6 Tips for a Successful Job Interview
Reaching the point where you get invited for a job interview can be a victory in itself. Often, a lot of hard work has gone into applying for a number of positions vacant before you arrive at the interview stage. Now that you’ve been granted a job interview, you won’t want to mess it up.
This post is going to offer up some handy tips to help ensure your job interview is a success and you get the position you’ve applied for.
#1 – Research the Company Or Business Before Your Scheduled Interview
The more information you can learn about the business, the better your job interview will go. You’ll have more confidence going into the interview and it will be obvious you’ve done your homework. This demonstrates to the interviewer that you have a keen interest in the place you want to work for and are not just simply “trying to get a job”.
It’s well worth spending at least an hour or two doing your homework on the business prior to your interview. It can only work in your favour and you’ll also have a better feel for the place where you might end up working.
#2 – Dress Appropriately
Wearing a suit and tie or business attire to a job interview isn’t always required, but you don’t want to dress down or dress too casually either. Dress appropriately for the type of job role you’re applying for. If it’s in an office, dress more formally. If it’s something like a factory job or other industrial premises, smart casual is generally fine and will look more relaxed and appropriate.
If you’re not really sure how to dress for the interview, seek advice from others and their opinions. Otherwise, just aim to look your very best. It’s wiser to be overdressed than under-dressed.
#3 – Talk About What You Can Offer the Business
We all want to work because we need things from our job, most notably a steady stream of income, but when you’re in the interview, you largely want to focus on what you’ll be bringing to the table, what benefits the business will receive by hiring you.
You want to highlight any relevant skills and experience that you can offer the company, along with any character traits or attributes that you believe will help to reinforce in the interviewer’s mind that you’re the best person for the position.
You should always write this information down and memorise it before attending a job interview, so you’re well prepared on the day.
#4 – Practice a Job Interview Scenario Beforehand
You could sit down with a friend or relative and have them act as the interviewer, so you can get in some practice. It might even be a good idea to video the mock interview. This way you can observe things such as your body language. You’ll want to exhibit positive body language during a job interview. Poor body language during an interview could spell disaster, as you may come across as being unconfident, dishonest or a host of other things that might pop into the interviewer’s mind while taking note of negative body language.
#5 – Be Prepared for the Interview Questions
Naturally, during the course of a job interview, you’re going to be asked a number of questions. Some questions will be predictable, while other interview questions might be a little unusual and unexpected.
Prepare for these questions as much as you possibly can in the lead up to the interview. Have your answers to the expected questions ready, but also try and guess what other types of questions you might get asked.
You should have some questions of your own you would like to ask, so you can learn more about the job role as well as appearing interested in the position.
#6 – Always Think Positive
Enter the interview in a positive frame of mind, as this positivity will show through in your voice, your responses and your body language. Everyone responds well to positivity, so long as it’s not overdone to the point where you appear arrogant. Positive but polite.
In Conclusion
A job interview doesn’t have to be scary. So long as you’re well prepared and approach it with confidence, interviews can actually be quite easy to negotiate.