BEST TIPS:
TOP 35 TIPS TO PREPARE FOR YOUR JOB INTERVIEW
1. Search interviewer’s details:
· Ask for names and roles of everyone you are meeting; and if possible get the interview loop/schedule so you know how much time you will be spending with each and in what order.
· Research each person with whom you are meeting - e.g., look them up on Quora, LinkedIn, Facebook and don’t forget YouTube. Seeing a person speak on video is great preparation for what to expect with respect to their personality and style. Plus, diving into their published content will give you more to talk with them about, help inform your questions, and potentially help highlight your preparation to the interviewer.
2. Know about the company:
Spend time to know about the company’s background and various activities of the company. Knowledge about the company will make you look serious for the job. Also if you have time, read about the competitors.
Know the basic stats on size and state of the company, and try to develop a view on the top 3 strengths and the top 3 weaknesses/issues the company faces. If you can think through and be prepared to articulate how you can reinforce the strengths and help make progress against the issues, then even better.
Pro Tip:
+ Set up Google News Alerts for the company and industry you are interviewing for. It shall give you timely news alerts and much needed information & talking points! You can also refer to Social media, website, google search etc. to get more information. Also you can search for people/friends on LinkedIn who are already working in the company and talk to them.
+ Search company on Glassdoor.com. I find that there are typically elements of truth to the themes that surface there, and it is a good way to get a feel for what to expect culturally and again this preparation can help to inform your questions
Related post: Free ebook 395 interview questions with answers pdf
3. Clarify your "selling points" and the reasons you want the job.
Prepare to go into every interview with three to five key selling points in mind, such as what makes you the best candidate for the position. Have an example of each selling point prepared ("I have good communication skills. For example, I persuaded an entire group to ..."). And be prepared to tell the interviewer why you want that job – including what interests you about it, what rewards it offers that you find valuable, and what abilities it requires that you possess. If an interviewer doesn't think you're really, really interested in the job, he or she won't give you an offer – no matter how good you are!
4. Get on the same side as the interviewer.
Many interviewers view job interviews as adversarial: Candidates are going to try to pry an offer out of the interviewer, and the interviewer's job is to hold onto it. Your job is to transform this "tug of war" into a relationship in which you're both on the same side. You could say something as simple as, "I'm happy to have the chance to learn more about your company and to let you learn more about me, so we can see if this is going to be a good match or not. I always think that the worst thing that can happen is to be hired into a job that's wrong for you – then nobody's happy!"
5. Carry an Updated Resume:
A Resume which doesn’t have the correct and updated facts does not leave a good impression. Make sure it has the correct details of your last job, dates, responsibilities, education, internship details, and so on. Carry a copy of the resume with you, even if the interviewer is likely to already have it.
6. Understand Job Requirement:
It is very important to understand what is job profile and whether u fit in this profile or not…Always ask for Job Description before appearing for interview…Identify your strengths & be clear on what kind of candidate organization is looking for..It will help you to decide your approach during course of interview.
7. What all you are bringing it to the table?
Always think that if u need this particular job then at the same time, organization is also looking for good candidate…During interview always focus on what all skill sets you will bring to organization & how it will benefit the organization in long benefit…Job is also doing a business, in our daily life if we buy any product or hire any service..we always look how this product or service will benefit us similarly you are also doing business with organization and try to showcase how organization is going to benefit if they offer this job to u.
8. Dress for Success
Plan out a wardrobe that fits the organization and its culture, striving for the most professional appearance you can accomplish. Remember that it’s always better to be overdressed than under and to wear clothing that fits and is clean and pressed. Keep accessories and jewelry to a minimum. Try not to smoke or eat right before the interview and if possible, brush your teeth or use mouthwash.
9. Practice good nonverbal communication
It's about demonstrating confidence: standing straight, making eye contact and connecting with a firm handshake. That first nonverbal impression can be a great beginning—or quick ending—to your interview.
10. Remember the Importance of 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.
11. Use Social Sweepster To Clean Your Facebook & Twitter
Nowadays, 91% of employers search your social media for any red flags. While most people tell you to watch every single thing you upload, there’s a much easier solution. Use Social Sweepster, an app that detects pictures of red solo cups, beer bottles, and other “suspicious” objects. It even detects profanity from your past posts! Now, that’s f%$king awesome!
“Too many recruiters reject candidate because of something they found on their social platforms” Social Sweepster CEO Tom McGrath says. “We help you create the first impression on your own terms.”
12. Don't talk too much
Telling the interviewer more than he needs to know could be a fatal mistake. When you have not prepared ahead of time, you may ramble when answering interview questions, sometimes talking yourself right out of the job. Prepare for the interview by reading through the job posting, matching your skills with the position's requirements and relating only that information.
13 Don't be too familiar
The interview is a professional meeting to talk business. This is not about making a new friend. Your level of familiarity should mimic the interviewer's demeanor. It is important to bring energy and enthusiasm to the interview and to ask questions, but do not overstep your place as a candidate looking for a job.
14. Arrive on time, relaxed and prepared for the interview
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. Arriving a bit early is also a chance to observe the dynamics of the workplace.
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. Finally, remember to pack several pens and a pad of paper to jot notes. Finally, as you get to the offices, shut off your cell phone. (And if you were chewing gum, get rid of it.)
15. Make good first impressions
A cardinal rule of interviewing is to be polite and offer warm greetings to everyone you meet from the parking attendant to the receptionist to the hiring manager. Employers often are curious how job applicants treat staff members and your job offer could easily be derailed if you’re rude or arrogant to any of the staff. When it’s time for the interview, keep in mind that first impressions the impression interviewers get in the first few seconds of meeting you can make or break an interview.
Remember that having a positive attitude and expressing enthusiasm for the job and employer are vital in the initial stages of the interview; studies show that hiring managers make critical decisions about job applicants in the first 20 minutes of the interview.
Related post: 13 ways to make a good first impression at job interview
16. Be ready to handle illegal and inappropriate questions.
Interview questions about your race, age, gender, religion, marital status, and sexual orientation are inappropriate and in many areas illegal. Nevertheless, you may get one or more of them. If you do, you have a couple of options. You can simply answer with a question ("I'm not sure how that's relevant to my application"), or you can try to answer "the question behind the question": "I don't know whether I'll decide to have children in the near future, but if you're wondering if I'll be leaving my job for an extended period of time, I can say that I'm very committed to my career and frankly can't imagine giving it up."
17. Be ready for "behavior-based" interviews".
One of the most common interview styles today is to ask people to describe experiences they have had that demonstrate behaviors 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.
Step 1 is to anticipate the behaviors this hiring manager is likely to be looking for.
Step 2 is to identify at least one example of when you demonstrated each behavior.
Step 3 is to prepare a story for each example. Many people recommend using SAR (Situation-Action-Result) as a model for the story.
Step 4 is to practice telling the story. Also, make sure to review your resume before the interview with this kind of format in mind; this can help you to remember examples of behaviors you may not have anticipated in advance.
18. Secret weapon: tell your career stories at your job interview
You’re prepped and ready to totally nail this job interview. You’ve rehearsed your elevator pitch—in front of the mirror, even. You’ve committed the entire job description to memory. Heck, you even drove a practice route to the interview location to make sure you knew exactly where to park.
So, when the meeting finally rolls around, you’re feeling cool, calm, and collected. That is, until the interviewer jumps right in with the dreaded, “Tell me about a time when…”
Suddenly your mouth is dry, your mind is blank, and you have a mental facepalm moment. Why, oh why, didn’t you think to prepare for these types of prompts?
Yes, those requests for real-world examples—also known as behavioral interview questions—are frustrating. But, they’re also an extremely common part of the interview process.
Your best bet is to have a few stories prepared and ready to go for your next interview. Here are the six big ones you should make sure to have in your arsenal. They’re general enough that they can be used for a variety of questions, but specific enough that the person asking will feel like he or she’s getting a good, solid, detail-filled response.
Related material: 7 secrets to tells about your career stories
19. Prepare for common interview questions.
Every "how to interview" book has a list of a hundred or more "common interview questions." (You might wonder just how long those interviews are if there are that many common questions!) So how do you prepare? Pick any list and think about which questions you're most likely to encounter, given your age and status (about to graduate, looking for a summer internship). Then prepare your answers so you won't have to fumble for them during the actual interview.
Related post: Top 32 common interview questions and answers
20 Prepare for the different types of interviews: behavior, experiential, or combination.
21. Structure your answer
Most people see a job interview as a passive experience where they answer questions and are confident of securing the job if they answer the questions asked correctly. Rather, see an interview as an opportunity to answer or respond to questions following a guide or plan on the subject of interest. Your answers should emphasize how your skills will be of relevance to the company. To improve how to answer questions in the interview, draft 5 points and have both short and long answers to each point. Nevertheless, you are required to pay attention or listen carefully during the interview. Ensure you carry out proper research on the company before an interview to enable you to prepare appropriately for questions the interview is likely to ask.
22. Practice, practice, practice.
It's one thing to come prepared with a mental answer to a question like, "Why should we hire you?" It's another challenge entirely to say it out loud in a confident and convincing way. The first time you try it, you'll sound garbled and confused, no matter how clear your thoughts are in your own mind! Do it another 10 times, and you'll sound a lot smoother and more articulate.
But you shouldn't do your practicing when you're "on stage" with a recruiter; rehearse before you go to the interview. The best way to rehearse? Get two friends and practice interviewing each other in a "round robin": one person acts as the observer and the "interviewee" gets feedback from both the observer and the "interviewer." Go for four or five rounds, switching roles as you go. Another idea (but definitely second-best) is to tape record your answer and then play it back to see where you need to improve. Whatever you do, make sure your practice consists of speaking aloud. Rehearsing your answer in your mind won't cut it.
23. Bring examples of your work
I have been called several times by hiring managers who expressed their delight at some of my candidates who came to the interview session with samples of their work. You also have the opportunity to do this. Make the most of printed words, it shows how prepared you are and this alone might just set you apart from other candidates. Idea: Some candidates take a copy of their most recent written review to the interview. Obviously, you should only do this if your evaluation is outstanding. Perhaps you could come with a graph or a chat that illustrates the actions you took that saved your old company some money or even how you improved their business.
Always couch your examples with the following line of logic:
• This was the situation at the time.
• This is what I did to remedy the situation.
• My actions yielded these results.
24. Make the interview a two-way street
The objective for both you and your interviewer is to determine whether this is a good fit. Legendary CEO of General Electric, and bestselling author, Jack Welch, once said that during an interview, he assesses whether someone is smart, motivated, and likeable – as simple as it sounds, those three simple elements really matter.
Determine that you will do no more than 50% of the talking, even less.
I’ve found that asking questions and listening during an interview is the key way to not only learn, but to connect.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos goes above and beyond in his hiring process to ensure he hires the right people for his team. On Inc.com, he shares the three questions he asks himself before hiring anyone.
The takeaway from Jeff Bezos is that it is crucial to make a connection with the person who is interviewing you. The best way to do this is by interviewing them as well and making the interview more of a back-and-forth dialogue.
Bottom line: Be prepared to answer questions, but also to ask them.
Here’s a fantastic list of questions you can ask in your interview, including questions such as:
"If you were to rank all the people who have done this job in the past, tell me about No. 1 and why you would put them there?"
In the past as I interviewed for a board role, I asked my interviewer about a specific point in the narrative of an SEC document that I found unusual. In another interview, I mentioned several institutional investors and the interviewer said I knew more about investors than other candidates did! It pays to do your homework.
25. Do not arrive too early
On the flip side, arriving too early can also irritate a hiring manager, since it is equally disruptive to their schedule. It's important to arrive at least 10 minutes early to get through any security and check in with reception, but it's a mistake to arrive any earlier than 15 minutes before your scheduled interview time.
26. Do not display low energy
This one is hard to define but an interview killer. Here's what it looks like: Slumped shoulders, lack of eye contact, slowness to respond to questions, and a general lack of enthusiasm for the company or role. If you don't clearly want the job, it's near impossible to persuade someone to give it to you.
27. do not focus too much on themselves
Talking endlessly about what you want, how this job is the direction you want to go in your career, and how the experience would be great for you is meaningless drivel to an interviewer.
Companies don't pay you to help you out! They hire you because you have traits and skills that will help them achieve their goals. Use your responses to illustrate how you can be of service to the hiring manager.
28. Reciting scripts
It’s prudent to prepare responses to common questions (e.g., “Tell me about yourself”), but don’t be robotic. Instead of memorizing answers and repeating them line-by-line, focus on the overall concept.
“It’s like giving a good PowerPoint presentation,” says Crawford. “You have your talking points, but every time you present it, it’s a little different.”
29. Not making eye contact
Meeting the interviewer’s gaze is essential to making a good impression.
“If you can’t look your interviewer in the eye it can seem as if you’re lacking in confidence, or even hiding something. I understand that this might be more challenging for people that are shy, but it’s important to make that connection,” D’Souza says.
30. Don’t ask about salary or benefits
I’ve never gotten into the particulars of benefits in an interview – compensation, paid time off, and any other perks. I wait until an offer is made. I’ve found that if it’s clear there is a win/win, that these finer points can be discussed and even negotiated in an atmosphere of trust.
After the interview has wrapped up, here are some more tips on how you can land your dream job:
31. Salary Negotiations:
Never ever ask for unrealistic salary hikes as it gives impression that you are not serious about the job and just changing the job for money….Kindly do your homework before salary negotiation i.e. with your experience and for the particular job profile what is industry benchmark…For junior and middle management, normal salary hike is in the range of 25% to 40%…Also in some of critical job profiles like treasury in banking you might get very high salary hike.
32. Ask questions
You should always have some questions for your interviewer to demonstrate your interest in the position. Prepare a minimum of five questions, some which will give you more information about the job and some which delve deeper into the culture and goals of the company.
Related post: Top 10 questions to ask employer in job interview
33. Thank Interviewer(s) in Person, by Email, or Postal Mail
Common courtesy and politeness go far in interviewing; thus, the importance of thanking each person who interviews you should come as no surprise. Start the process while at the interview, thanking each person who interviewed you before you leave. Writing thank-you emails or notes shortly after the interview will not get you the job offer, but doing so will certainly give you an edge over any of the other finalists who didn’t bother to send thank-you notes.
34. Create a list of items that you did well and that you would like to improve on.
This can be one of the most effective things to do after an interview because it will allow you to improve for future job interviews, or assess general weaknesses that will be helpful in your career. Doing this right after an interview is ideal as well because everything will be fresh. It doesn’t have to be a big fancy list, bullet points will do. The most important thing to remember is to be brutally honest with yourself. Even if you didn’t like the way the interview was conducted, there’s always something you can do to improve. Find it!
35. Don't give up!
If you've had a bad interview for a job that you truly think would be a great fit for you (not just something you want badly), don't give up! Write a note, send an email, or call the interviewer to let him or her know that you think you did a poor job of communicating why you think this job would be a good match. Reiterate what you have to offer the company, and say that you'd like an opportunity to contribute. Whether this strategy will get you a job offer depends on the company and on you. But one thing's for sure: If you don't try, your chances are exactly zero. We've seen this approach work on numerous occasions, and we encourage you to give it that last shot.
1. Search interviewer’s details:
· Ask for names and roles of everyone you are meeting; and if possible get the interview loop/schedule so you know how much time you will be spending with each and in what order.
· Research each person with whom you are meeting - e.g., look them up on Quora, LinkedIn, Facebook and don’t forget YouTube. Seeing a person speak on video is great preparation for what to expect with respect to their personality and style. Plus, diving into their published content will give you more to talk with them about, help inform your questions, and potentially help highlight your preparation to the interviewer.
2. Know about the company:
Spend time to know about the company’s background and various activities of the company. Knowledge about the company will make you look serious for the job. Also if you have time, read about the competitors.
Know the basic stats on size and state of the company, and try to develop a view on the top 3 strengths and the top 3 weaknesses/issues the company faces. If you can think through and be prepared to articulate how you can reinforce the strengths and help make progress against the issues, then even better.
Pro Tip:
+ Set up Google News Alerts for the company and industry you are interviewing for. It shall give you timely news alerts and much needed information & talking points! You can also refer to Social media, website, google search etc. to get more information. Also you can search for people/friends on LinkedIn who are already working in the company and talk to them.
+ Search company on Glassdoor.com. I find that there are typically elements of truth to the themes that surface there, and it is a good way to get a feel for what to expect culturally and again this preparation can help to inform your questions
Related post: Free ebook 395 interview questions with answers pdf
3. Clarify your "selling points" and the reasons you want the job.
Prepare to go into every interview with three to five key selling points in mind, such as what makes you the best candidate for the position. Have an example of each selling point prepared ("I have good communication skills. For example, I persuaded an entire group to ..."). And be prepared to tell the interviewer why you want that job – including what interests you about it, what rewards it offers that you find valuable, and what abilities it requires that you possess. If an interviewer doesn't think you're really, really interested in the job, he or she won't give you an offer – no matter how good you are!
4. Get on the same side as the interviewer.
Many interviewers view job interviews as adversarial: Candidates are going to try to pry an offer out of the interviewer, and the interviewer's job is to hold onto it. Your job is to transform this "tug of war" into a relationship in which you're both on the same side. You could say something as simple as, "I'm happy to have the chance to learn more about your company and to let you learn more about me, so we can see if this is going to be a good match or not. I always think that the worst thing that can happen is to be hired into a job that's wrong for you – then nobody's happy!"
5. Carry an Updated Resume:
A Resume which doesn’t have the correct and updated facts does not leave a good impression. Make sure it has the correct details of your last job, dates, responsibilities, education, internship details, and so on. Carry a copy of the resume with you, even if the interviewer is likely to already have it.
6. Understand Job Requirement:
It is very important to understand what is job profile and whether u fit in this profile or not…Always ask for Job Description before appearing for interview…Identify your strengths & be clear on what kind of candidate organization is looking for..It will help you to decide your approach during course of interview.
7. What all you are bringing it to the table?
Always think that if u need this particular job then at the same time, organization is also looking for good candidate…During interview always focus on what all skill sets you will bring to organization & how it will benefit the organization in long benefit…Job is also doing a business, in our daily life if we buy any product or hire any service..we always look how this product or service will benefit us similarly you are also doing business with organization and try to showcase how organization is going to benefit if they offer this job to u.
8. Dress for Success
Plan out a wardrobe that fits the organization and its culture, striving for the most professional appearance you can accomplish. Remember that it’s always better to be overdressed than under and to wear clothing that fits and is clean and pressed. Keep accessories and jewelry to a minimum. Try not to smoke or eat right before the interview and if possible, brush your teeth or use mouthwash.
9. Practice good nonverbal communication
It's about demonstrating confidence: standing straight, making eye contact and connecting with a firm handshake. That first nonverbal impression can be a great beginning—or quick ending—to your interview.
10. Remember the Importance of 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.
11. Use Social Sweepster To Clean Your Facebook & Twitter
Nowadays, 91% of employers search your social media for any red flags. While most people tell you to watch every single thing you upload, there’s a much easier solution. Use Social Sweepster, an app that detects pictures of red solo cups, beer bottles, and other “suspicious” objects. It even detects profanity from your past posts! Now, that’s f%$king awesome!
“Too many recruiters reject candidate because of something they found on their social platforms” Social Sweepster CEO Tom McGrath says. “We help you create the first impression on your own terms.”
12. Don't talk too much
Telling the interviewer more than he needs to know could be a fatal mistake. When you have not prepared ahead of time, you may ramble when answering interview questions, sometimes talking yourself right out of the job. Prepare for the interview by reading through the job posting, matching your skills with the position's requirements and relating only that information.
13 Don't be too familiar
The interview is a professional meeting to talk business. This is not about making a new friend. Your level of familiarity should mimic the interviewer's demeanor. It is important to bring energy and enthusiasm to the interview and to ask questions, but do not overstep your place as a candidate looking for a job.
14. Arrive on time, relaxed and prepared for the interview
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. Arriving a bit early is also a chance to observe the dynamics of the workplace.
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. Finally, remember to pack several pens and a pad of paper to jot notes. Finally, as you get to the offices, shut off your cell phone. (And if you were chewing gum, get rid of it.)
15. Make good first impressions
A cardinal rule of interviewing is to be polite and offer warm greetings to everyone you meet from the parking attendant to the receptionist to the hiring manager. Employers often are curious how job applicants treat staff members and your job offer could easily be derailed if you’re rude or arrogant to any of the staff. When it’s time for the interview, keep in mind that first impressions the impression interviewers get in the first few seconds of meeting you can make or break an interview.
Remember that having a positive attitude and expressing enthusiasm for the job and employer are vital in the initial stages of the interview; studies show that hiring managers make critical decisions about job applicants in the first 20 minutes of the interview.
Related post: 13 ways to make a good first impression at job interview
16. Be ready to handle illegal and inappropriate questions.
Interview questions about your race, age, gender, religion, marital status, and sexual orientation are inappropriate and in many areas illegal. Nevertheless, you may get one or more of them. If you do, you have a couple of options. You can simply answer with a question ("I'm not sure how that's relevant to my application"), or you can try to answer "the question behind the question": "I don't know whether I'll decide to have children in the near future, but if you're wondering if I'll be leaving my job for an extended period of time, I can say that I'm very committed to my career and frankly can't imagine giving it up."
17. Be ready for "behavior-based" interviews".
One of the most common interview styles today is to ask people to describe experiences they have had that demonstrate behaviors 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.
Step 1 is to anticipate the behaviors this hiring manager is likely to be looking for.
Step 2 is to identify at least one example of when you demonstrated each behavior.
Step 3 is to prepare a story for each example. Many people recommend using SAR (Situation-Action-Result) as a model for the story.
Step 4 is to practice telling the story. Also, make sure to review your resume before the interview with this kind of format in mind; this can help you to remember examples of behaviors you may not have anticipated in advance.
18. Secret weapon: tell your career stories at your job interview
You’re prepped and ready to totally nail this job interview. You’ve rehearsed your elevator pitch—in front of the mirror, even. You’ve committed the entire job description to memory. Heck, you even drove a practice route to the interview location to make sure you knew exactly where to park.
So, when the meeting finally rolls around, you’re feeling cool, calm, and collected. That is, until the interviewer jumps right in with the dreaded, “Tell me about a time when…”
Suddenly your mouth is dry, your mind is blank, and you have a mental facepalm moment. Why, oh why, didn’t you think to prepare for these types of prompts?
Yes, those requests for real-world examples—also known as behavioral interview questions—are frustrating. But, they’re also an extremely common part of the interview process.
Your best bet is to have a few stories prepared and ready to go for your next interview. Here are the six big ones you should make sure to have in your arsenal. They’re general enough that they can be used for a variety of questions, but specific enough that the person asking will feel like he or she’s getting a good, solid, detail-filled response.
Related material: 7 secrets to tells about your career stories
19. Prepare for common interview questions.
Every "how to interview" book has a list of a hundred or more "common interview questions." (You might wonder just how long those interviews are if there are that many common questions!) So how do you prepare? Pick any list and think about which questions you're most likely to encounter, given your age and status (about to graduate, looking for a summer internship). Then prepare your answers so you won't have to fumble for them during the actual interview.
Related post: Top 32 common interview questions and answers
20 Prepare for the different types of interviews: behavior, experiential, or combination.
21. Structure your answer
Most people see a job interview as a passive experience where they answer questions and are confident of securing the job if they answer the questions asked correctly. Rather, see an interview as an opportunity to answer or respond to questions following a guide or plan on the subject of interest. Your answers should emphasize how your skills will be of relevance to the company. To improve how to answer questions in the interview, draft 5 points and have both short and long answers to each point. Nevertheless, you are required to pay attention or listen carefully during the interview. Ensure you carry out proper research on the company before an interview to enable you to prepare appropriately for questions the interview is likely to ask.
22. Practice, practice, practice.
It's one thing to come prepared with a mental answer to a question like, "Why should we hire you?" It's another challenge entirely to say it out loud in a confident and convincing way. The first time you try it, you'll sound garbled and confused, no matter how clear your thoughts are in your own mind! Do it another 10 times, and you'll sound a lot smoother and more articulate.
But you shouldn't do your practicing when you're "on stage" with a recruiter; rehearse before you go to the interview. The best way to rehearse? Get two friends and practice interviewing each other in a "round robin": one person acts as the observer and the "interviewee" gets feedback from both the observer and the "interviewer." Go for four or five rounds, switching roles as you go. Another idea (but definitely second-best) is to tape record your answer and then play it back to see where you need to improve. Whatever you do, make sure your practice consists of speaking aloud. Rehearsing your answer in your mind won't cut it.
23. Bring examples of your work
I have been called several times by hiring managers who expressed their delight at some of my candidates who came to the interview session with samples of their work. You also have the opportunity to do this. Make the most of printed words, it shows how prepared you are and this alone might just set you apart from other candidates. Idea: Some candidates take a copy of their most recent written review to the interview. Obviously, you should only do this if your evaluation is outstanding. Perhaps you could come with a graph or a chat that illustrates the actions you took that saved your old company some money or even how you improved their business.
Always couch your examples with the following line of logic:
• This was the situation at the time.
• This is what I did to remedy the situation.
• My actions yielded these results.
24. Make the interview a two-way street
The objective for both you and your interviewer is to determine whether this is a good fit. Legendary CEO of General Electric, and bestselling author, Jack Welch, once said that during an interview, he assesses whether someone is smart, motivated, and likeable – as simple as it sounds, those three simple elements really matter.
Determine that you will do no more than 50% of the talking, even less.
I’ve found that asking questions and listening during an interview is the key way to not only learn, but to connect.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos goes above and beyond in his hiring process to ensure he hires the right people for his team. On Inc.com, he shares the three questions he asks himself before hiring anyone.
The takeaway from Jeff Bezos is that it is crucial to make a connection with the person who is interviewing you. The best way to do this is by interviewing them as well and making the interview more of a back-and-forth dialogue.
Bottom line: Be prepared to answer questions, but also to ask them.
Here’s a fantastic list of questions you can ask in your interview, including questions such as:
"If you were to rank all the people who have done this job in the past, tell me about No. 1 and why you would put them there?"
In the past as I interviewed for a board role, I asked my interviewer about a specific point in the narrative of an SEC document that I found unusual. In another interview, I mentioned several institutional investors and the interviewer said I knew more about investors than other candidates did! It pays to do your homework.
25. Do not arrive too early
On the flip side, arriving too early can also irritate a hiring manager, since it is equally disruptive to their schedule. It's important to arrive at least 10 minutes early to get through any security and check in with reception, but it's a mistake to arrive any earlier than 15 minutes before your scheduled interview time.
26. Do not display low energy
This one is hard to define but an interview killer. Here's what it looks like: Slumped shoulders, lack of eye contact, slowness to respond to questions, and a general lack of enthusiasm for the company or role. If you don't clearly want the job, it's near impossible to persuade someone to give it to you.
27. do not focus too much on themselves
Talking endlessly about what you want, how this job is the direction you want to go in your career, and how the experience would be great for you is meaningless drivel to an interviewer.
Companies don't pay you to help you out! They hire you because you have traits and skills that will help them achieve their goals. Use your responses to illustrate how you can be of service to the hiring manager.
28. Reciting scripts
It’s prudent to prepare responses to common questions (e.g., “Tell me about yourself”), but don’t be robotic. Instead of memorizing answers and repeating them line-by-line, focus on the overall concept.
“It’s like giving a good PowerPoint presentation,” says Crawford. “You have your talking points, but every time you present it, it’s a little different.”
29. Not making eye contact
Meeting the interviewer’s gaze is essential to making a good impression.
“If you can’t look your interviewer in the eye it can seem as if you’re lacking in confidence, or even hiding something. I understand that this might be more challenging for people that are shy, but it’s important to make that connection,” D’Souza says.
30. Don’t ask about salary or benefits
I’ve never gotten into the particulars of benefits in an interview – compensation, paid time off, and any other perks. I wait until an offer is made. I’ve found that if it’s clear there is a win/win, that these finer points can be discussed and even negotiated in an atmosphere of trust.
After the interview has wrapped up, here are some more tips on how you can land your dream job:
31. Salary Negotiations:
Never ever ask for unrealistic salary hikes as it gives impression that you are not serious about the job and just changing the job for money….Kindly do your homework before salary negotiation i.e. with your experience and for the particular job profile what is industry benchmark…For junior and middle management, normal salary hike is in the range of 25% to 40%…Also in some of critical job profiles like treasury in banking you might get very high salary hike.
32. Ask questions
You should always have some questions for your interviewer to demonstrate your interest in the position. Prepare a minimum of five questions, some which will give you more information about the job and some which delve deeper into the culture and goals of the company.
Related post: Top 10 questions to ask employer in job interview
33. Thank Interviewer(s) in Person, by Email, or Postal Mail
Common courtesy and politeness go far in interviewing; thus, the importance of thanking each person who interviews you should come as no surprise. Start the process while at the interview, thanking each person who interviewed you before you leave. Writing thank-you emails or notes shortly after the interview will not get you the job offer, but doing so will certainly give you an edge over any of the other finalists who didn’t bother to send thank-you notes.
34. Create a list of items that you did well and that you would like to improve on.
This can be one of the most effective things to do after an interview because it will allow you to improve for future job interviews, or assess general weaknesses that will be helpful in your career. Doing this right after an interview is ideal as well because everything will be fresh. It doesn’t have to be a big fancy list, bullet points will do. The most important thing to remember is to be brutally honest with yourself. Even if you didn’t like the way the interview was conducted, there’s always something you can do to improve. Find it!
35. Don't give up!
If you've had a bad interview for a job that you truly think would be a great fit for you (not just something you want badly), don't give up! Write a note, send an email, or call the interviewer to let him or her know that you think you did a poor job of communicating why you think this job would be a good match. Reiterate what you have to offer the company, and say that you'd like an opportunity to contribute. Whether this strategy will get you a job offer depends on the company and on you. But one thing's for sure: If you don't try, your chances are exactly zero. We've seen this approach work on numerous occasions, and we encourage you to give it that last shot.
Jack Ma: Success Story:
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