Go In Knowing Your Purpose
As stated before, go into your interview with purpose! Take some time to truly reflect about what you are hoping to get out of this job you are interviewing for. Whether its for professional growth, new opportunity or financial gain know that you have a purpose and you want to demonstrate you passion for your work. Understanding your own agenda will support with creating a sense of purpose in your responses and interactions with your interviewers.
Preparing For The Interview: Mentally And Physically
Mental Preparation for the Interview
Here are some methods you should consider when trying to get information on an organization:
- Have the human resources department send information when the interview is scheduled.
- See if the hospital has issued any bonds. Request an offering statement from your broker.
- Contact the state health planning agency to see if any CONs are currently in progress and to obtain any other pertinent information.
- Look up the hospital’s statistics in the AHA guide.
- Read back copies of the local newspaper for information.
- Here are some places where you can get information about the hiring manager:
- If he or she is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, look up the individual’s profile in the membership directory.
- Network with people who may have left the organization.
- Network with mutual acquaintances, such as vendors, consultants, and auditors.
- Make discreet inquiries with centers of influence such as association executives.
- Look up the person’s profile in a bond offering statement.
Anticipating Questions or Getting the WordPhysical Preparation for the Interview
Interview Thank You Notes
What Is A Behavioral Interview
A behavioral interview is a popular interview technique employers use to assess job candidates based on their past behavior. For example, instead of asking hypothetical questions like, How would you react if you were under a lot of pressure at work? they would instead ask situational questions like, Describe a time you were under a lot of pressure at work. How did you react?
In this quick video, Indeed recruiter Evan explains how you can prepare and answer these questions.
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Practise The High Performance State
Heres how:
Remember a few of your successes and proudest moments in your career.
Take them one at a time, and use your senses to fully relive the memory by seeing the event in your minds eye, hearing in your head and feeling in your body what you would have experienced at the time.
Imagine you have a TV remote control and use it to enhance the senses.
Turn up the colour and brightness of images you see in your minds eye. Make the volume and tone of internal self talk and recall sounds as stimulating to you as possible. Ramp up the physical feelings you associate with those proud moments in your history. Your mind cant distinguish between how it really was and how you would like the memory to be recalled. You are the Director of the theatre performance in your mind.
When you can experience the memory at maximum intensity, squeeze your thumb and middle finger of one hand and hold for a few seconds. Let go, take a deep breath and stretch. .
Repeat about five times. Now relax, stretch and take a few deep breaths. Now squeeze your thumb and finger again and notice that you can quickly re-experience the sensations of that memory. Repeat a few more times if you need to rack the effect up a few notches. Follow the same method for each of your selected memories.
Tips For Extroverts And Introverts
When it comes to presenting yourself in an honest and positive light, there are some universal tips out there. Its a good idea, for example, to master the STAR method of answering questions. But its also wise to consider your personalitys strengths and weaknesses in the context of an interview.
Introverts and extroverts handle social situations very differently and accordingly bring their own assets and challenges to the table.
If you feel energized after social interactions, if you are whats commonly known as a people person, you can put that rapport-building talent to work for you. Being enthusiastic and a good storyteller can burnish your image, for example. But take those qualities too far, and you can appear disingenuous or sales-like, which might hinder you.
Keep in mind the importance of being yourself but not selling yourself, asking questions about the company and interviewer, and responding to the social cues the person youre talking with is giving you.
For people who identify as introverted, interviews present a unique challenge: Feeling comfortable with someone takes time for an introvert and time is one thing you dont usually have in an interview. Still, there are ways to hack this structural disadvantage. For starters, youll need to practice reviewing your experience and answers to common interview questions.
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Informational Preparation For The Interviews
Most job seekers focus primarily on information while preparing for an interview. It is the right strategy if they do not overdo it, or do not neglect the other parts of the puzzle. What information should you get?
You should research about the employer, their values and goals, and you should study the job description in detail. You should do all of this while trying to understand what they seek in a good candidate for the position.
Then you should try to find out what questions they will ask you in an interview , and how to answer the questions while demonstrating your skills and the value you can bring to the company. You should also double check the route to the interview, the schedule, and the transport options, to be sure that you wont encounter any negative surprises on a big day. Luckily we have Google maps and other tools that are extremely accurate and will help you to plan your way easily.
Anticipate Questions You Might Be Asked
Its important to think early on about the questions you may be asked so that you can prepare an articulate and polished response. You dont want to be caught off-guard by difficult questions.
These types of general interview questions are often asked:
- Can you tell me about yourself?
- What do you know about our company?
- Why are thinking about leaving your current job?
- What interests you about this job?
- Can you describe your work style?
- What do you consider to be your greatest strength?
- What do you consider to be your weaknesses?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
- What are your salary requirements?
- Is there anything we didnt cover that you want to add?
- Do you have any questions for me?
For a full list, read 40 of the Most Frequently Asked Job Interview Questions.
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You Have To Be Yourself
When most people go into an interview they try to present themselves as being perfect. There is really nothing wrong with this mindset because you should be proud of yourself. However, it has been said that most interviewers perceive an overly polished self-representation as inauthentic or fake. This pretty much ties into that old saying, If it seems too good to be true it probably is. So, going into the interview knowing that the employer is looking for someone less than perfect can be a good way to boost confidence.
Prepare For A Job Interview To Ward Off Brain Freeze
The more you feel familiar with the job requirements, company, and kinds of people who work there, the more comfortable you can be in the interview room. Facing an interview cold with no prior knowledge or mental prep can lead to a cold interview, where you dont make that all important two-way connection.
Also, if nerves take hold, you can get so caught up in judging yourself and your performance, you arent completely present in the moment. And that means you wont be listening carefully and responding naturally. All key for a good interview.
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Interview Success Package An Easy Way To Get Ready
If you still find this topic difficult, if your head spins and you do not really know where to start, you should have a look at our Interview Success Package.
It includes up to 10 premium answers to over 100 interview questions, and a guide on how to win your interviewers over. Everything explained in a simple and easy-to-understand way. Thank you for checking it out!
Alternatively you can also download an exclusive summary of this article in a simple, one-page long PDF, for further reference:
May also interest you:
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- How to overcome interview nerves Get rid of stress and show them your very best on the big day.
Practice Smiling And Then Do It
This last tip may sound silly but I encourage you to try it. Smiling is contagious and will be a great way to break the ice. Employers hire people they like. Therefore you want to be likable in your interview. The easiest way to be likable is to start your interview with a smile. It will also change your demeanor and even the tone of the conversation. If youre someone who gets serious when your nerves kick in you will want to really practice the art of smiling each and every day. After you have prepared your interview answers, record yourself answering a few questions. In the playback pay attention to whether or not you smile while answering. Then tweak accordingly!
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Accepting Your Anxiety Helps
A 2015 study found that strategies involving reappraisal and acceptance were more effective than suppression to regulate anxiety during a simulated job interview. This indicates that learning to accept you will be anxious, and reframing anxiety in your mind, will be more helpful than trying to ignore your anxiety.
Print More Copies Of Your Resume
Ever been to an interview only to discover you had to meet several other hiring managers who have zero copies of your resume? This is your chance to prepare for uncertainties.
You might find yourself in company of other decision makers and theres no better way to communicate your readiness than you give them a document to start their assessment with.
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Prepare For The Worst
Whatever your biggest fear is, theres always an answer for it. Lettuce in your teeth? Pack a compact mirror and floss in your bag . Worried about not having a good response to a tricky question? Be proactive and learn how to cover your tracks when you dont know an answer. By thinking ahead, you can truly rest assured knowing that even if the worst happens, youre more than ready to handle it.
Act Like You Got The Job
There is nothing more impressive than confidence. Confidence is not something that comes easy to everyone. Confidence is something that comes naturally to some individuals while it doesnt others. Whatever the situation is, with the right mindset you can make yourself confident. What would make you feel comfortable during a job interview? If you already knew that you were going to land the job in the end. Then the interview would be nothing more than a formality. Sure, you would still be somewhat nervous because you are meeting people for the first time, but the weight of landing the job would be off your shoulders. If you can truly walk into the interview like you know that you are going to be picked, you will probably have a more successful meeting.
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Prepare To Ask Your Interviewer Pertinent Questions
You have come a long way already. But to make sure youre prepared to immerse yourself into this role should you receive an offer, be prepared to ask questions related to the role, the company culture, or expectations from an ideal candidate.
Questions give you tremendous insight into what the company expects from you. With the answers, you have the choice to either move forward with your application or decline an offer should you be presented with one.
Other questions to ask include why the role is unfilled, the typical progression or career path of someone in that role, and what support the company provides employees to make sure they remain a great asset.
Practice Answering Interview Questions With Someone Else
Do practice answering your interview questions with someone else. You can never have too much practice. Its not a matter of personality types organizations need to know that you can articulately communicate your ideas on the spot.
Practicing with someone else can also reveal some nervous tics that youre not aware of like speaking too fast, using filler words, or rubbing or hands together. Not only is it embarrassing to ramble your way through question, lack of preparation can create a false impression of how skilled you truly are.
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Consider Your Answers To Common Interview Questions
While you wont be able to predict every question youll be asked in an interview, there are a few common questions you can plan answers for. You might also consider developing an elevator pitch that quickly describes who you are, what you do and what you want.
There are some jobs that may involve a test or evaluation during the interview process. For example, if you are interviewing for a computer programming, development or analytics role, you might also be asked to write or evaluate lines of code. It might be helpful to consult with colleagues in the industry for examples of tests theyve been given to prepare.
You should also prepare to discuss your salary expectations, just in case. If youre unsure about what salary is appropriate to ask for the position youre applying to, visit Indeed’s Salary Calculator to get a free, personalized pay range based on your location, industry and experience.
Here are a few examples of common interview questions:
Why do you want to work here?The best way to prepare for this question is to learn about the products, services, mission, history and culture of the company. In your answer, mention the aspects of the company that appeal to you and align with your career goals.
Example:Id love the opportunity to work with a company thats making a difference. Finding a company with a positive work environment and values that align with my own has remained a priority throughout my job search, and this company ranks at the top of the list.
Reflect On Successes And Accomplishments
The hardest part of applying for a job is securing an interview and if the candidate is successful, this means that they have a selection of qualifications and/or skills that will be valuable in the role.
This is important to remember as it implies that the candidate does have enough for the role and should feel confident in bringing these skills, accomplishments, and qualifications to the table should they be required.
Employers want to employ those with success ingrained into their psyche so this will need to come across in the interview. The candidate must freely discuss previous triumphs without ever having to boast or exaggerate. This can be psychologically freeing as it will inspire an extra ounce of confidence.
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Imagine Your Future Job
“Sit down and write out what life would look like if you were reemployed,” says the psychologist. Brainstorm what it would take to get there and how you see your career in the future.
“This helps construct a vision of yourself in a positive manner,” says Horsham-Brathwaite. Plus, concentrating on your future plan is a problem-solving strategy that will allow you to focus on finding solutions to the complex issues you are currently facing.
When Time Is Against You
While the ideal interview situation might include a few days of lead time, the real world doesnt always allow for that. So, what do you do when youre invited to interview that afternoon?
There are a couple of ways to set yourself up for success in a situation like this. First, ask for a detailed job description, do basic research on the company and then figure out where you need to be and how much time you need to get there. Even having a top line understanding of the companys history, mission, size and partners will help you develop relevant responses to interview questions.
Next, think about some situations that underscore your skills and achievements and get ready to talk about them during your job interview. You wont be able to rehearse this extensively, but identifying a few key experiences that you can reference during your interview will help you get your point across.
The good news? If you dont have a lot of time to prepare, your interviewer may give you a little more latitude during the conversation.
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Know The People & Culture
LinkedIn is a great starting point for finding people who work there. Or who once worked there. Even Board listings may present a name that you or your family know. Not only might you get a sense of the company and culture, but you may find a networking connection. Again, the internet in general and social media can provide some good finds.
LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Indeed are some sites that also give feedback from actual employees. But, take what you find with a grain of salt. People are more likely to post bad experiences than good. Also, companies may ask some of their employees to post good reviews to help the company image. Still, worth browsing.
