Congratulations! Your resume and cover letter has caught the attention of a company and now they want to interview you. So, what can you do now to make sure you have a successful interview that makes a good impression? Having nerves before an interview is common, however being prepared can really help waiver those nerves. These three steps are the starting point of nailing that interview!
1. Research the Role/Company
This significantly helps you learn what the company values and you can tailor your answers to what you know the company likes. Also, many times a company will ask what you know about them in an interview so checking in on their website, social media platforms, etc. will only benefit you. Take note beforehand of any recent projects or campaigns the company has announced to really emphasize the research you conducted. Carefully read the job description as well to see specifically what the company is looking for in their next hire.
2. Prepare for Those Most Commonly Asked Questions
The same couple of questions get asked in almost EVERY interview so being prepared with a good answer to these questions can help benefit your chances of nailing these interviews. Some of these questions include:
Tell me about yourself
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
What will you add to this company?
Why do you want to work here?
What experience do you have?
The best way to answer these questions is with honesty as lying while answering these questions will only hurt you in the long run. Going into the interview with the answer to these questions already in mind will take away any awkward silence in an interview and make you look extremely prepared to an employer.
3. Have Questions Prepared to ask the Interviewer
Overall, this is also an interview to see if you want to work for the company and fit in with the culture. This is your chance to get to know what the company is like behind the scenes and asking questions will show the interviewer that you are interested and engaged in the interview. Some questions you can ask include:
What is a typical day like on the job?
What is the culture of this company like?
What does the future of this company look like?
What do you enjoy most about working for this company?
However, you must avoid asking questions about break/vacation times, what the company does and salary as this reveals that you have not researched the company and makes it seem that you are unprofessional.
Practice makes Perfect!
Although those three tips will significantly help your interview preparation, practicing with a friend or family member will only help you. The more interviews you practice the easier they become. Interviews are just a way for a company to get to know you as an individual so just be true to yourself when answering the questions and make sure you prepare as it will only help you stand out!
