Why Should We Hire You
When asked this question, keep in mind that the recruiter is looking to hear what skills you have that youre going to bring to the team. Dont give a vague answer, such as, Im friendly and a hard worker. Instead, be specific, summarize your work history and achievements, and use numbers when possible.
For example, say how many years of experience you have or name some of the accomplishments you made at your last company. The more specific you can be about what your skills are and how valuable of an employee you are, the better the interviewer will be able to picture you working there.
How To: Prepare For An Interview
When it comes to an interview, you can never be too prepared
Whether youre new to job hunting, or youre a well-practiced interviewee thorough research and effective preparation is absolutely essential to guarantee interview success. Attempting to wing it will only ever end badly .
Weve already covered telephone interview dos and donts and video interview tips, but if youre invited to a face-to-face interview here are our top tips on how to prepare:
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.
Read Also: How To Interview At Google
The Night Before Your Interview
- Read through your notes, resume, cover letter, job description, company or industry summaries one last time.
- Know the route you will take to the location and how much travel time you will need.
- Build in additional time to ensure you are not late.
Youre ready! Get a good nights sleep to ensure that youre at your best on the day of the interview.
Can You Tell Me About A Time Where You And A Coworker Clashed And How You Resolved It
Its fair to say youll be working with plenty of people in a restaurant sometimes dozens by the time your tenure is up. Your interviewer wants to know youll know how to adapt to different working styles on the team without jeopardizing the customer experience.
Everyone has an employee conflict at one point or another, so just be honest and follow these steps when answering.
You May Like: How To Prepare For A Recruiter Position Interview
Review The Job Description
The first step you need to take when preparing for an interview is to review the job description. The job description is chocked full of critical details, including the must-have skills and traits the hiring manager needs to find.
Once you bring up the original vacancy announcement, go over it word-by-word. When you spot skills and qualities, consider highlighting them or writing them down in a list. Anything the hiring manager felt was worthy of inclusion will likely come up during your interview.
Essentially, the job description is a cheat sheet. If the hiring manager listed a skill or quality in the job description you should be prepared to show the hiring manager you possess them!
Actively Listen During The Interview
It’s important to be dynamic and interactive in a job interview, so you shouldn’t t be afraid to put questions to your interviewer.
You should try to make your interest in being an active part of the company clear.
If you get stuck at any point, simply take a deep breath and pick up the conversation where you left off.
Don’t Miss: How To Do Hirevue Interview
Get Ready For Video Interviews
- Find out which computer program, application or website will be used for the video interview. Test it out with a friend or family member.
- If youre using a laptop, phone or tablet make sure the battery is charged.
- Exchange phone numbers with your interviewer in case the video link fails.
- Make sure the camera and microphone are adjusted to give the best possible sound and video quality.
- Make sure your background looks professional and there are no photos, mirrors or people visible.
- Have your CV and interview notes near you for reference.
Dont Forget To Follow Up
After your interview, its always a good idea to leave a lasting impression.
The day of the interview, you should be sending a thank-you email showing appreciation for their time and expressing your interest in the role, said etiquette expert Jodi R.R. Smith. A handwritten note is a great way to reinforce that you are willing to go above and beyond for the job.
And once you get a job offer, remember to negotiate your starting salary. You can use the information you gathered for the interview to drive your points home and increase your salary faster.
Its not difficult to learn how to prepare for an interview. A little effort will go a long way in helping you stand out and land your next dream job.
You May Like: How To Write An Email After Interview
Tips For Great Job Interviews
From researching the company to handling certain key interview questions, make sure you make a great impression and ace your next job interview by following these 20 tips.
Want to ace your next interview and land thatopen job youve been seeking? Here are 20 tips to help you prepare.1. Research the industry and company.An interviewer may ask how you perceive his company’s position in its industry, who the firm’s competitors are, what its competitive advantages are, and how it should best go forward. For this reason, avoid trying to thoroughly research a dozen different industries. Focus your job search on just a few industries instead.
Have Concluding Questions Prepared
At the end of your interview, it is commonplace to be asked if you have any questions. You may have questions come to you in the moment, but its a good idea to have several prepared beforehand. Here are some examples:
- What is your favorite part of working for X Company?
- In your opinion, what is the most essential quality or skill needed to be a good fit for this role?
- What is your ultimate vision for this position/department?
- What is something you would add/change about this department/company if you could?
Preparing well is the cornerstone of knocking your interview out of the park. Give yourself the best possible chance of success by doing your research, preparing your responses, practicing aloud, and thinking thoughtfully about your values, goals, and skill set. Now that you know the right steps to take, dont just read another post on how to prepare for an interview. Put in the prep time and put yourself on the fast track to making your dream job a reality.
Alia Sinclair
Head of Content
Alia is the Head of Content for Big Interview and the Editor-in-Chief of Patchwork Mosaic, an online magazine for creatives. She lives on the West Coast with her ever-increasing library of books.
Also Check: What Are Some Questions To Ask During An Interview
Restaurant Job Interview Questions
- Create your restaurants schedules in minutes
- Easily manage your restaurants operations from open to close
- Keep your entire team and restaurant in-sync with 7shifts communication tools
Looking to work in a restaurant? The good news for you is that the #1 staffing concern for restaurants is understaffing, which means if youre a respectable candidate with a track record of success, youve got a pretty good shot at being hired.¹
But as you get closer to landing that restaurant job youve got your eye on, it becomes increasingly important to be ready for one stage of the job hunt theres no escape from the restaurant interview.A restaurant interview can take many forms a group interview, an open interview, or a scheduled one-on-one interview, to name a few. No matter the setting, having poise, being authentic, exuding confidence, and articulating knowledge will help you stand out from other candidates.
To help you prep, whether it’s a front-of-house or back-of-house position, weve outlined 12 restaurant interview questions you might be asked to answer, as well as some guidelines on how to answer them. Weve also included a roundup of interview best practices you should be aware of before showing up to speak to the hiring manager.
Choose An Outfit In Advance
You only get one chance at a first impression, so be intentional when choosing what to wear to your interview. Be presentable and dress to fit the company culture, but dont be afraid to show your personality.
One of the things that Ive noticed is that Ive hired people who stand out from the rest, said Anh Trinh, managing editor of GeekWithLaptop. Any accessory or article of clothing thats different tends to get extra points for me.
A bright headband, funky earrings, or colorful socks can also make you more relatable. Your interviewer doesnt know much about you, so you can let your personality shine a little with a fun accessory. Just remember not to overdo it. Put in the effort to look refined and presentable and pick one thing thatll be remembered for the right reasons.
Related: How to Crush Your First Day at a New Job
Don’t Miss: How To Make Resume For Job Interview
Dont Forget Your Interview Essentials
The pre-interview stress can cause you to forget a few basics before your meeting. Remember to do these before you show up.
- Arrive at least 10 minutes early. Showing up late sets a very bad precedent in this industry. Be early to show your gratitude for this opportunity, but if you do end up running late, call on your way to apologize and explain the situation. If you have a legitimate excuse, any decent interviewer will understand.
- Bring multiple copies of your resume. Brush up your resume so that its relevant and grammatically correct, and bring copies for all of the employees who will be interviewing you.
- Remind yourself to smile. Its such a simple thing, but smiling in an interview can truly play a role in your hiring.³ It shows your interviewer that youre kind, positive, and comfortable in awkward situations .
How Did You Hear About This Job
When asked this during an interview, dont just say you heard about the job on a website. This is your opportunity to go into more detail about why you love this company and what motivates you to want to work there. Moreover, if you have a personal connection at the company, this would be a good time to mention their name!
Also Check: What Do They Ask You At A Job Interview
Why Do You Want To Work For
When a hiring manager asks this question, not only do they want to know why you want to work for them, but they also want to know what you know about the company. This question tests how well you know what the company does and how passionate you are about the work they doso make sure you know the company well and can speak truthfully about your desires to work there.
Learn The Types Of Interview Questions
At this point, its time to start figuring out how to work in relevant details into interview answers. One of the best ways to start is to learn about the different kinds of interview questions.
If you need to say no, youll need a different approach. Pivot by discussing how you intend to acquire the skill or by focusing on your willingness to learn and excitement about professional development. Many hiring managers will consider a candidate who doesnt have every hard skill if they are enthusiastic and have potential, so this method can work.
For behavioral interview questions, youll need a robust strategy. Usually, combining the STAR Method and the Tailoring Method is the best approach. So, lets take a look at those.
Don’t Miss: What Are Questions They Ask In An Interview
Bring Your People Skills Too
Just because youre going for an engineering job doesnt mean you can slack on being personable and responsible. Ive heard horror stories of fantastic programmers who werent hired because they werent a culture fit or had a bad attitude. Im sure you have, too. Dont be that person.
Curiosity and enthusiasm are prized in any employeeand developers are no different. Ask about the companys engineering team, its stack, and the toughest problems its tackling for the product. Of course, theres a fine line between being enthusiastic and being a sycophant, so keep it genuine, but everyone loves a candidate who is interested in the product he or she will be working on.
Plan For The Interview
Find out what the interview will involve to make sure you’re prepared.
If you have a disability, all employers must make reasonable adjustments for you to have an interview. If you need the employer to make particular arrangements , contact them before your interview to make sure they can make these arrangements.
If you can find out the length of the interview it will give you an idea of how detailed it is likely to be. You also need to find out if you will have to take a test or make a presentation.
Think about who will be interviewing you. If it’s the person who would be your manager if you got the job, the interview may be more detailed. If it’s the personnel manager, the interview may be less detailed but could still be as testing.
Find out how many people will be interviewing you and their positions in the company. This will help you prepare for the kinds of questions they may ask.
You May Like: How To Get Interviews For Podcast
Review Your Facebook And Other Social Media Postings
Employers often review Facebook and other social media sites to get information and background on prospective employees. So make sure to review your online postings and pictures and delete any information that is embarrassing or could cast you in a negative light with the prospective employer.
Its also useful to Google yourself to see what your prospective employer would see if they did a search on you.
Tips For During The Interview
After youve spent time preparing, you can be successful on interview day by practicing these tips:
9. Plan your interview attire the night before. If youre speaking to a recruiter before the interview, you can ask them about the dress code in the workplace and choose your outfit accordingly. If you dont have someone to ask, research the company to learn whats appropriate. For more, visit How to Dress for a Job Interview.
10. Bring copies of your resume, a notebook and pen. Take at least five copies of your printed resume on clean paper in case of multiple interviewers. Highlight specific accomplishments on your copy that you can easily refer to and discuss. Bring a pen and a small notebook. Prepare to take notes, but not on your smartphone or another electronic device. Write information down so that you can refer to these details in your follow-up thank-you notes. Maintain eye contact as much as possible. For more, visit What to Bring to the Interview.
11. Plan your schedule so that you can arrive 1015 minutes early. Map out your route to the interview location so you can be sure to arrive on time. Consider doing a practice run. If youre taking public transportation, identify a backup plan if there are delays or closures.
Tip: When you arrive early, use the extra minutes to observe workplace dynamics.
Recommended Reading: How To Ask About Remote Work In An Interview
Get Your Interview Outfit Ready
Never underestimate the importance of looking the part. While you might get away with casual clothing for a hip and trendy design company, dressing formally is virtually always your best bet. Make sure your suit has been dry cleaned and your shirt has been ironed. By the way, shine your shoes! Get a haircut if you need it and men should be clean shaven or else they must ensure their facial hair is well groomed.
Its a known fact that being well-dressed not only improves your chances of making a positive first impression, it also increases your confidence.
If You Were An Animal Which One Would You Want To Be
Don’t be alarmed if you’re asked weird interview questions. Interviewers use this type of psychological question to see if you can think quickly. If you answer “a bunny,” you will make a soft, passive impression. If you answer “a lion,” you will be seen as aggressive. What type of personality would it take to get the job done? What impression do you want to make?
Recommended Reading: Where To Watch Harry And Meghan Interview
What To Bring To An Internship Interview
