Now that you know what to avoid during an interview, make sure you read the 15 ways to ace an interview:
1) Be Prepared – This means that you have anticipated possible interview questions and practiced formulating your answers. A helpful way to prepare for an interview is to participate in a mock interview. Simply ask a friend or a family member to take the role of an interviewer and imagine yourself in the setting of a real interview. Being prepared also means that you have brought an extra copy of your resume and you know what to say about anything that is listed on your resume.
2) Think Before You Speak – Don’t be afraid of pauses. Take a few seconds to gather and organize your thoughts before answering hard questions. Think about how you’re going to answer before you blurt out something you’ll regret later on. It is more important that you answer the questions correctly rather than quickly.
3) Listen Carefully – You don’t want to give a long-winded answer, even if it’s a great one, to a question that wasn’t even being asked. Hence, you need to focus and listen carefully to make sure that you’re actually answering the questions being asked. If you’re uncertain of what they’re really asking you, you can repeat the question back to them to make sure you’re on the right track.
4) Ask Your Interviewers About Themselves – If your interviewer gives you a brief introduction about his/herself, listening carefully can help you formulate appropriate questions to ask. People love to talk about themselves. For example, if the interviewer mentions that he was in a similar job position previously, you may want to ask him about his transition to the new role or to compare his previous position to his current one in terms of the tasks and skills required. However, keep in mind that the interview should really be about you, so it is suggested that you ask these questions at the end of the interview when you have time to ask questions. This way, it will impress them even more that you listened and remembered what they had said in the beginning of the interview.
5) Know the Company and Industry – Some interviewers will ask you what you know about the company. Thus, it is important that you have done your own research. This is a great way to impress your interviewer on what you know about the company before they even tell you. The more you know about the company and the industry, the better you will be able to present yourself. Here are 6 ways to research a company.
6) Know the Position – Know what you’re getting yourself into before you go to your interview. This means that you have read the job description and have an idea of what will be expected. You can do further research about the position to get a better idea of the type of the skills and knowledge the role entails. Talk to people in similar roles to learn more about the tasks involved.
7) Be Confident – Remember that you were called in for the interview for a reason. This means that the interviewer believes you are capable of performing the job, and thus, it is important for you to believe the same thing. Talk with confidence about how your skills and experiences would make you the best candidate for the job. However, make sure you don’t come off as sounding conceited!
8) Arrive early – Arrive at least 15 minutes early. This will give you enough time to go to the restroom and freshen up if needed.
9) Look and Dress Appropriately –Although a suit is not required for certain job interviews, dress in conservative professional attire unless told otherwise. It is always better to be overdressed than underdressed. Dressing for success will show that you respect the company and that you are serious about the position. The first impression you make is very important so make sure you are clean and well groomed.
10) Great introduction – Give a firm handshake and a smile when introducing yourself for the first time. This will show confidence.
11) Body language –Stand and sit up straight. Don’t slouch or lean back and get too comfortable in your chair.
12) Show Passion and Enthusiasm – Show your interviewer that you are willing, excited, and eager to learn and take on new tasks. Make sure you don’t fake or overdo this because interviewers can tell when you’re not being real.
13) Eye Contact – When listening to the interviewer or answering questions, make eye contact. It shows respect, sincerity, and interest.
14) Prepare questions – Having no questions to ask shows that you aren’t interested in the job and that you didn’t come prepared. Make sure you ask appropriate questions that accentuates your interest in learning more about the position and the company. Obviously, don’t ask about salary.
15) Follow up – Make sure you get your interviewer’s contact information, such as a business card, and send a thank you letter. If you don’t hear back, follow up with a phone call to let them know your continued interest as well as inquire about your status.
Just knowing 15 ways to ace an interview isn’t enough; make sure you avoid the interview don’ts!