Having a great CV is an important asset and a great tool to help you get noticed through the crowd when applying for a job. Even if you managed to blow your future employer’s mind away with it and got yourself an interview chance, you still have a long way to go. Improving your skills on this subject is a necessary action you have to take if you want to achieve any future job you will come across. But how easy is it to master it and what tips should you follow in order to maximize your chances of having a successful interview? Here follows all the tips you should keep in mind if you want to rock your next interview!
Most people believe that having a successful interview is all about the moment you will be in the room with your future employer. However, it is way more than that. ‘’Victory loves preparation’’ and this is something you should always keep in mind. No matter how much faith you may have in yourself, if you don’t do the proper research before the meeting, you may get in trouble. So, let’s analyze it a bit more!
4 Tips to Follow Before the Interview!
I. Get Prepared!
Getting prepared for answering the typical job interview questions is a must. You will never be able to know what your future employer may ask you, however you can always research about the most common interview questions and create the answers you would give to them. It may not come to use after all but it can also come out to be a choice you will be grateful about after exiting the meeting room.
II. Research!
Get to collect the most possible information regarding the employing company. You can scroll down through their website, check on their Linkedin profile or any other social media accounts they may have or just simply type their name on Google and read as many articles as possible about them. This will help you understand better about their values and purpose, the way they work and their expectations and it will provide you with the ability to create questions that will really make the interview feel you are genuinely interested in becoming a member of their team.
III. Practice!
One of the most important things if not the most important thing that will help you ace an interview is practice. You may have done hundreds of interviews and be fully confident in your skills. Practice though is always necessary. Even if we don’t consider that every interview is different, it is clear that there is always space for improvement. Think of specific vocabulary you would like to use in the interview, specific questions, the tone of your voice or even your body language while talking. Create a script and spend hours in front of the mirror or your best friends’ house, practicing your speech and trying to perfect it.
IV. Prepare your Space!
Jobs are moving towards becoming remotely more and more the past years. Same goes for the interviews. If your interview is a remote one too, you should make sure that your space will be quiet enough at the day and the time of the meeting. Make it clear to people close to you that you will be unavailable at that moment. You should also check if your equipment works properly so you can avoid any unexpected last minute trouble on the day of the meeting.
Now that you got everything prepared you just have to work about the time of the interview… Wrong! It is not just black and white. You may have done the proper research and prepared your questions and answers but there are still things that have to be done on the day of the interview, way before it starts!
4 Tips to Follow on the Day of the Interview!
I. Dress Well!
Dress code is something you should definitely follow. Make sure to be dressed according to any specific requirements they may have asked for. However, if there is not a dedicated dress code, make sure that your outfit would be appropriate for an interview. Dressing well can make a positive impression on your future employer, as it is one of the first things he/her will notice.
II. Be Prepared!
Make sure you wont leave your place without having a copy of your resume, reference letters or other useful documents with you. Even if you have already provided your employer with it, mistakes can always happen. Imagine a case in which your interviewer has misplaced or lost your resume, you get a copy out of your briefcase and hand it over to them. It will save both your time and create a really positive impression on your interviewer, seeing how well prepared you are.
III. Be On Time!
Leave your house early enough in order to be on time even if something unexpected happens. You never know when a riot will take place or an accident occurs. Imagine what impression the interviewer would create if you were late at your first appointment…
IV. Calm Yourself Down!
If you plan to leave your place early, do it 15 minutes earlier. Take your time to walk around a park near your house or the area where the interview will take place. Stress is a big enemy of success so try to get rid of it as much as possible. Clear out your mind of any thoughts and enjoy your short break. Just make sure you will not get carried away and miss your appointment!
Don’t consider your interview as the hour of judgment but as an opportunity to better present yourself and your qualifications. Having done the proper preparation, you can be more than confident. Let this feeling be visible to others but also take care of the next tips regarding the time of the interview!
4 Tips to Follow During the Interview!
I. Be Kind!
Consider that your interview begins right at the moment you ll arrive at the place. Make sure to be kind to everyone you will meet, receptionist or secretary or employer. Whatever you do in this environment counts and you never know who may watch or who the person you are talking to may be.
II. Don’t Talk About Money!
Talking about money and benefits it’s not a really good practice. By concentrating too much on them, you appear to be only concerned with what you will receive from the company. Even worse, by bringing up compensation at this point, you give the company all the information they need to reject you. It’s better to discuss these after you have been offered the position.
III. Be Curious!
Showing interest in what you are talking about is great. Don’t hesitate to ask questions. An interview is not an interrogation. You don’t have to just sit back and answer a number of questions. Feel free to express your curiosity on a project or how relevant it is to your previous experience.
IV. Be Cautious!
An employer always considers your answer on a possible question regarding your previous employers. Even if you believe that criticizing the negative aspects of your previous work environment make you look superior, what you actually achieve is looking like a disgruntled employee. Even if there is nothing positive to say, make sure you wont say something unfavorable either.
After reading all the information above, it is clear that preparation has a decisive role on the result of your interview. As Benjamin Franklin said:
By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.
This is why you should make sure to begin early enough with your preparation process and invest as much time as possible. Perfection comes through repetition, so it will always be the more, the merrier. It is for sure that following our tips will boost your confidence, improve your performance and help you achieve the interview of your lifetime!
Vaggelis Moutsios
Vaggelis Moutsios is a newly inspired author and a book lover since a young age. Born in Agrinio, Greece, graduate in Physical Education and Sport Science at Democritus University of Thrace, he decided to make a turn to his professional career. Remote work and the freedom it provides earned him. Following his passion for writing combined with his 6 years experience in the WFH market, he dedicated himself into introducing this world to more and more people.
