10 top tips that will get you hired!

1. Research the Employer

Success in a job interview starts with a solid foundation of knowledge and preparations. Do your homework and research the Company, the requirements of the job, and the the person interviewing you. The more research you conduct, the more you’ll understand the employer.

2. Prepare for the interview questions

Another key to interview success is preparing responses to expected interview questions. Strong answers are those that are specific but concise, drawing on concrete examples that highlight your skills and back up your resume. Your answers should also emphasise the skills that are most important to the employer and relevant to the position. Be sure to review the job listing, make a list of the requirements, and match them to your experience.

One of the most common interview styles today is to ask people to describe experiences they have had that demonstrate behaviours that the company thinks are important for a particular position. You might be asked to talk about a time when you made an unpopular decision, displayed a high level of persistence, or made a decision under time pressure and with limited information, for example.

3. Dress for Success

Plan out a wardrobe that fits the organisation and its culture, striving for the most professional appearance you can accomplish. Remember that it’s always better to be overdressed than under. Keep accessories, jewelry and perfume to a minimum. Try not to smoke or eat right before the interview and if possible, brush your teeth or use mouthwash.

4. Get Ready Ahead of Time

There is no excuse ever for arriving late to an interview. Short of a disaster, strive to arrive about 15 minutes before your scheduled interview to complete additional paperwork and allow yourself time to get settled.

The day before the interview, pack up extra copies of your resume or CV and reference list. If you have a portfolio or samples of your work, bring those along too.

Not only will planning out everything ahead buy you time in the morning, it will also help reduce job search anxiety, and it will also save you from having to make decisions, which means you can use that brain power for your interview.

5. First Impressions matters

Make a strong first impression by dressing well, arriving early, and when greeting your interviewer, stand, smile, make eye contact, and offer a firm handshake.

Some studies indicate that interviewers make up their minds about candidates in the first five minutes of the interview – and then spend the rest of the interview looking for things to confirm that decision! So what can you do in those five minutes to get through the gate? Come in with energy and enthusiasm and express your appreciation for the interviewer’s time.

6. Speak the Right Body Language

While the content of your interview responses is paramount, poor body language can be a distraction at best or a reason not to hire you at worst. Effective forms of body language include smiling, eye contact, solid posture, active listening, and nodding. Detrimental forms of body language include slouching, looking off in the distance, playing with a pen, fidgeting in a chair, brushing back your hair, touching your face, chewing gum, or mumbling.

7. Be assertive and take responsibility for the interview

Once the interview starts, the key to success is the quality and delivery of your responses. Your goal should always be authenticity, responding truthfully to interview questions. At the same time, your goal is to get to the next step, so you’ll want to provide focused responses that showcase your skills, experience, and fit with the job and the employer.

8. Line up your Questions for the Interviewer

Studies continually show that employers make a judgment about an applicant’s interest in the job by whether or not the interviewee asks questions. Thus, even if the hiring manager was thorough in his or her discussions about the job opening and what is expected, you must ask a few questions. This shows that you have done your research and that you are curious.

Also, have a list of your own questions to ask the employer ready. In almost every interview, you’ll be asked if you have any questions for the interviewer. It is important to have at least one or two questions prepared in order to demonstrate your interest in the organization. Otherwise, you might come across as apathetic, which is a major turnoff for hiring managers.

9. Close on a positive note

The most qualified applicant is not always the one who is hired; the winning candidate is often the jobseeker who does the best job responding to interview questions and showcasing his or her fit with the job, department, and organisation.

Finally, as the interview winds down, ask about the next steps in the process and the timetable in which the employer expects to use to make a decision about the position.

10. Send a Thank-you to the Interviewer

Common courtesy and politeness go far in interviewing; therefore, you should always follow up with a thank-you note where you describe your interest in the position. You can also include any details you may have forgotten to mention during your interview. Send your thank-you email within 24 hours of your interview.

 

If you have any questions or want more information on interview techniques, contact us on [email protected].

Best of luck!

Written By Cam@MagicMondayz

Related Posts

Comments

0 Comments

0 Comments