Categories: Career Growth

11 Proven Interview Tips To Get You The Job You Want

Looking for employment in the current job market is not easy these days. If there is one thing job seekers can use, it’s the best interview tips for landing a job.

But not just any job. These interview tips can help you land the job of your dreams. Or maybe they can help you get out of your current job that you’re not happy with.

We help people by giving them information on how to get a better job and grow professionally. So we’ve created a list of interview tips to help those people land jobs with great opportunities.

You never know when you will get called in for an interview. And it’s better to prepare ahead of time then to scramble at the last minute (especially if the job is high on your list).

So don’t waste anymore of your time job searching. Get a job at the next place that sets up an interview with you.

Here are 11 interview tips to land a better job:

Get As Many Interviews As You Can

Don’t just wait around for one or two companies to hire you. Even if you don’t get the job that you really want (it happens to everyone) you’ll at least have other potential employers lined up afterwards.

After an interview, you might not hear back from the company for over a month. And if they do say no, then you’ve been wasting your time for just as long.

So don’t sit around and wait. They have the right to take their time with their selection. Just like you have the right to try out other employers.

Each interview you have is more practice for your interview skills. The first one will probably be shaky (that depends on how many interviews you’ve had). But you will gain more confidence with each interview.

Remember, you don’t have to accept any job offers you don’t want. Always ask for a little bit of time to think about the decision.

Use Practice Questions

Before the interview, you should go over the type of practice questions the interviewer might ask you. There are common interview questions that show up in almost every interview.

It’s your job to find out the most popular questions and prepare your answers. Say them out-loud to yourself to make sure your answers sound right.

Here are some common questions asked during job interviews:

Tell me about yourself?

Relate your answers to the job you’re applying for.  Don’t add personal information unless prompted to do so. The interviewer is just looking to see if you’re a good fit.

Why did you leave your last job?

You should give a positive answer like seeking better opportunities for growth and advancement.. Never say anything about a bad work environment (even if it was part of the reason you left).

What are your strengths?

Highlight what you are the best at performing in terms of the job description. Prepare to back up your statements with details and examples.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

There are other ways they might ask this type of question: Where do you see yourself in a few years? Where do you see yourself in the future? What are your goals for the future?

Whatever the interviewer does ask you.. It’s important to give a thoughtful response. Most times they are just looking to see if you’re a good fit and right for the job. They want to know you’re going to be dependable and you’ll succeed in the job you’re pursuing.

Think about the goals you have for this position. What makes you happy about potentially getting this job? Where do you see yourself in your life and career in the future?

Do Your Research On The Employer

You should research your potential employer before the interview. Visit their website and review important information about the company. Take note of their corporate officers, latest news, and their annual report.

You should take note of the company’s:

  • Latest news
  • Annual report
  • Strategic goals
  • Special projects
  • New developments
  • Products and services offered
  • Competitors
  • Social Media accounts
  • Mission
  • Vision
  • Value statements

One way to impress the interviewer is to know as much as you can about the company by the time you get to the interview. And then ask the interviewer about the things that interests you.

Be Presentable

The interview process gives the interviewer a chance to see how you present yourself. Be on time. We recommend showing up at least 15 minutes before the scheduled time.

Dress appropriately for the interview. Wear conservative professional attire that presents a good image. No shorts or jeans!

If you can find out the company’s dress code, then you can wear clothes that the current employees wear to work. This way you will look like you fit into their culture as soon as you walk through the door.

Bring Extra Copies Of Your Resume

In most interviews, there are more than one person interviewing an applicant. You NEED to have multiple copies of your resume. Try to bring 5 or more copies to each interview.

Think about it this way. You put in a lot of work to make your resume stand out. The resume was a big reason they invited you in for an interview.

If you have 4 people interviewing you, and only 2 copies of your resume, then there are 2 people that have almost nothing to do during your interview. They can’t ask their own questions based off of your resume. They don’t want to share a resume with the other interviewers. They will feel out of the loop.

Make sure everyone has a copy.

The First Five Minutes

The interviewers typically make their decision on each candidate during the first five minutes of the interview.

So how are you going to impress them in the first five minutes?

You should bring energy and enthusiasm to the room. Thank the interviewer for taking the time to meet with you.

Always work in a positive comment about the company you’re interviewing with. Express your desire to join the company team.

Interview The Interviewer

You should prepare to interview the interviewer. Asking questions at the beginning of the interview may help you in shaping your future responses in a positive way.

Here are a few suggested early interview questions:

  • What is a typical day like for this position?
  • What is your company culture like?
  • What are the ideal traits you’re looking for in this position?

Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses

You have to be ready to know both your strengths and weaknesses. Being able to self-assess yourself could move you to the top of the list of hiring candidates.

Have a good grasp of your strengths and be able to describe them. Be ready to explain how you’re stronger than the other applicants in these areas.

It’s all right to be honest about the area of the job description you’re not as strong in.  But make sure to explain your work ethic and your willingness to get better each day.

Don’t Answer Inappropriate Questions

Interview questions considered to be inappropriate are those based on:

  • Race
  • Gender
  • Marital status
  • Religion
  • Sexual orientation

In most cases, these type of questions are illegal for the employer to ask.

If you do come across an inappropriate question, do not feel forced into answering it. The best response is: “I don’t believe that is relevant to my application.”

If the employer makes you feel uncomfortable, then it’s time to question if this is the right job for you.

Have a Positive Online Presence

Employers know most of their applicants are on social media. Be careful with your Facebook account (or Twitter and Instagram). Employers will check your social media accounts. Hard partying pictures or over the top twitter rants could cost you from getting a job.

Clean up what is available to the public on your social media accounts. Remove all negative posts and only post positive things from now on (or post nothing at all!) This will make sure you won’t miss out on a job because of how you’re portrayed on the internet.

Send A Thank You Email

This step takes place after the interview is over. Once you get home, send a thank you email for each person that interviewed you. So if five people interviewed you, you’ll be sending out five thank you emails. If there is no way to email them, try to reach them by sending a note or calling them.

Besides saying thank you for the interview, you should reaffirm why you think you are a good fit for their company. Providing them with a reminder might stick in the decision maker’s mind. And who knows, you might be the one to land the job.

Preston Guillot

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Preston Guillot

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