Are you nervous about the interview? Don’t worry, let me first say congratulations! In general, 118 people apply for a single job, but only 20% of them get the chance to be interviewed. However, They say if you were able to believe in Santa Claus for like eight years, you can believe in yourself for a few minutes to nail the job interview.
Following is a complete guide to your unanswered questions. At the end of this article, your skills to perform will dramatically improve.
In this guide, we are going to discuss:
- Job interview preparation tips
- 10 Things to avoid doing in a job interview
- Tips to follow during a job interview
- Tips for after your job interview
What happens before the interview is crucial, although it is sometimes disregarded. You may contact the employer through email, a phone call, or your resume. Each of these contacts creates an impression.
Job interview preparation tips
Roger Maris once said, “You hit home runs not by chance but by preparation”. Let’s face it, The whole interview itself is not an easy thing. You cannot keep everything in your mind before the interview but also keep in your mind that “Preparation is the key.”
1. Research About the Specific Company, Job, and Interviewer
Focus on company missions, ethics, values, and benefits. You can search online, refer to the company’s website, ask people who work there and they will be your assets.
If the company is small, you may not find a lot of information. You can search for other similar companies and apply to them. Visit the company before your interview.
The more you know about the job and the company you can present well at the interview. Above all, it shows your enthusiasm for working there.
2. Start networking
If you think of getting ahead of the job competition, one of the best practices is to network with professionals. 80% of professionals find networking is essential and only 41% want to network more often. Therefore try to stick into that 41%. It creates opportunities to present yourself with enough confidence.
Know your circle, and you can attend networking events, visit blogs, LinkedIn, and be an active participant by writing appropriate comments. Make it a habit, this way you are more likely to receive job leads or interviews.
3. Create your own personal brand
What is your brand? It is your personal, professional, and social reputation. Do not ever underestimate the power of the first impression. Without knowing you, someone can judge you with impressions. Therefore, always try to keep your image clean!
4. Read the Job Description
The job description provides information on the job position, skills required, job role, and almost everything you need to prepare for the interview. You can understand what you know and do not know about the subject.
However, mentioning your key skills that are required in an interview often gets job offers. The reason behind that is, it is more convincing, and it creates an opportunity for the employer to consider you.
5. Prepare a set of usually asked interview questions
Most interviews are set up in a question-and-answer format. The answers you provide should always relate to the benefits you can provide the company and highlight why you should be hired. You should be prepared to sell yourself!
6. Prepare a set of questions to ask them
Asking good questions is critical as giving good answers! In every interview, candidates get a chance to ask questions to clarify information or to continue it.
Think of yourself as an employer. Would you hire a person who does not ask questions during the interview? Therefore, always be prepared to ask questions related to the job.
We highly advise NOT to ask self-serving questions such as, When will I be able to take time off for illness or vacation? How much will I be paid? Did I get the job?
7. Practice your questions and skills
People succeed not only because of luck. If you want to land your dream job, never quit and practice your skills. Sharpen your listening skills, verbal and non-verbal communication skills, and presentation skills.
By practicing, you will be able to learn from your mistakes. Practice with your friend or do it alone sitting in front of a mirror. Finally, You will feel more confident and in control of the situation that will lead to success.
8. Check and maintain your public social media
Create and maintain a LinkedIn profile. The employer can verify a lot of information about you if they do a background check. Also, you cannot randomly post anything there. Make sure you maintain your professional image, and it also helps you network with people in your field.
9. Dress to impress
People often say, “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” Your dress must be comfortable, but it should not be sloppy. Your shoes must be polished and everything has to be clean and well pressed.
Undoubtedly, the clothes you wear affect your performance levels. If you still have worries, wearing business casuals works well. The dress color should be solid colors: black, navy blue, and greys. Avoid colors that are too distracting.
10. Final touch
Get extra copies of your resume, Eat something, Arrive at least 20 minutes early, why not Give a pep talk to yourself!. Head out!
10 Things to Avoid in a Job Interview
- Do not talk on your cell phone.
- Do not smoke or eat on the premises.
- Do not cross your arms when sitting.
- Do not show negative emotions.
- Do not check the time repeatedly.
- Do not ever use obscene language.
- Do not talk about what you need.
- Do not read from your resume.
- Do not badmouth or say negative things about your previous employer.
- Avoid having a visit to the restroom during the interview.
Tips to follow during a job interview
You are now ready to land your job. Now practice and use the following to show them that you are the best!
11. Your interview begins
Your interview starts right after you enter the premises. Keep in mind that your every action counts. When you arrive at a job interview, introduce yourself to the receptionist saying your name and the reason to be there.
For example, My name is George Smith, and I have an interview scheduled with Kiara White at 2.00 p.m.
12. Be respectful and treat people with courtesy, and politeness
Be respectful of everyone you interact with, whether it’s the janitor or CEO. It is of first-class quality and will help you to shine among the other candidates. You can show your respect by maintaining eye contact, shaking hands, and body language.
13. Body language
Convincing interviewers that you are enthusiastic about the role requires not just saying the right thing. As a powerful communicator, body language is also equally important. Be aware of your,
- breathing
- walking
- eye contact
- handshake
- leg position
When talking, use gestures like touching your fingertips, clasping palms, and moving your fingers which indirectly conveys your honesty.
14. Tone of voice
Make sure that the tone of all your communications is positive. When negotiating, the “professional tone” must convey how excited you are to join the team. Nobody wants to hire a crabby candidate!
15. Master the art of listening
Listening is a major factor to consider during an interview because it helps you to understand the interviewer and respond accordingly. It builds up a good rapport and produces positive feelings.
Avoid thinking about what you are going to say next, focusing on the interview environment, and especially avoid bad habits such as nail-biting, tapping your legs, drumming, etc.
16. Keep your answers concise and to the point
Provide clear and short answers with a selling point. Do not make the mistake of over-explaining. Keep it short. If the hiring managers need more information they will ask. Before you answer the question, take a second to think about what you are going to say to avoid rambling.
17. Provide true details
If you think about lying in your interview, well, it’s a bad idea.
If a company conducts background checks, it will harm your reputation and will not benefit you in any way. Also, do not exaggerate about yourself.
If the employer asks, “What are your weaknesses?” and if you respond by saying “I don’t have any weaknesses” It is not an honest answer. Try to give an answer that will not harm your job position and how it may help your job.
Example: “My major weakness is that I focus too much on the details but It helped me to avoid every minor mistake and produce quality work”
18. Use techniques to prove your answers
When providing answers, try to use examples, and use numbers and percentages to quantify your achievements. Also, you can show them the positive results you gained from previous job roles.
19. Refrain from talking negatively about the previous employers
You’ll be asked about your previous employer in your interview. Talking ill about your previous employer only creates a bad impression about yourself. You will look like someone that is not respectful towards your superior and they might worry that you will also talk bad about them if you are hired.
Say something good about the previous employment such as you learned a lot of skills and got opportunities to work with talented people and if they ask “why you left the place”? You can come up with an answer like, that “You needed a place to grow yourself”
20. Never say “NO” to “Do you have any questions?”
Many employers ask whether you have any questions or not. The way you respond will also affect how they evaluate you. So be prepared to ask questions about the organization. Avoid asking questions regarding the salary, benefits, or promotion. The following are some common answers you can follow.
- What are the primary responsibilities of the position?
- How many people will I be working with?
- Would I be working in the office or remotely?
- Is on-the-job training provided for this position?
- How many hours a week is required for this position?
21. Ask about the next steps in the interview Process
This is a good way to show your enthusiasm towards the job role. You can ask simple questions like,
- What are the next steps in the process?
- When can I expect to hear about this job?
22. Wrap up the interview convincing them that you’re a good fit
It shows your interest in the job role.
Use the following example:
“Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to meet with you. Do you need any additional information from me?
More tips to arm yourself for the interview
- If you are applying to a position within your current company, take it seriously and speak like an external applicant.
- During phone interviews, take the phone to somewhere quiet and be careful with the tone of voice.
- In video interviews, follow most of what we discussed, especially look straight at the camera.
- Avoid excessive jewelry, makeup, and hairstyles.
- If the employer offers his or her hand, shake it firmly while smiling.
- Be ready to handle unusual questions positively.
- Do not mention more than one weakness.
- Never argue with your interviewer.
- If your phone rings, apologize and turn it off. Don’t pay attention to the caller’s phone number.
- If you are late, contact the interviewer and ask if the interview can proceed.
Tips to follow after your job interview
23. Send a “Thank you” note
It is a small thing you can do without any effort but will leave a good lasting impression. Send a thank you email within 24 hours of your interview.
24. Evaluate your interview
Evaluating your performance after an interview will help you to get an idea about how well you did it or not. Right after an interview, you can jot down the things you did well, pros and cons of the interview.
25. Seek feedback
There are many benefits of asking for feedback such as learning the competition, finding opportunities, and growing your network. But, how are you going to do it? If you receive a rejection notice, plan to reply within 24 hours to ask for feedback. If you are continually getting rejected, this is the best habit to practice to know your weaknesses and do better next time.
Good luck and be confident during the interview.! Now, go get your job!