5 Ways to Crush it at Your Next Job Interview
A job interview is, at its core, an appraisal where both the employers and employees get to size each other up. It is a process that companies and recruiters use to determine whether an individual would be a good fit for their business.
Since a company is only as successful as the quality of its workforce, the interview process is often a serious affair that seeks to select the best of the best. There are basic things that all recruiters and hiring managers, regardless of the industry, look for in potential employees. Therefore, the key to securing the job is to show the interviewers that you have what they are looking for.
While there are bound to be failures, there are strategies and methods that can ensure you get a call back most of the time. Listed below are five ways to perform excellently at your next job interview.
Do Your Homework
Preparation is the precursor to success. Proper planning and education will give you the tools you need to perform well. A few weeks before you go for an interview, do your due diligence by finding out every bit of information you can about the company.
Take a thorough look at their website to know their vision, values, and products or services. Scroll through their social media pages to get a sense of their operation mode and social presence. Get up to date about their latest releases, additions or expansions. Study the job post in detail, taking note of the job description and requirements.
You can talk to someone who has experience in the niche of the company you’re applying to. Research search engines and other platforms to gain adequate knowledge about the industry trends. The purpose of educating yourself beforehand is to show your commitment and willingness to go the extra mile to improve your efficiency.
Work On Your Appearance
Your appearance makes the first impression which stays with the employer even after the conclusion of the interview. Most people try to follow the saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”, but a well-tended and attractive cover will draw people in. Ensure that your outfit is fitted, clean, ironed, and appropriate for the interview setting.
Take time to groom yourself before leaving the house; invest in good quality job interview outfits and products from stores such as Aston James Fabio. A clean and polished look will always make a good impression.
In addition to your appearance, you need to follow the rules of engagement. Make eye contact, give firm handshakes, speak in a clear voice, and be coherent. When sitting, maintain a straight posture but don’t come off as closed off. If you’re doing an online interview, ensure that you use a relatively plain and uncluttered background and get rid of distractions.
Give Relevant Answers
Apart from your resume and credentials, employers get to know you by asking you questions. The interviewers will ask you questions about your professional experience, personality, work ethics, strengths, and weaknesses.
The answers you provide can make or mar your prospects with the company. With every question, take a few moments to digest it and formulate your response. Give concise and relevant responses, using instances and examples to bolster your points. Avoid rambling or giving answers that are irrelevant to what has been asked.
Adequate preparation and research beforehand would give you a sense of the questions that would be asked, so you would already have some pre-formed responses. Answer all questions with simple and meaningful terms; avoid giving ambiguous and vague responses.
Use Your Strengths to Your Advantage
Your strengths are those qualities that set you apart from other applicants; they are attributes that make you a worthy addition to a company’s workforce. When interviewers ask you what your strengths and weaknesses are, they want to know how you will improve their performance.
By revealing your weaknesses, you show self-awareness and honesty, thereby telling the recruiters that you don’t see yourself as a perfect individual unwilling to learn new things.
Poorly disguised bragging would not pass as weaknesses and would get you disqualified immediately. A good strategy is to try to present your expertise to tie up or go in line with the job requirements. When asked about your strengths, your response should feature keywords that resonate with what the company is searching for.
Ask Good Questions
At the end of interviews, there’s usually a time for the applicant to ask questions about the company and the job for which they are being considered. When done right, this question-and-answer session can further cement your place in the minds of the interviewers.
Ensure to ask insightful and revealing questions that will give you a feel of day-to-day life at the company. Give the interviewers a reason to step away from standard company propaganda and give you an in-depth analysis of their business model.
Not only would you have a clear idea of what you are going to be doing should you get the job, but also the areas that would be assessed to determine your efficiency and progress.
