Interview Tips
Interview Tips
It can be both exciting and scary to land an interview with your potential employer. You’re happy you made it to the interview stage, but talk about pressure! So, what’s the key to that great interview? In a nutshell, be prepared.
Below are some great interview tips to help prepare you, calm you down and hopefully get you that job!
1. Research your employer. This is the fundamental starting point for any job seeker in getting ready for an interview, and in today’s age it’s incredibly easy to do! Employers want to know what you know about the company, and more importantly, why you want to work there. A good employer wants to find the right person for their company, so your answer to the above questions can mean more than any of your job qualifications. Google the company, your employer(s), who their competitors are, check out their social media sites, etc. The more you know, the better off you’ll be.
2. Make sure your social media profile is clean. Don’t fool yourself – employers are going to check you out before the interview just like you’re going to check them out. Be yourself, but make sure those party pics are deleted or hidden and your Linkedin profile is up to date with no spelling or grammatical errors. Put your best social media face forward.
3. Know your strengths – and your weaknesses. The inevitable questions will come, “Why do you think you’re the best candidate for the job?” and “What would you say your areas of weakness are?” Answer truthfully to both questions and when possible include examples to demonstrate your response. Which leads us to number four …
4. Have stories and examples ready to go. These make you memorable and personable. Did you have a disagreement with a co-worker once? How did you handle that? What accomplishments have you done recently that relate to the requirements of the position?
5. Ask questions of the employer. This is a great way to end your interview and it shows interest in the company and the position. Ask what kind of person they’re looking for and questions related to the job you’re applying for. Also, be sure to ask when they may have made their decision, that way you can …
6. Follow up after the interview. Haven’t heard from them? Don’t just let it go – give them a call and show you’re interested in the position. If you don’t get it, ask them to keep you in mind should a position open up in the future. Following up is step two of building a relationship with that employer, and it may just be what gets you a different job down the road.