An interview is an opportunity to sell yourself as the perfect candidate. In most situations interviews no little to no information about candidates other then what is listed on their resumes, so this is your opportunity to go into depth and explain how your skills and knowledge make you a good fit for the job. Unfortunately, most people are nervous when it comes to interviewing, which is understandable because your future career may be on the line. Below are some tips to help ease your nerves and prepare for an interview.
- Research the company and the interviewer.
With a little research you may be able to find the companies mission, what products and systems they work with, employee reviews, etc. Usually, companies have a plethora of information on their websites and social media pages. If you have been given the name of the person who will interview you, feel free to do a quick search of their name. You may be able to find pages on the company site about them, articles they are included in, or even their LinkedIn page. Familiarize yourself with their position and role within the company.
- Reread the job description and job listing.
Before going into any job interview be sure to reread the job description or listing. Job descriptions often hold valuable information and can sometimes answer basic questions. Our advice is to print off the job description. You can underline the specific skills, experience, or product knowledge they are looking for. Then jot down and reflect on past experiences you have that fit their criteria; this will be helpful when answering interview questions. Also, take a second to look over the information like scheduling, pay rate, and benefits.
- Prepare some questions for the interviewer.
Even after researching the company and rereading the job description its pretty likely you will still have some questions. Jot them down on paper and take it with you to the interview. An interview is just as much about you analyzing the company as it is about the company analyzing you. Plus, interviewers like for applicants to have follow up questions because it shows interest.
- Research and practice common interview questions including behavioral interviewing.
This sounds corny but try interviewing yourself in a mirror. Look up some common interview questions and practice answering them in a mirror or with a friend. This gives you the opportunity to get into the right mindset and calm your nerves. It’s also helpful because you will be able to hear and see yourself, so you can make adjustments on body language, tone, and responses if need be. You should also take some time to specifically look up some behavioral interview questions. Behavioral interviews often ask you about a specific scenario. When given these questions its best to use the STAR method when responding.
- Situation: Describe a truthful real-life experience that matched the question asked. You could describe an example from a previous job, school, or volunteer opportunity.
- Task: Clearly define what your task or goal was in this situation.
- Action: What actions did you or did you not take to complete the task at hand.
- Result: What was the product of your actions. Did you achieve the goal? Did you gain or learn anything from the experience?
- Make sure your appearance is professional.
Do not be the guy who walks into an interview in sweatpants. Usually, business casual is the standard for interviews. Your outfit could be as simple as a button up shirt, dress pants, and loafers. Be sure all your clothes are clean, wrinkle free, and fit well. Make sure your hair is combed, your nails and skin are clean, and you are bright eyed and bushy tailed for the interview. You should also be mindful of hygiene shower the morning of, brush your teeth, and wear deodorant or cologne. Sometimes employer’s may ask you to do a skills test during your interview. Reach out before hand and see if they expect you to bring PPE or wear a specific type of clothing during the skills test. If you are expected to bring your own PPE or equipment, make sure it is clean, organized, and in working order.
- Behavior is everything.
The way you behave before, during, and after the interview says a lot about you. Be sure to arrive 10-15 minutes early and from the moment you walk in the door be well mannered and treat anyone you interact with respectfully. If you are asked to wait do not spend the time scrolling through your phone, playing loud videos, or making phone calls. When you meet the interviewer great them with a smile, and if they extended a hand greet them with a firm handshake. During the interview make eye contact, control your breathing if nervous, and think before you answer. After the interview has concluded thank the interviewer for their time and give them a farewell that lets them know you hope to hear from them again. Remember do not slam doors or exit the parking lot dramatically because other employees will also have their eyes on you.
- Answer questions truthfully and reference past experiences.
Do not lie during your interview. Remember how you reread the job description and wrote down the experience and knowledge you have? This is your time to reflect on that exercise. You are selling yourself so focus on your strengths and stay on topic do not ramble. If they happen to ask about something you have no experience with be truthful. Tell them you haven’t had the opportunity to work with that specific product or system, but you are willing to learn.
- Send a thank you letter.
After each interview send the interviewer a thank you email within 24 hours. You may be among the dozens or hundreds of candidates that the interviewer has spoken with about the position, so a thank you letter will show seriousness and make you stand out.