And Get Ready For The Tough Ones
Why dont you tell me about your weaknesses? Heres how you score bonus points with tricky questions like these: Pick a weakness and elegantly turn it into a strength that relates to the job. Im a little impatient, but its simply because I like to finish projects on time and not disrupt the workflow of the whole team. The key thing is, to be honest, and never ever answer with: I have no weaknesses.
Try To Improve On Your Soft Skills
Times when people with the highest IQ got the best jobs are long gone. The same is true about people with the best education, those who have the most prestigious degrees from the most expensive universities. While a degree can and will help you, it is not a decisive factor in an interview anymore. At least not in a corporate interview.
Emotional intelligence is the real deal today. Do you know how to win your interviewers over? Can you connect with them in a rather personal way during your meeting? Do you know how to recognize their strengths, and praise them in the interview? Can you read their expectations in a course of an interview, and adjust your answers in order to meet the expectations?
Once you improve on your soft skills, getting a job of your choice will become much easier. Purchase some books that will help you with your communication skills and emotional intelligence, and work on your listening skills. Try to liberate yourself of your ego, to be free to truly listen to, and to understand the person sitting opposite to you. It is the only way to make a truly meaningful connection with them. And if you manage to make such a connection, youll be just a step away from a new employment contract.
Prepare To Describe Your Work History Briefly
Most interviewers will ask you to give a quick walkthrough of your background at the start of the interview. Thats why I mentioned reviewing your resume beforehand. Its a pretty commonly overlooked but its one of my favorite job interview tips and its so easy to do!
If youve prepared a good, brief narrative of your career, you can impress them right off the bat. What got you interested in this field? What have you accomplished recently?
But it has to be concise. Nobody wants to hire somebody that rambles on or sounds scattered, and thats the biggest mistake people make with this relatively open-ended question.
Spend most of your time on the recent portion of your career. Go through the beginning rather quickly. 2-3 minutes total should be your target.
Also Check: What Questions Do They Ask In A Cna Interview
Think Of The Questions You Will Ask
A good job interview does not entail giving good answers to the questions it matters that interviewees ask thought-provoking questions. You can ask about your possible career growth opportunities in the company, or shoot the questions youve drawn out from your research. This effectively conveys to the interviewer your level of interest in the job and the company.
Here Are The Most Commonly Asked Interview Questions You Can Expect To Be Asked In Your Interview And Advice On How You Can Craft Effective Responses
Know these popular interview questions and answers.
Too many job seekers stumble through interviews as if the questions asked are coming out of left field. But many interview questions are to be expected. Need some job interview tips? Monster has you covered. Study this list of popular and frequently asked interview questions and answers ahead of time so you’ll be ready to answer them with confidence.
Don’t Miss: How To Transcribe An Interview Quickly
Act Interested But Not Desperate While Waiting For Feedback
Sometimes you wont hear from the employer for many days after your interview.
They might need to meet more candidates, or might need time to finalize their decision.
Id recommend wrapping up your interview by asking when you can expect to hear feedback. That way, you wont be too anxious waiting at home.
If that time passes, its okay to follow up with the employer to get an update from them. But be patient and never sound needy/desperate. Delays happen.
If they tell you, sorry, things are taking longer than we expected and we are still making our decision, the worst thing you can do is act frustrated or upset. This isnt going to help you get hired!
The best thing you can do is keep applying for jobs while you wait. Its never smart to wait around for one single employer because so many unexpected things can cost you the job or cause a delay in the process.
So thats another one of my favorite interview tips when you finish one interview, try to get more lined up! Dont stop interviewing for jobs until youve signed a job offer.
Always Act Like You Want The Job
You have one goal in any interview: Convince them that youre the best candidate for the job and get invited to the next round.
So you should be selling yourself in the interview, not deciding if the job is desirable.
Then you can go digest the info and make a decision once you get home. If you start using this approach youll have a big advantage throughout the entire interview because youll have one single thing to focus on. Other applicants will be juggling everything at once.
Don’t Miss: How To Prepare Software Engineer Interview
Phone Interview Tips That Will Help You Get Hired
While you’re job searching, it’s important to be prepared for a phone interview at a moment’s notice. Many companies start the interview process with a phone call to discuss the job opportunity with a prospective employee, determine whether the candidate is a good fit, and to gauge his or her interest in the position. In some cases, a phone interview may be the only interview you’ll have.
In many cases, your interview will be scheduled in advance by email or phone. In others, you may receive a surprise phone call asking whether you’re available to chat about the job.
You never know when a recruiter or a networking contact might call and ask whether you have a few minutes to talk, so always answer the phone professionally, especially if the number is unfamiliar.
You should also make sure that your voicemail message is professional.
Make Eye Contact When You First Meet Your Interviewer
Dont be bashful when your interviewer comes to greet you, look them in the eye.
In one study, a pair of Northeastern University researchers asked participants to watch videos of strangers talking to each other for the first time and then rate how intelligent each person seemed. Results showed that the people who consistently made eye contact while speaking were considered more intelligent than those who didnt make eye contact.
Also Check: What Is One Way Video Interview
Use These 3 Tips To Ace A Virtual Interview
The coronavirus pandemic has shown us that anyone can work from anywhere, which means more job competition, especially for those just entering the workforce.
- To stand out in a virtual interview, focus on what you say, where you say it, and how you say it.
- Persuade the recruiter to invest in you by connecting your passions to the companys values.
- Use your background to show the recruiter who you are as a person.
- Make sure you talk slowly and use inflections to emphasize your main points. Your voice matters more in video than it does in-person.
Where your work meets your life. See more from Ascend here.
When it comes to landing a new job, its important to stand out professionally. This has always been true, but social distancing and virtual meetings have made it more difficult than ever to make a positive impression.
One thing can set you apart from the competition: exceptional communication skills. A person who is good at public speaking is irresistible to new employers . In one large study of the most critical, in-demand skills for a changing world, Adobe found that 71% of recruiters rank communication skills as the most desirable in job candidates. And yet, recruiters often say most candidates could improve in this area.
While its never a good time to lack this desirable asset, in a Covid-ravaged economy, where new graduates and young professionals are competing for fewer jobs, it might just be the worst especially in virtual job interviews.
What Are Three Positive Things Your Last Boss Would Say About You
It’s time to pull out your old performance appraisals and boss’s quotes to answer the question, “What are three positive things your last boss would say about you?”. This is a great way to brag about yourself through someone else’s words: “My boss has told me that I am the best designer he has ever had. He knows he can rely on me, and he likes my sense of humor.”
Read Also: Who Was Interviewed On Npr This Morning
Compliment The Interviewer And The Organization Without Self
In one study, led by researchers at the University of Washington and the University of Florida and cited on PsyBlog, researchers found that students who ingratiated themselves with their interviewers, without coming across as self-promotional, were more likely to be recommended for the job. Thats likely because those students seemed like a better fit for the company.
Specifically, the students who ingratiated themselves praised the organization and indicated their enthusiasm for working there, and complimented the interviewer. They didnt play up the value of positive events they took credit for or take credit for positive events even if they werent solely responsible.
Be Similar To The Interviewer
Be yourself can actually be a problem.
If you want to know how to ace a job interview its important to note that study after study shows the key to being liked and being more influential is similarity.
Research shows you can take advantage of this by researching the interviewer and coming across as similar to them:
After carefully transcribing and analyzing her interviews and field notes from observations in the firm, Rivera determined that, by the time a candidate had made it through the relevant resume screenings and landed an interview, her evaluation was not necessarily based on maximizing skillfinding the person who was absolutely best at the soft or the hard dimensions of the job, as Rivera puts it. Rather, the most common mechanism by which a candidate was evaluated was her similarity to her interviewer.
No lies are necessary. Think attitude.
Do they come across as aggressive and hard-charging or calm and passive? Do they come across as cultured or school of hard knocks?
You May Like: How To Prepare For Machine Learning Engineer Interview
Practice Your Job Interview
Tap a friend who can help you hold a mock interview. Most people get so nervous when placed in the hot seat they cant help but stutter! Practicing your interview will help you improve your communication skills and give you more confidence. This is also a time for you to review your interview etiquette. Be mindful of your body language. Its best to keep eye contact with the interviewer and show that you are fully attentive to every word that is being said. After the mock interview, ask for feedback on your answers, manner of speaking, body language, and overall performance. This will give you an idea of the areas you can improve to ensure a successful interview.
Research ‘what’s Happening With The Organization’
“Do your research on both the company and the person you are interviewing with,” tweeted career coach Angelina Darrisaw, the founder and CEO of C-Suite Coach in Brooklyn, New York. “Has this company been in the news lately? Have they won an award recently? What are their values? Drop in the research you’ve done into your interview to knock it out the park.”
Dr. Tega Edwin, founder of Her Career Doctor, agreed: “Don’t come in without knowing what’s happening with the organization. Google them. What’s being said about them in the news, on social media, etc.?”
Don’t Miss: What Are The Top 10 Behavioral Questions In An Interview
Explain A Database To Your Eight
Google commonly asks this question, and its core purpose is to see if you can simplify a complex idea and eliminate all technical jargon. This skill is especially important when in client-facing roles. The key here is to keep your answer short and sweet. A database is a machine that remembers a lot of information about a lot of things. Boom. Nailed it.
How To Wow A Recruiter During A Remote Interview
Youve prepared to have the perfect remote interview, but now, its time to knock it out of the park in real-time. Heres how to impress a recruiter or hiring manager on your video call:
Dress for success.
Just because youre interviewing from the comfort of your home doesnt mean you should get too comfortable. For a remote interview, youll still want to dress as if you were meeting the interviewer in person think: a dress shirt and tie for men, and a blazer or dress for women.
But beyond that, youll need to think about what will look good on screen. You should avoid wearing distracting or bright patterns or colors or flashy jewelry, and instead, opt for neutral-colored clothing and, if you wear it, simple jewelry.
Lastly, make sure youve dressed appropriately from top to bottom. It might be tempting to skip wearing professional pants or skirts during a video call, but you may have to stand up, and mishaps happen and you dont want your dress to be the reason you lose out on your next dream job.
Make small talk.
When youre interviewing in person, it can be easier to build a rapport with the interviewer. Its not as natural on a video call, but it doesnt have to be awkward. If you can, try to make some chit-chat at the start, which can break the ice and make everyone feel more comfortable. Think of talking points ahead of time, such as a funny story or a sports reference.
Practice good body language.
Speak clearly.
Don’t Miss: What Questions Do You Have For Me Interview
Follow Up Like A Boss
Last but definitely not least, always follow up with an email or even a handwritten card thanking your interviewer for the opportunity. Its a good chance to quickly mention, once again, why youre a good fit and how lovely it was to meet everyone. Keep it short, sweet and friendly, and remember to send it within 24 hours of your interview.
Good luck! Were keeping our fingers crossed for you!
Explain Why Youre Interested In Interviewing With Them
After walking them through your resume, youll probably be asked why youre looking to make a job change, and/or why youre interested in their company in particular. This is where the research youve done pays off. You should already have two specific reasons for wanting to interview with their company.
When explaining your reason for job searching in general, I mentioned one example of how to turn a negative into a positive in Part I. Here are 2 more examples:
If your current company has no room for upward growth, say that youre looking for a job with more room for upward growth. If you dont like your coworkers, say youre hoping to find a team thats more collaborative. See the difference? Youre saying the same thing without sounding negative.
Whatever you say youre looking for, be prepared for them to ask why you cant get that in your current company. Just answer by saying that you dont think theres an opportunity to get this, and you considered this before starting to look externally. Simple and easy. That should end the line of questioning.
You May Like: What Are The Top 20 Questions Asked In An Interview
When Interviewing With A Recruiting Firm:
This step in the process is often underestimated and mistreated. In the current market more than 70% of available opportunities are handled by recruitment firms. This includes permanent, contract, temporary and project. Please remember when you have a meeting with a recruiter whatever side of your personality you choose to display is the side your recruiter will tell their client about.
If you mistreat your recruiter by being late, not completing their internal forms, being surly and uncooperative in the interview with them or in the time you spend in their reception area they WILL NOT REFER YOUR RESUME to their client. This is not because they want to be mean to you but because you are their reputation. Give this some thoughtrecruiters do not manufacture anything, Their product is their customer service and YOU.
If you, the candidate, mistreat the recruiter they can only assume you will also mistreat their client. They have worked long and hard to get that client and they will not risk sending someone in who will potentially damage that relationship.
Author: Zag Dutton is President at careerconnectionsonline.com.
More Tips On Job Hunting
The importance of learning cannot be underestimated. Learning empowers us to fulfill our ideas and realize our full potential. The speed of gaining new knowledge is practically as important as its volume. Who wouldnt love to remember tons of information as quickly as possible?
If you want to start learning faster, you need a new approach towards the process which would enable you to comprehend the essence of the matter and relate it with new concepts you encounter.
The following 10 tips will help you become a fast learner:
You May Like: How To Deal With Conflict Interview Question
Tell Me A Little About Yourself
This is a common opening interview question. Instead of launching straight into the interview, your interviewer asks you to introduce yourself. Since this question is so broad, what theyâre really asking is âhow well do you express yourself?â Though there are many ways to answer this question, we recommend you give a brief overview of your career. Things to include: recent jobs, skills, and certifications.
You can cap off your answer with a little insight into your personal hobbies, but it shouldnât be the focus of your answer. The best way to be prepared for this question? Have a short work bio ready youâll be amazed at how often it comes in handy. Chances are once youâre finished, something youâve mentioned will lead to your interviewerâs next question.