The most important thing you can do as a job candidate is making sure you are physically, mentally and emotionally prepared for the interview. You’ll also want to do your homework on the company so that you know what’s expected of them and how they treat other candidates. Here are some tips for making sure your next interview goes well:
Tips
- Make sure you are physically, mentally and emotionally prepared for the interview.
- Eat a healthy breakfast before your interview. Your body needs the energy that it will get from eating food in the morning to perform well during a job interview! If possible, avoid eating too much or drinking caffeine prior to going out on an interview day so as not to affect concentration levels later in the day.
- Have had enough sleep recently? Sleeping enough is essential when preparing yourself for an important meeting such as this one! Try getting 7-8 hours each night – this will ensure that you feel fresh and ready for anything at all times!
Do your Homework.
You should know the company and its mission before you can do your best at an interview.
To be successful in any job interview, you need to know what the company does and how it does it. You also need to understand why this is important for customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders. The best way for you to learn about a company is by doing research on them–this means looking up their website address or social media handle; reading through their mission statement; learning more about their products or services; talking with employees who work there (if they’re willing to talk); etc.
Consider what your Competition is like, and How you can Stand out from the Crowd.
- Know your competition.
- What are they looking for in a candidate? Are there any specific things that you can do to stand out from the crowd and make yourself more appealing, or even unique? If so, take advantage of this knowledge by preparing some samples of what makes you different from other people who might be applying for similar positions. For example: if someone else applying has experience working with animals and has written extensively about their experiences with caring for pets, then maybe consider including some related content on your resume (or even handing it in).
- How will your skills set up a great match between what the company needs and how well they fit into its culture/team dynamic? This is something that everyone should consider when deciding whether their background would be an asset at any given job opportunity–especially since there’s no way around finding out early on if one person’s experience isn’t going exactly how another person would prefer it!
Practice your Answers to typical Interview Questions.
- Practice answers to typical interview questions.
- Practice answers to questions that you’re likely to be asked, but don’t know the answer.
- Practice answers to hypothetical questions that are open-ended, not too generic and could be used in many different situations (e.g., “What would you do if a customer came into your store and said ‘I want everything on sale’?”).
- Remember: The purpose of an interview isn’t just for getting hired–it’s also about finding out what kind of person is going through all this trouble just so they can get paid (and hopefully enjoy working with you).
Write down two or three Things about the Company that Interests you.
- What do you like, and why?
- What don’t you like, and why?
- How would you change the company if possible (or at least how would it benefit from your perspective)?
Come up with Examples of How you’ve Gone Above and Beyond in Previous Experiences.
When coming up with examples of how you’ve gone above and beyond in previous jobs, internships or volunteering experiences, be specific. Don’t say something like “I was a good employee” or “I worked hard.” Instead, talk about specific projects that you participated in and what they accomplished.
Be honest when answering questions during the job interview process. You don’t want to fib about something just because it sounds good but can backfire later down the road when it comes time for references or promotion evaluations.
If possible ask for help from someone who knows more about the position (like an HR professional) before going into an interview so that there are no surprises later on down the line!
Don’t be Afraid to Ask Questions – but make sure they’re Appropriate ones.
Asking questions is a great way to show your interest in the job, but it’s also important to be sure that you’re asking the right kinds of questions. Here are some tips for doing this:
- Make sure they are relevant. If you were asked what kind of food you like, it won’t be appropriate to bring up your favourite movie or book! The same goes for any other type of question. If you’re asked something like “How would you get started?“, then your answer should relate directly back to what’s being asked. For instance, ‘I would start by reading through the guide‘.
- Ask questions in a way that shows some personality while also demonstrating open-mindedness. This means not just asking “yes/no” type questions! Instead, try asking something more open-ended like “Could tell me more about…” or even better yet- “Can someone give me an example?” To keep things interesting during interviews we recommend using this method because it’s fun seeing how others would respond when given new information; plus since we all have different experiences we learn something new each time someone shares theirs with us too!
Do as much Research as Possible on the Company before the Interview
If you’re planning to interview with a company, it’s important to know what they’re looking for in an employee. It’s also helpful if you can answer any questions they have about your background or career goals. If possible, research the company before your job interview so that you have time to prepare answers to their questions. You can also learn what kind of work environment they expect from applicants (ease of communication with supervisors? Hours?).
- Know their culture: What are the values held by this organization? How do these people spend their free time? What projects do they take on outside of work hours? How do employees communicate in this environment?
- Know their mission: What does the company want its employees to accomplish? Do they work towards their goals together as individuals or as part of a team – both professionally and personally?
There are few things more terrifying than a job interview. Whether it’s job-hunting, applying for college, or even just asking someone out on a date, you have to convince someone that they should take a chance with you. It’s not easy to do this. Especially when there are so many other people who could be successful at your job (and probably better at it!). But here are some tips that might help make your next interview go as smoothly as possible.
