Hopefully you read my last post, 5 Tips to Help You Start a Successful Job Search, took my advice, and have landed yourself a job interview. Now, you’re probably looking for advice on how to prepare so that you either get asked back for a second interview or receive an offer. Well, you’ve come to right place. I’ve recently gone through this process myself, so have put together five tips to help you crush your job interview and land the job.
1. Research interview questions and write down your answers.
You can never be too prepared for an interview. It’s a good idea to spend some time searching for standard and “hard” interview questions. There are tons, and I mean tons, of articles out there with a variety of practice questions. Some articles will even offer advice on how to craft a solid response. Go through these questions and try to answer them out loud. Make sure to write down answers to any questions you struggle with so that you can review again later. This exercise is also a helpful way to think through and write down work situations you may have forgotten about so you’re ready for the real interview.
2. Research the company.
Review the company’s website and any press coverage they have. Familiarize yourself with the services they provide and the values they have as a company. It’s also a good idea to do a little research on the current people who work there, especially the people who’ll be interviewing you.
If you’re farther along in the interview process, take some time to look up reviews for the company, on Glassdoor for example. You’ll get a better feel for the company culture, pay, benefits offered, and overall satisfaction from current or previous employees.
3. Prepare questions to ask during the interview.
Not only should you prepare to answer questions, you should be prepared to ask questions. Having thoughtful questions ready shows that you’re prepared and care about the position. Interviews are a two-way street; they’re as much about the prospective employer finding the right fit as it is for you to decide the same about them.
4. Get yourself a rockin’ outfit.
It doesn’t matter if you’re applying for a job to flip burgers, you should ALWAYS dress up for an interview. Now, you don’t need to show up in a tuxedo, but you should look professional. You also don’t need to spend a lot of money on a new outfit; but, if you love to shop like me, it’s a great excuse. When you look good, you feel good – and walking into an interview with confidence will help you remain cool and collected.
5. Mind your P’s and Q’s.
You should never be late to an interview. Always arrive early, but not too early. A good rule of thumb is to arrive about ten minutes before your scheduled interview.
Also, always say thank you. Make sure you shake everyone’s hand before you leave and always follow-up with a thank you email shortly after your interview. If you really want to stand out, write an actual thank you letter (yes, millennials, physical letters are still a thing) and have it ready to drop in the mail after you leave the interview. Little courtesies can go a long way when it comes to making a good impression.
I hope you find these interview tips helpful. Just remember to stay calm and confident. If you are right for the job, it will show in your interview. If you’re reading this to prepare for an interview, I wish you the best of luck! If you’re reading this for fun, I hope this wisdom can be put to good use at a later time!
