5 Interview tips That’ll help you land a job

So a job you applied has contacted you for an interview. You’re both nervous and excited for the opportunity to show the potential employer you’d be a good fit for the position. Interviews are scary, and especially if it’s your first interview. Luckily, there are ways you can calm your nerves, feel confident, and prepared for your interview. It doesn’t matter if it’s your first interview or and interview for your dream job, these five interview tips will help you nail your interview.

In the name of full transparency, please be aware that this post contains affiliate links. Any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost for you).

Prepare for your Interview

Don’t walk into an interview thinking you’re going to wing it and make it up as you go. A hiring manager will know if you’re prepared or not. It’s their job to pick the right candidate for the job, so they’ll notice if you’re not answering questions with confidence or didn’t do any research before the interview. To show that you’re hirable, prepare for your interview by doing the following.

Practice Interview Questions

Hiring managers will use your answers to questions to gauge how successful you’d be at the job.  So important that you practice before so that you can deliver your answers with confidence. Make a list of common interview questions and come up with answers

Example Interview Questions:

• Tell me about yourself?
• Why do you want to work for us?
• Why should we hire you?
• What are your strengths?

Remember to focus your answers on why’d you be a great fit for the position and be honest.

Research the Company

Researching the company before your interview shows that you have an interest in the company to the hiring manager. Look at the companies mission statement, learn about your potential position, and learn about the company’s business history. This shows the interviewer that this not only did you prepare for the interview but you’re serious about the position.

Come up with Follow-up Questions

Interviews can seem like a one-sided conversation. At the end of the interview, the interviewer will ask if you have any questions. Be sure to have at least two questions prepared to show your interest in the position and make sure you’re a right for the position.  Try to avoid yes and no questions as well as broad questions that are hard to answer. Below are a few examples of follow-up questions that you can ask during an interview.

Example Follow-up Questions: 

• What are the day-to-day responsibilities of this position?
• For someone to excel in this position, what qualities are necessary?
• What are your expectations for this position over the next 30 days?
• What do you enjoy about working for this company?

Remember don’t ask questions about the salary or benefits. That’s something that should be saved for the final steps of the interview process.

Don’t forget a copy of your resume

You’ve probably sent over a copy of your resume and expect that the interviewer has reviewed it recently. But the truth is that the hiring manager has probably looked at serval resumes in a row, and will need to refresh their memory of why they called you in for an interview. Before your interview print out a few copies of your resume to bring with you to your interview. That way the interviewer can have it in front of them during your conversation and you look prepared. So don’t forget to bring a copy of your resume, as well as a notebook or notepad to take notes on.

Watch Your Body Language

There’s nothing wrong about being nervous for an interview, but even if you’re a nervous wreck, you can look calm and professional. During the interview sit up straight, maintain eye contact, and have a firm handshake. Before your interview, an interview calms your nerves by doing one of the following stress-relief exercises.

• Mental dress rehearsal
• Put on a motivational playlist
• Give yourself a pep talk
• Watch something funny and have a good laugh

By doing one of these stress-relief exercises before an interview you’ll be able to calm your nerves and show that you’re not only confident but a good fit for the position.

Don’t Be Late

First impression matter and when you’re tardy it gives your potential employer the impression that you’re unreliable and don’t value the time of others. So before the day of your interview plan out the route to your interview location and drive by it, so avoid getting lost before your interview. On the day of your interview leave early and try to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled interview time to avoid being late. And with an extra bit of time, you can review and calm your nerves, so you can go into your interview feeling confident.

Dress For Sucess

Some jobs might not call for a power suit, and you don’t want to be overdressed for an interview.  You want to wear something gives a good impression. So stay away from jeans, t-shirts, and flip flops. It’s ok to wear something a little casual and dress appropriately for the job you’re applying for. If you’re interviewing for a retail job don’t wear clothes that display their competitor’s logos. If you’re applying for an office support job then a suit and tie might be too much. Instead, consider a pair of khakis with a nice collard shirt or a knee-length blouse with a sensible modest top. You want to leave a positive impression

Follow-up

After your interview, don’t forget to follow-up with a thank you email or letter. Let them know you appreciate their time and you’re looking forward to discussing further opportunities. You want to remind the interviewers of why you’d be a good fit for the position and stand out among the other candidates.

By following these five interview tips, you’ll be on your way towards landing the job. And even if you don’t get the position you’re interviewing for, you’ll be better prepared for next time. What tips would you give someone preparing for an interview? Have you ever used any of these tips to prepare for an interview?

Related post: Overcoming Public Speaking Anxiety

Pin me!