How To Ace Your First Job Interview

Potential Second Interview Questions

The biggest difference between first interview questions and second interview questions really lies in the type of question that you are asked.

Generally speaking, in the first interview the company will want to get a feel for the type of person you are, and the questions they ask will emulate that desire.

But in the second interview, you can expect there to be more specificity regarding the position itself as well as a bit more prodding to determine how well you will fit the culture of your potential new team.

Having said that, this is not set in stone.

Every company goes about the questions a little bit differently, so you really need to be prepared for any type of question in both the first and second interview.

Having fun yet?

One thing is for sure at this point in the game employers are really trying to make sure youre a good fit, so expect that these are going to be tougher than the first round.

Read through these questions and come up with your answers. Weve given an example answer for the first two to get you started. If you need some more help learning how exactly to formulate a perfect interview answer, head over to our blog post Job Interview Questions and Answers 101.

• Why should we hire you?

Research The Company And Study The Job Posting

Researching the company is one of the vital parts of preparing for an interview. This step in the process enhances your knowledge of the company’s industry, business operations, leadership and news coverage they have received. You can navigate their website and social media channels to find this information, but you can check search engines to locate relevant news coverage as well. The more you get to study an organization, it’s more likely that you’ll have a better idea about what type of person the company is looking for and the questions they may ask you.

Additionally, make sure that you have a full understanding of the job you’re interviewing for. It’s key to study the job description to identify the day-to-day responsibilities, years of experience and the skills required to answer the interviewer’s questions appropriately. Usually, the first job you have is a part-time position that sets you up to get another job later on, so understand that your first job can set you up for another job that’s aligned with your career path.

Job Interview Question #: Whats Your Biggest Weakness

Dont start rattling off all of your inadequacies. Thats just asking for a weird, TMI moment with your interviewer.

This job interview question is actually asking how you address your weaknesses in the workplace. Everybody has a weakness, so dont say, I dont have a weakness!

Admit a valid weakness, like perfectionism, organization, or fear of public speaking. Immediately follow that weakness with how you overcome it.

Example: My biggest weakness is organization. I get so into the zone that I dont always keep my work area as tidy as I should. I compensate by following checklists and cleaning up as I go, so everything stays organized and tidy.

Don’t Miss: Questions To Ask Cfo In Interview

Get Feedback On Your Answers From A Mentor Or A Friend

Practice your responses for your first job interview with a trusted mentor or friend that can give you constructive criticism. This way, you’ll be highlighting which areas you need to prepare for on your time and ones you’ll know when asked by the interviewer. A mentor may be a better source for you to prepare considering the experience they may have in the workforce, but your friend is also valuable if they work at the job you applied for. Either way, being prepared improves your confidence and increases your chances of receiving an offer.

How To Ace Your Job Interview

Getting a response after sending dozens of copies of your résumé out to employers seems like a miracle. You get a sense of relief from finally getting a response. That relief quickly can turn to dread when you realize you have to go in for a job interview. But it doesnt have to be that

Dress appropriately for the type of workplace. It used to be simple everybody used to wear a suit to job interviews. Now, you have to pay attention to each companys corporate culture to determine how to dress for the job interview. A suit may be appropriate for certain jobs, but not all jobs require a suit. At start-ups and new media companies, business casual attire will suffice.

Also Check: Questions To Ask A Cfo During An Interview

What Questions Should You Expect

You’ll need to practice in advance before you interview with the interviewer. Take a look at this list of questions you can expect an employer to ask during the interview:

• Tell me what you know about the organization.

• Why are you interested in applying for this position?

• How has your academic career positioned you to work in this role?

• Why do you believe you’re the right fit for this position?

• How do you describe your collaboration skills?

• Do you feel comfortable working in a team environment?

• What is your proudest accomplishment?

• Describe a scenario where you overcame adversity to reach a goal.

• Explain a time where you had difficulty with a fellow student or teacher.

• What are your salary expectations for this position?

• Where do you see yourself in five to 10 years?

• How do think others perceive you?

• What do you like to do in your spare time?

Be Ready For The Small Talk

Getting the small talk right can have big consequences. Its a way for people to build rapport and affinity, and start to generate that elusive, intangible quality of chemistry that characterises all effective business relationships.

So as part of your interview preparation, its a good idea to think ahead to some likely topics that might come up, so as to help keep the conversation flowing smoothly. The key is to come up with topics where you have a shared interest, so that youre able to both ask and answer credible questions.

For example, if you see a picture of your interviewers family, perhaps you could ask about them and be ready with a family anecdote of your own. Or if youre a sports fan and you spot signs that your interviewer is too, perhaps you could ask a suitable question that youve also got an interesting answer to .

Think, too, about topical themes. For example, has your potential employer been in the news recently? Or could you ask about the potential impact on the company of a recent development, such as Brexit or falling share prices or a serious malware attack? In each case, make sure you have an interesting thought of your own to contribute too.

You May Like: Prepare For System Design Interview

How To Ace A Job Interview

Tips for interviewing for a job

Your job hunt has resulted in a scheduled interview. Now what?Local career experts say the old rules still apply: be prepared, be on time and look professional. Ive never heard of an employer not hiring someone because they were dressed too professionally, said Christine Yancey, coordinator of community engagement at Sinclair Community College. You can tank your chances if you dont dress appropriately. I encourage erring on the side of conservative. CaptionChristine Yancey is coordinator of community engagement at Sinclair Community CollegeCredit: ContributedCaptionChristine Yancey is coordinator of community engagement at Sinclair Community CollegeCredit: ContributedCredit: ContributedShe suggests clothes that are not too revealing, too tight or too loose and said applicants should cover tattoos and not wear flashy jewelry or strong fragrances. ExploreJob seekers and companies look to find that perfect matchArrive 10 minutes early, always smile, make good eye contact and dont fidget, Yancey said.

Video advice: How to Pass Bookkeeper Job Interview: Questions and Answers

What Should I Say In An Internal Interview

General internal interview questions

Don’t Miss: Best Interview Attire For A Woman

Iv The Actual Interview

It’s important that you not be afraid to ask questions. For example, “Is it always this fucking cold in here?” is a good one. Additionally, the following inquiries will show the potential employer that you have a keen and curious intellect

• How many tattoos do you have?
• You think that’s a lot of tattoos?
• Want to guess how many tattoos I have?

NOTE: While these are declarations more than they are questions, this will clue your prospective employer in to your virility.

When Speaking To Hiring Manager/human Resources

• Is there an orientation process for new hires?
• What are my long range possibilities with this job? What is the advancement process?
• Is there potential for professional growth with the company?
• Does the company encourage employees to further their education and improve their skills through classes or conventions?

Don’t Miss: Design Interview Preparation

What To Do During A Job Interview

Okay, so now comes the time for your job interview. This is actually the easy part. All that research and time you spent preparing, should now give you the confidence you need to ace the job interview. That, of course, doesnt mean that youll get hired, but youll certainly leave a strong impression as you walk out that door.

You will, however, still need to be very conscious, mindful, and aware. During your job interview, any number of things could take place. You, therefore, need to be focused and ready to adapt to everything the interviewer throws your way.

What follows are several important guidelines that will provide you with the best possible chance of securing the job.

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.

Recommended Reading: Questions To Ask A Cfo In An Interview

Interview Practice With The Star Method

Preparing for a job interview?

Whether you practice in the mirror or ask a mentor for help, it can be beneficial to conduct a mock interview to prepare your answers to common interview questions beforehand. Like other skills such as swimming, riding a bike, or running, practice makes perfect, and you wont get better until you practice, practice, practice!

Tip: Video yourself answering the questions to see your body language, and hear/see the word fillers you need to remove , etc.

Indeed shared this helpful guide on how to use one of the most well-known interview techniques to ace your interview The STAR method:

• R Result

Job Interview Question #: Why Do You Want To Work For Us

Even if your real answer might be because I need money, this is a chance to explain why youre a good fit for the job.

Why did you apply to this specific job? Do you admire the company? Are you a regular customer?

Answer the question so you emphasize the talents that you bring to the team.

Example: I applied to XYZ Shoes because my family shops here regularly. I also admire your charitable work and think my communication skills would be a good fit for the company.

Recommended Reading: Interview Attire Womens

Find The Right Context

Memorization works solely in times of urgency. If you want to learn in the most effective manner, then you need to have context for information.

Find an aspect thats interesting for you try to research for related information, and youll discover the joy of learning.

The first step? Jot down as much information and as many ideas as possible: How Simply Jotting Down Ideas Can Make You Smarter

With time, this practice will make you a faster learner.

Understand The Star Method

During job interviews, many hiring managers ask behavioral questions to assess how candidates handle common situations in the workplace. To prepare for these questions, get to know the STAR method, which involves discussing the situation, task, action and result. To use this method, begin by explaining the context of the situation before discussing your role, or task in these circumstances. Next, reflect on the actions you took to handle the challenge and the result of your initiative.

Related: How to Use the STAR Interview Response Technique

Read Also: Best System Design Interview Prep

What To Do Before A Job Interview

Your main objective before any job interview comes down to thorough preparation. The more prepared you are for each interview, the more confident you will feel, and the more likely the interview will play out in your favor.

When preparing for a job interview, its important that you address several key areas. These areas include:

• Conducting research about the company and industry.
• Exploring your value to this organization.
• Cleaning your social media profiles.
• Clarifying your career plan and objectives.
• Preparing your backstory.
• Exploring your personal and professional experiences and how they will help you on the job.
• Practicing your responses to standard interview questions.
• Organizing the pitch, you will make on the day to sell yourself as the most valuable candidate for the position.

We are assuming here that you have already handed in your resume/CV. And based on this, you have secured an interview with the company or organization.

You receive a call, and you schedule an interview. Preferably, you schedule it midweek, first thing in the morning. This is important because the later it gets in the afternoon, thats when fatigue starts to set in for the interviewer. Everyone is more focused and present during the morning sessions, which is why you should book your interviews before lunch.

Your best bet for an ideal interview time is midweek first thing in the morning. At least before lunch.

Focus On The Hard Skills You Do Have

Your degree has given you good foundations in some of the hard skills you will need for the job youre applying for, so dont be afraid to highlight these either. Dont say I learned this in uni, so I can do it, but say My degree gave me good foundations in these skills and Im excited to expand them by working this job. This shows that you know that you still need to learn a lot, but also that youre eager to learn.

Photo created by yanalya on Freepik

If you have relevant hobbies that taught you the hard skills you need for the job, mention them. For example, when applying for a job as a digital marketeer or content marketeer, mentioning that you run a blog can be valuable. It shows them that you have experience in content creation, SEO, growing a social media network, etc. and it shows you are persistent. You combined a blog with a degree, which isnt easy at all. When they ask about your monthly views etc., mention them with pride and tell them how long youve been blogging. Especially when youve been in the game for a few years, this can be the reason they pick you and not another candidate.

Also Check: How To Prepare System Design Interview

Follow Up With Your Interviewer

At the end of your interview, make sure to ask your interviewer about next steps:

• Is there a specific date or time I should expect to hear back?
• Will you be reaching out by phone or email?
• Will there be another round of interviews?

Tip: Do you have any concerns about me moving to the next step in the interview process? By asking your interviewer about any concerns, you can try to solve them in the moment! Even if you get rejected for this position, the immediate feedback can help you in future interviews for other roles.

Simple questions such as these will show that you are excited about this opportunity while also staying informed on the future interview process. There are various ways a company may decide to organize the interview process, so stay informed and alert.

Lastly, according to Monster, a thank you email to your interviewer after an interview is the most utilized method in following up with potential employers. However, it is unfortunate that two out of three candidates dont send out a thank you email. Whether you write a handwritten note, send an email, or message them on LinkedIn, it is vital to thank your interviewer for their time within 24 hours of the interview dont wait!

You are finally getting your foot in the door at the company of your dreams. Launch into your future career by taking the time to prepare for your interview and land that dream job.