How To Make A Good Interview

How Do You Handle Stress

How you handle stressful situations is an indicator of your ability to solve problems. Employers want to hire candidates who react to stress constructively, so its important that your answer to this question demonstrates personal growth.

Spend some time thinking about your response to stressful situations and provide an example that communicates your abilities around perseverance, resilience and stress management.

Example answer:Im able to stay calm when I focus on the bigger picture and break down my projects into smaller tasks. I always start by asking myself, What is the ultimate goal Im trying to achieve? From there, I make a list of immediate and long-term action items with achievable but ambitious deadlines. Even if the big project is due tomorrow, I ask myself, Whats something I can tackle in the next 30 minutes? Before I know it, Ive made significant progress and that impossible project doesnt seem so impossible.

Read more: Interview Question: How Do You Handle Stress?

Tips For Before The Interview

In the days before your job interview, set aside time to do the following:

1. Start by researching the company and your interviewers. Understanding key information about the company youre interviewing with can help you go into your interview with confidence. Using the companys website, social media posts and recent press releases will provide a solid understanding of the companys goals and how your background makes you a great fit. Review our Complete Guide to Researching a Company.

2. Practice your answers to common interview questions. Prepare your answer to the common question: Tell me about yourself, and why are you interested in this role with our company? The idea is to quickly communicate who you are and what value you will bring to the company and the roleits your personal elevator pitch. Review our guide to answering

Tip: You should come prepared to discuss your salary expectations. If youre unsure what salary is appropriate to ask for, visit Indeed’s Salary Calculator for a free, personalized pay range based on your location, industry and experience.

Image description

Tips on responding to “Tell me about yourself:

Related:

Be On Message From The Outset

Politicians coached in handling the media are always advised to have a maximum of three key messages to get across, which they should stick to and repeat throughout any interview.

Similarly, its a good idea to have two or three key points that you want to make about what you have to offer and what youre looking for for example, Im ready for the challenge of managing a team, I combine compliance experience with technical expertise, in my career, Ive developed an extensive digital transformation skillset.

These are the three key points that you want your interviewer to remember about you. So try and work them in naturally whenever you can, even in the first few minutes. Its also important to have a ready answer for some of the most common questions that come up early on such as Tell me why you want this job and Whats your understanding of what this job involves?

Don’t Miss: Interview Attire Womens

Read And Review The Job Description

Youve received a call for that dream job, so how do you prepare for the interview? The first step in the preparation process should be to go back and review the job description. Most job descriptions follow a similar pattern and are usually categorised by the following points:

• Job title/Department
• Duties and tasks
• Skills required

The job title and department will give you an understanding of the major purpose of the position and where the role fits into the organisation, allowing you to discover who your potential line manager could be.

Read and review the job description very thoroughly and be sure to align your competencies with the skills required for the job. You will consequently ready yourself for questions around your previous experiences, performing similar duties in other organisations.

Job Interview Tips: How To Make A Great Impression

Related video: Ultimate Job Interview Guide – What to Expect Plus Top 6 Tips

You have your job interview scheduledcongratulations! Now its time to prepare, and weve got you covered. Below, we provide an overview of how to succeed in an interview along with a detailed discussion surrounding each point.

Read Also: Questions To Ask A Cfo

Understand Behavioural Competency And Situational Interview Questions

When preparing for a job interview, you should next make sure you understand how to answer job interview questions. To get to the motivations and working style of a potential employee, interviewers often turn to behavioural, competency, and situational interview questions to understand your behaviours and establish your core skills and competencies relevant to the role, such as teamwork, creativity and innovation, decision making ability, business awareness or conflict resolution.Behavioural and competency based interview questions usually begin with, Tell me about a time when or Give me an example of an occasion when Both behavioural and competency based interviewing are based on the idea that past behaviour can predict future action.

Sample competency based interview questions and behavioural based interview questions include

• Describe a situation in which you didnt meet your stated goal. How did you handle it?
• Describe a situation in which you took the initiative to change a process or system and make it better. How did you identify the problem? How did you go about instituting change?
• Describe a time when you were required to use your analytical skills to make an informed decision.
• Tell me about a time when you used your creativity to solve a problem.

Sample situational interview questions include:

Do You Have Any Questions

This might be one of the most important questions asked during the interview process because it allows you to explore any topics that havent been addressed and shows the interviewer youre serious about the role. Remember that you are interviewing the company too. Take time to ask the interviewer questions about their own experiences with the company, gain tips on how you can succeed if hired and address any lingering questions you have. Some examples include:

• What do you love most about working for this company?

• What would success look like in this role?

• What are some of the challenges people typically face in this position?

• How important is it that you hire someone with XYZ qualities?

• Do you have any hesitations about hiring me?

Read more: Interview Question: Do You Have Any Questions?

You May Like: Questions To Ask Cfo During Interview

Interviewing Someone For An Article

Practice Flexible Listening Here Is How

What seems like the simplest part of holding a conversation or conducting an interview is often the trickiest. Its listening the right way.

Skilled interviewers become adept at listening not just to the words their subject is saying but also the tone in which the words are said, the pauses and nuances of the answer and whats being left unsaid.

This active, flexible listening lets them know when to move onto a new subject and when the moment is ripe to probe a little deeper with a follow-up question.

Off-the-cuff questions often yield the best answers but the opportunity only arises from deep, engaged listening. Take a lesson from Katie Couric and stay poised to change direction based on what happens in the conversation.

Nothing is worse for me as a viewer than to watch someone go down a laundry list of questions and not explore something with a little more depth after someone has answered a question I think you need to use your questions as sort of a template, but you have to be willing to listen and veer off in a totally different direction.

Worried about going down too many conversational rabbit-holes and forgetting to pick back up on an important point? Try the outrageous image technique from Dick Cavett.

Don’t Miss: System Design Interview Prep

Craft A Brilliant Narrative

My oh my. Looking back on all the acquaintances and long term relationships I’ve made, I believe what sealed the deal was the first impression from the very first minutes of talking with them.

The best way to impress that top executive or hiring manager sitting in front of you is to have a killer introduction.

My advice for that is to pick something that summarizes what you’ve done so far , the results you’ve gotten, and how you’re looking to replicate that in a new organization. To put it together, I love going for the statement: “…at the moment, I’m hoping to transition into….”

Treat Everyone You Meet As Your Interviewer

Make sure that youre polite and friendly to everyone you come across in the interview process. From greeting the receptionist, to the people you share a lift with, to walking through an open-plan office to reach your meeting-room These are all touchpoints with your potential future employer, and co-workers will often share their impressions of visitors afterwards, so you want everyone who comes into contact with you to see you in as positive a light as possible.

Also Check: Preparing For System Design Interview

Getting Ready To Interview

Wear appropriate interview attire. It can be awkward if you show up at a job interview overdressedor underdressed. Always dress appropriately for an interview, so you make the best first impression.

Go light on the perfume or cologne. Some people have sensitivities or allergies to fragrances. Others have strong reactions to scentsand not always positive ones. Make sure the interviewer can focus on your qualifications, not your perfume selection.

Avoid sweaty palms. Nobody wants to touch a slimy, wet hand. If you can visit the restroom on the way to the interview, wash and thoroughly dry your hands. When thats not possible, use a tissue to make sure your hands are dry.

New Year New Job: How To Make A Good Interview Impression

How can you make a good interview impression and what is the key to a successful interview? Find the answers and discover your next career at Mondelez Int.

Monday, March 01, 2021

Getting a new job is an exciting yet often nerve-wracking process, especially when it comes to the interview stage. If the thought of an interview keeps you awake at night, wondering what you should wear and how much research you should have done, you are not alone.

When it comes to interview success, preparation is key. The more prepared you feel, the more likely you are to make a good impression that will hopefully result in success.

Check out these interview tips so that you feel prepared and ready to impress at your next interview.

Don’t Miss: Questions To Ask Cfo In Interview

How To Act In An Interview

Once you’ve completed your interview preparation, the next step is to ace the job interview itself. Whether you get offered the job depends largely on how you perform during the interview, so its imperative to make a great first impression on your hiring manager.

It’s not just what you do, it’s also what you say, and how you say it. Read our job interview tips on questions to ask in an interview below.

How To Prepare For A Video Interview

As with phone calls, video interviews can be tricky – the good news is, at least during a video interview, the hiring manager can see you.

Video interviews are a great way to connect and can save both parties the hassle of travel. Before your video interview make sure your technology is up to date and working. Take the time to also check that your surroundings are clean and tidy. It may seem obvious, but in the midst of delivering an answer, it can be easy to forget that you’re sitting in front of a camera.

You May Like: Women’s Outfit For Job Interview

Why Are You Interested In This Position

Interviewers typically want to be sure that you applied for this job because youre genuinely interested in it. Avoid voicing concerns about your current position or companynegative comments about your employer are often interpreted as unprofessional. A good answer will positively frame your transition and communicate your desire to grow in the role youre interviewing for.

Research the role and company ahead of time to understand how it relates to your background. Ask yourself questions such as, How will this position help me advance in my career?, How does the position align with my future goals? and What makes me a good fit for this company or role?

Example answer:While I highly valued my time at my previous company, there are no longer opportunities for growth that align with my career goals. This position fits perfectly with my skill set and how Im looking to grow in my career. Im also looking for a position at a company like yours that supports underserved communities, which is a personal passion of mine.

Read more: Interview Question: “Why Are You Interested in This Position?”

Six Ways To Ask Better Questions In Interviews

by Joe Bunting |

In an interview, you want to have a conversation, not an interrogation. A good interviewer makes their interviewee comfortable.

Going back to your list of questions all the time can rattle the person youre interviewing. It also limits your storys potential.

I love this story from Porter Anderson:

I interviewed Cokie Roberts once for a magazine. I asked her about all the needlepoint she had in her office. She grabbed a piece she was working on, a duck, and worked on it as we chatted. We found out her favorite vacation spot wasnt far from my home sea island off the South Carolina coast.

Your ability to be present, to keep your nose out of your notebook, will make your interviews shine with life.

To be more present, I always write out about a dozen questions before going into a face-to-face or phone interview. President Eisenhower said, In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.

Your questions are your battle plans. You might not use them, but they prepare your mind for the task ahead.

Don’t Miss: What Should Females Wear To A Job Interview

Dont Forget About Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal communication plays a major role in a job interview. Are you looking at your feet? Do you have your arms crossed? Do you lean on the back of your chair? All these signs will show inward-looking attitudes to the interviewer and he wont feel free to get to know you better. Make sure to keep this in mind. Also, employers will be looking at your appearance and how you present yourself. Dress sober and clean.

Tip: Dont forget to give a nice and firm handshake to the employer before and after the interview.

What Is Your Salary Range Expectation

Interviewers ask this question to make sure your expectations are in line with the amount theyve budgeted for the role. If you give a salary range exceedingly lower or higher than the market value of the position, it gives the impression that you dont know your worth. Here are three ways to approach this response:

Provide a range

Research the typical compensation range for the role on Indeed Salaries and make the low end of your range your lowest acceptable salary. For example, if you require at least $50,000 annually, you might offer the interviewer a range of $50,000-$60,000 per year. Let the hiring manager know if youre flexible.

Example answer:My salary expectation is between $XX,XXX and $XX,XXX, which is the average salary for a candidate with my level of experience in this city. However, I am flexible and willing to discuss.

Include negotiation options

There may be other benefits, perks or forms of compensation you find just as valuable as your salary.

Example answer:I am seeking a position that pays between $75,000 and $80,000 annually, but I am open to negotiate salary depending on benefits, bonuses, equity, stock options and other opportunities.

Deflect the question

If youre early in the hiring process and still learning the specifics of the job duties and expectations, you may want to deflect the question for later in the conversation.

Read more:

Read Also: Interview Attire Women