How Do I Prepare For A Job Interview

Build Rapport With Your Interviewer

Your interview is your opportunity to create a connection with your potential employer. While the interviewer will ask questions for the majority of the meeting, you can still use each question to turn the interview into a more comfortable conversation. Try to make a personal connection with your interviewer while remaining professional.

Dive Into The Tailoring Method

Alright, the STAR Method alone is a pretty strong approach. But, by also learning the Tailoring Method, you have a secret sauce for creating delicious answers to behavioral interview questions.

The Tailoring Method is all about customization. You dont want to give the hiring manager a basic answer to a question you want to make it relevant and enticing, building an exceptional value proposition by showcasing how you can help their company thrive. Thats what the Tailoring Method helps you do.

Its an approach that makes the hiring manager and company the priority, not you. Its about positioning yourself as a solution to the problem the hiring manager is trying to solve . That makes the Tailoring Method a competitive advantage, as not all job seekers are going to go that extra mile.

Tell Me About A Conflict You Faced At Work And How You Dealt With It

This question is important to ace because it helps an interviewer understand how you deal with conflict. It also helps test how well you think on your feetâso if you prepare ahead of time with a specific example, youâll avoid the awkward moment of silence while you try to think of an example.

Once you have an example in mind, simply explain what happened, how you resolved the issue in a professional manner, and try to end the story with a happy note about how you reached a resolution or compromise with your co-worker.

You May Like: Interview With Cfo

Prepare For Small Talk

You may find yourself interacting on a personal level with your interviewer. You can practice some common casual conversation topics to help you feel more confident if your interview turns into an informal conversation. Here are some small talk tips that can help you:

• Focus on the environment you are in. You can comment on the design of the office or its location.

• Compliment the employer on an award the team might have won recently or other similar achievements.

• Find a common interest and talk about that.

• Be positive during the conversation.

Think Of An Explanation For Why Youre Job Searching

Companies will often choose someone less talented if they also seem less risky or if their motivations make more sense. Ive seen it first-hand.

Dont lose out on a job to somebody with less skill than you. Prepare some legitimate reasons why you want to make a move . Here are some examples:

• Youve accomplished ____ in your current role and youre ready for a new challenge
• Your companys direction has shifted and you feel its time to join a new organization
• Youre interested in a different type of product/service
• Youre looking for a larger or smaller organization

You can get more specific based on your situation. These are general ideas. If you do a good job with this you can beat out applicants that have more experience than yourself, because theyre not using these strategies most likely.

And if youre unemployed right now, here are 20 good explanations for why you chose to leave your last job.

Recommended Reading: Questions To Ask Cfo In Interview

Know The Location Well

Ideally, you should get to the office premises before the fixed time so that you can relax a bit before the interview starts. It might also help you make a good impression on the interviewer in terms of how much you value the time and how punctual you are.

Moreover, you should know the location beforehand to help you learn the shortest route to get to the destination. In addition, if you have some time, you should take a ride to the interview location a day before to be sure of its location. Remember, being late leaves a bad impression on everyone.

Research The Company And The Job Position You Are Applying For:

Write down any questions you may have about either so you can ask during the interview. If there any requirement of the job that you are unsure of, you should definitely ask during the interview. It always looks nice when you go into an interview with intelligent questions. It shows you put effort into preparing for the interview. However, never ask questions just to ask questions. The interviewer will see right through that. Your questions should be genuine and relevant.

You May Like: How To Send Thank You Letter After Interview

During The Interview: Prepare For Questions

ALWAYS ask questions at the end of an interview, it is expected. Prepare several questions as some will be answered during the natural course of the interview. You should be able to ask 2-3 questions that were not answered during the interview and could not be found online.

• Examples of Questions to Avoid:
• Never ask about pay, time off, benefits, etc.
• You can usually inquire about this information after a job offer has been made.

What Does Being Prepared For An Interview Really Mean

For many, the idea of being prepared for anything is a bit ambiguous.

Is there a specific point that separates the prepared from the ill-prepared? Do you have to dedicate a certain number of hours to the process of getting ready? Is there a critical step you have to make to cross the threshold?

Technically, the answer to those questions is no. In many cases, being prepared means youve done some due diligence. You know how to talk about your achievements in a way that entices the hiring manager. You can sprinkle in relevant tidbits of information based on research.

Essentially, being prepared means youve taken whatever steps were necessary to set yourself up for success, allowing you to arrive at your interview brimming with confidence. Youve dedicated time and attention to the process.

Even if the idea of being prepared isnt highly defined, that doesnt mean you cant do what it takes to make it happen. By following the right steps which well cover in a moment you can do proper laser focused research, prepare and practice relevant and engaging answers, and increase your odds of handling even the trickiest questions with ease.

Also Check: Best Interview Attire For A Woman

Keep Your Expectations Reasonable

Many job-seekers tell me that they were underwhelmed when they met with a recruiter or hiring manager.

Keep in mind that recruiter or hiring manager could be new in their role. They may lack company knowledge. They may be poor interviewers. Or they may just be having a bad day.

When you encounter a recruiter who isn’t as competent or who asks silly or too broad of questions, try to give them the benefit of the doubt. Smile. Be genuine with your responses. Treat the person with respect.

If you feel like you didn’t have the opportunity to show your value because the questions were not as expected, send a thoughtful and genuine thank-you note highlighting a few areas that you did not get to cover during the interview.

While that won’t ensure you get the job, it will ensure you did everything you possibly could.

Tips On Preparing For A Job Interview

While you might not be provided with interview questions in advance, there are some ways that you can prepare yourself for your upcoming interview. Interviewers often ask behaviour-based questions to assess your competencies. Behaviour-based interviewing focuses on discovering how the interviewee acted in specific employment-related situations. The logic is that how you behaved in the past will predict how you will behave in the future, i.e., past performance predicts future performance. It is a good idea to think of examples in your past where you demonstrated the required competencies for the job you are interviewing for. The examples of past experiences you present should be specific, substantial, and as detailed as possible. Also important is that your examples indicate what you did in the situation. It is a common tendency to describe our actions in terms of “we” or “the team” however you should focus on your individual role in the situation, as much as possible. When preparing your examples, use the STAR approach:

Interviewers may also ask questions about you to gain insight into your personality and to determine fit for the job and organization. Some examples you may wish to prepare in advance are the following:

• What are your strengths?
• What has been your greatest career achievement?
• Why should I hire you over other candidates?

Day of the interview tips:

Best of luck on your interview with our organization!

Also Check: Top 10 Behavioral Questions

Prepare Your Own Questions For The Interviewer

This step is often overlooked by candidates but it’s a good idea to prepare some questions of your own for the interviewer. Your interviewer will ask something like, “Do you have any questions for me?”

Interesting and well-thought-out questions at this stage of the interview process help you stand out from other candidates. Preparing your own questions not only shows you’ve done your research but that you’re genuinely interested in the opportunity. They also help to engage the interviewer in conversation and build a relationship .

We’ve written a detailed guide onhow to respond to “Do you have any questions for me?”with tips and examples of questions you can ask.

During Your First Job Interview

• If you’re under 18 and your state requires teens to have working papers, bring these with you.
• Try to stay cool and collected. Staying as calm as possible will help you focus on the interviewer.
• If you feel flustered, pause and take a few deep breaths to gather your thoughts.
• Be confident in your skills and abilities when you are talking to the interviewer. Remember this is a first job and you aren’t expected to have a lot of experience.
• Try to incorporate what you know about the company into the discussion.
• Be honest. If you have sports or other activities that might conflict with your work schedule, tell the interviewer.
• Be flexible. You may have some leeway in setting a work schedule, but the more flexibility you have, the more likely it is that you’ll be hired.
• Make eye contact and avoid distractions.
• Listen and take notes. Have a question or two ready to ask at the end of the interview.
• At the end of the interview, thank the interviewer for taking the time to interview you.

Read Also: Questions To Ask Cfo During Interview

What Are Your Strengths/weaknesses

This question is often seen as challenging by many candidates, even those with significant experience. However, if approached correctly it is easily possible to avoid ‘bragging’ when discussing your strengths or seeming excessively negative when talking about your perceived weaknesses.

Strengths

Based on the job description, choose three examples of traits the employer is looking for and give examples of how you have used these strengths in a work situation. Ideally, include a mixture of tangible skills, such as technical or linguistic abilities, and intangible skills, such as management experience.

Weaknesses

The best approach here is to pick a trait that you have already made positive steps to address.

“Consider how you have approached your perceived weaknesses in the past and what you have done to address them,” commented Janine Blacksley, associate director at Robert Walters.

“If your IT ability is not at the level it could be, state this as a weakness before telling the interviewer about training courses or time spent outside work hours you have used to improve your skills.”

Know What To Expect At The Interview

Not all interviews are the same, so find out what you’ll need to do at the interview before you go.

You may need to:

• prepare to be interviewed by a panel of two or more people or go through a series of interviews
• take a test before or after the interview to find out if youre suitable for the job
• prepare and lead a presentation as part of the interview, so make sure youll have access to any equipment you need such as a laptop or projector
• take part in group activities to test your teamwork and leadership abilities.

Also Check: Interview Questions For A Cfo

What Not To Do:

I once heard someone standing outside our building, smoking furiously and complaining loudly on their phone about the early start time of their meeting and wondering aloud why they were even there. When I got to my next interview, I realised to my dismay the noisy moaner was my next candidate! Not a great start

Do Your Research On The Candidate Before They Arrive

Before your candidate walks through your company’s doors, you should know as much about them as possible. Doing your research on your potential candidates equips you with valuable information ahead of time and also allows you to save time during the actual interview because you won’t have to ask the basic get-to-know-you questions. Your research may consist of the candidate’s resume, cover letter, CV, social media or other online profiles and portfolio.

Related:How to Prepare for an Interview

Read Also: Best Interview Clothes For A Woman

Come Up With Questions Of Your Own To Ask

Toward the end of the interview, your interviewer will probably ask what questions you have for her. Contrary to popular belief, you should not see this time primarily as an additional opportunity to impress your interviewer.While its smart to think about how your questions might reflect on you, this is your time to get the information you need to figure out if this is a job you want and would be good at. So think about what you really want to know when you imagine going to work at this job every day for the next several years.

Examples of questions you might ask: What are the biggest challenges the person in this position will face? Can you describe a typical day or week in the position? What would a successful first year in the position look like? How will the success of the person in this position be measured?

Its okay to write your questions down and take them with you. Its very normal for job candidates to pull out a sheet of paper with the questions they want to remember to ask, so dont worry about memorizing them.

What Is Your Dream Job

Similar to the âwhere do you see yourself in five yearsâ question, the interviewer is looking to understand how realistic you are when setting goals, how ambitious you are, and whether or not the job and company will be a good place for you to grow.

Again, try to set aside your personal goals and focus on your career goals. Think about how this job is going to set you up for the future and get you closer to your dream job. But, donât be that person who says, âto be CEO of this company.â

Don’t Miss: Best System Design Interview Prep

Phone Interview Questions To Ask The Interviewer

• How would you describe the responsibilities of the position?
• What qualities are you looking for in the person you hire to join this company?
• If I was hired, how would I be interacting with you and your department, what would be your expectations, and your measures for success?
• How would I get feedback about how well my work meets the expectations?
• What do you view as the most challenging part of this job?
• Why is the last person who held this position leaving?
• Who does this position report to?
• How would you describe the company culture?
• What is the typical work week? Is overtime expected? How about travel?
• What are the opportunities for advancement with the company?
• Is there anything else can I tell you about my qualifications?
• Could I schedule an in-person interview at your convenience?
• If I am extended a job offer, how soon could I start?
• Would you like a list of references?
• When can I expect to hear from you?
• Are there any other questions I can answer for you?

Practice Your Speaking Voice And Body Language

Its important to make a positive and lasting impression during the interview process. You can do this by practicing a confident, strong speaking voice and friendly, open body language. While these might come naturally to you, you might also want to spend time performing them with trusted friends or family or in front of a mirror. Pay special attention to your smile, handshake and stride.

To learn more about interview body language, consider the following resources:

You May Like: What Should Females Wear To A Job Interview

Learn The Interviewers Name And Use It

Im horrible at remembering names. I always have been. So if I can do this, you can too

When you hear someones name, repeat it to yourself in your head once or twice IMMEDIATELY after you shake hands. This helps you remember it.

Most of the time, if you forget someones name, its because you never really got it. Immediately after you heard it, you forgot. So this is how to remember.

Then, use it in the conversation within the first 5-10 minutes of the interview. Now youll never forget it.

Theres another benefit to this too using someones name helps you build a bond with them and build trust. Studies have shown you seem more confident, competent and impressive when you say someones name when talking to them.

Go talk to the CEO in your company, and I bet theyll use your name in the conversation. Leaders do this. Successful people do this.

This is a very under-rated tip for interview success that anyone can do. It just takes effort.

You will build a stronger bond/rapport with the interviewer if you do this, and theyll be more likely to remember you favorably and hire you.