Job interviews can be hard to come by these days, but don’t get intimidated. Even if it’s been years since your last job interview, you have the skills and experience employers are looking for. Here’s a list of six great tips on acing a job interview.
1. Be On Time
Being prompt or arriving five minutes early starts the interview off on the right foot. There is no acceptable excuse for being late or canceling an interview at the last minute, so if this happens, just move on to your next lead. Also, be ready to begin the interview the second you walk through the doors. Make sure you don’t need to use the restroom and you have your cell phone turned off before coming in the building.
2. Bring Extra Résumés
Frequently, interviews are conducted in a panel-style with two or three interviewers, and more often than not, the employers bring only one copy of your résumé to the interview. Since your résumé is a vital selling piece, make sure to bring plenty of résumés because someone on the panel may not have seen it in advance. In addition, you can take notes on the back of an extra résumé, which is a positive way to stand out.
3. Do your homework
The more you know about the company/position you are applying for, the better you’ll be able to mold your responses to their questions, touching on the things that they feel are important. It is very obvious to the employer when a candidate tries to wing an interview, on the other hand, candidates who have knowledge of the company’s history and approach can impress the employer.
4. Practice
There are two great benefits to practicing responses before an interview. First, practicing increases the likelihood that you will touch on all of your selling points without forgetting anything vital. It’s hard to get a second chance with job interviews. The other benefit is that practice can help eliminate the amount of “ums” and “likes” in your responses. Employers like well-spoken candidates.
5. Ask Questions
A general rule of thumb is for applicants to ask at least three relevant questions throughout the interview. Questions show the employer that you’ve given serious thought to working with their company and lets them know that you’re interested in learning more. Jot some questions down during the interview and show off the fact that you’ve done your research.
6. Follow Up
In today’s job market, employers are likely to interview a number of qualified candidates for a single opening. This means that even if your interview went well, you run the possibility of getting lost in the mix. Sending a follow up/thank you email or card a few days after the interview serves as a reminder and shows your desire to work for the company.
With these six tips and some self confidence, you can walk into any interview knowing that you’re the right person for the job. Good luck and remember to smile.
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