How To Practice For An Interview

Hammer Out The Logistics

How to Prepare for An Interview – The Best Pre-Interview Strategy | Indeed Career Tips

Congrats â if you’ve gotten through the previous four steps, youâve already gotten the hard part out of the way! Now, all you have to do is think through all the little logistical details of your interview. These can vary depending on what kind of interview it is â phone, video, in-person, etc. Here are a few things to keep in mind for some of the most common types of interviews:

Phone Interviews

Pick a quiet place with good service to take the call
Confirm the day and time, accounting for differences in time zone
Confirm how youâre getting in touch with the hiring manager
Review the job description and company information 30 minutes before the call
Breathe â try to stay relaxed and focused!

Video Interviews

Pick a quiet place with good lighting and a simple background to take the interview
Do a test run to try out the video software
Restart your computer before the interview to help avoid technical difficulties

Research standard company attire and dress one step above that
Have directions to where youâre going
Print multiple copies of your resume
Plan on arriving 30 minutes early, but wait in your car or at a coffee shop nearby until 5 minutes before
Brush your teeth or chew some gum before walking in
Run through your cheat sheet of responses, and a list of questions to ask each interviewer

How Has Your Previous Experience Prepared You For This Position

With this question, the interviewer is specifically interested in how your prior work experience has prepared you for the responsibilities of the position you are applying for. When answering, try to focus on specific work experiences that have prepared you for this position. If you have limited work experience or no prior work experience at all, you can also discuss how your educational experiences have prepared you for the role.

Example answer:”In my current role, I am responsible for supporting a team of four attorneys. My job involves making sure their files are prepared for trial, assisting them with preparing legal documents, answering and responding to phone calls from clients and maintaining the attorneys’ calendars. My experience at my current firm combined with my paralegal educational experience has helped me develop strong organizational skills, time-management skills and keen attention to detail. I am excited to continue to advance my career and development by joining your team as the lead paralegal.”

Don’t Be Too Familiar

The interview is a professional meeting to talk business. This is not about making a new friend. Your level of familiarity should mimic the interviewer’s demeanor. It is important to bring energy and enthusiasm to the interview and to ask questions, but do not overstep your place as a candidate looking for a job.

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Tell Me About Yourself

The interviewer is asking this question to learn more about your professional career and how your experience has brought you to apply for this position. You should try to use this question as an opportunity to discuss how your knowledge, experience, interests and skills make you the best candidate for the position.

Example answer:”I originally realized I had a passion for education and teaching when I was a student in middle school while participating in a teacher assistant program. When I began college I knew I wanted to pursue a career in education, so I majored in Elementary Education with a minor in English Literature.

While I was working on earning my degree, I became a substitute teacher to gain real-world experience in the classroom. Substituting helped me develop strong classroom management, organization and communication skills.

As a recent graduate, I finished an internship program and passed my teacher certification exams this past year. I am excited to continue to advance my career by becoming a full-time teacher for elementary students in language arts and reading.”

Tell Me About Your Work Experience

An interviewer may or may not already be familiar with your background. Regardless, this question gives you the chance to detail your experiences that are most valuable to the prospective role. Employers want to know that youve reflected on their expectations for a qualified candidate and that you have directly relevant or transferable skills. Consider these tips for answering:

1. Quantify your experience:I have 10 years of experience in personal finance management, and I have assisted 45 repeat clients in increasing their capital by an average of 15% every year.

2. Illustrate connections to role:As a financial analyst, Ive used visual growth charts to show my clients how each saving plan option can impact their goals. When I became a senior financial analyst, I supervised other analysts and trained them in providing the most helpful experience to our customers.

3. End with a goal statement:”As your senior financial consultant, I aim to integrate my individualized approach to helping clients build the retirement fund they will depend on.

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Body Language And Direct Eye Contact Are Key

Maintain a positive body language throughout the interview, speak clearly and in full sentences, smile frequently and make eye contact. During questioning, sit upright, listen to the questions and try to answer as clearly and concisely as possible. Also maintain good manners with any staff member or interviewers that you might meet before or after the interview, or even during the coffee break, lunch or dinner. Don’t forget that while you are with any of the institution’s or company’s staff, you are being assessed, whether the setting is formal or informal.

Reverse Thinking: Think About The Interview From The Interviewer’s Point Of View

Inevitably you will need to do some brainstorming based on your detective work and introspection, during which you need to ask yourself the following questions:

What are the employers looking for?
How will they assess you?
What questions are they most likely to ask to help them judge these things?
How can you convince them that you are the best fit for the job and organisation?
What evidence have you got to support that?

This brings you to the point where you should anticipate potential questions and prepare answers accordingly in advance. highlights the typical questions that you will be asked in most interviews.

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What Does Customer Service Mean To You

If youre applying for a public-facing role, an employer may ask this question to determine what aspects of customer service are most important to you. . A good answer will align with the companys values, which you can glean through researching their customer service policy, understanding their products and clientele and reflecting on your own experiences as a customer. Your answer can either come from the perspective of a customer or a customer service provider.

Example answer:In my experience, good customer service involves taking responsibility when something goes wrong and doing what you can to make it right. For example, on a recent flight, I had pre-ordered my meal only to discover they didnt stock enough of my dish. Instead of simply stating the facts, the flight attendant apologized sincerely and offered me a free drink or premium snack. To me, this apology went a long way in smoothing things over. The freebie was a bonus that made me feel valued as a customer and choose the same airline for my next flight.

Practice These Frequently Asked Interview Questions

Interview Practice | Questions and Answers

Although theres no way of knowing exactly what questions youre going to be asked at a given interview, its still beneficial to prepare for common interview questions, says Debra Wheatman, president at career-coaching firm Careers Done Write.

Interview questions can vary depending on the type of industry youre in, but hiring managers tend to ask candidates these questions:

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Bonus Tip: Work On Your Answers

You know you can do the job make sure the interviewer believes you can, too. One way to do this is by preparing well-thought-out answers to questions they’re most likely to ask. Need some help with that? Join Monster for free today. As a member, you’ll get interview tips, career advice, and job search insights sent directly to your inbox so you can come across as a strong, viable candidate. From ice breakers to the nitty-gritty , Monster’s expert advice can help you craft answers that highlight your skills and eagerness to get the job.

Use A Copy Of Your Resume

You will probably be asked to bring a copy of your resume with you to your job interview. You should try to make two copies of your resume so you can keep one with you and refer back to it throughout the interview if needed. You can also keep your copy of your resume in front of you during your practice session.

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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.

Treat your mock interview like it’s the real thing. This is an exercise to make preparing for an interview a breeze. Take it seriously, and ask your friend to do the same. Do your homework and prepare for the meeting by researching the industry and position. If your friend is willing to go above and beyond, ask them to make a list of questions to ask you during your mock interview or provide them ones based on your research if they don’t have the time. Provide them with a copy of your resume as well.

Unless your friend has extensive experience interviewing candidates, they might consider checking out a few online resources ahead of time. Glassdoor and Monster both offer blogs for job seekers and employers. These articles will help your friend create a more professional setting during the mock interview.

Create a list of items for your friend to critique and watch out for, including the questions you had trouble answering, body language that sent the wrong impression and the length of your answers. Choose your top areas first, and ask them to focus on these topics. But tell them to feel free to make notes about areas they notice. Suggest a few questions for them to keep in the back of their mind, like:

Did the interview subject greet me by last name?
Were they dressed for the interview to make the best first impression?
Did their voice tremble during any questions?
Did a question make them nervous or hesitant?
Was there any negative body language during the interview?

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Understand The Importance Of Body Language And Tone Of Voice

Your tone of voice can say volumes about your personality traits and your confidence. If you want to make a lasting impression on the interviewers, practice speaking in a confident and strong voice that is professional but friendly at the same time. Also, focus on your body language and pay attention to how you shake hands, how you walk into a room, how you maintain eye contact, and when and how you smile.

What Does Being Prepared For An Interview Really Mean

For many, the idea of being prepared for anything is a bit ambiguous.

Is there a specific point that separates the prepared from the ill-prepared? Do you have to dedicate a certain number of hours to the process of getting ready? Is there a critical step you have to make to cross the threshold?

Technically, the answer to those questions is no. In many cases, being prepared means youve done some due diligence. You know how to talk about your achievements in a way that entices the hiring manager. You can sprinkle in relevant tidbits of information based on research.

Essentially, being prepared means youve taken whatever steps were necessary to set yourself up for success, allowing you to arrive at your interview brimming with confidence. Youve dedicated time and attention to the process.

Even if the idea of being prepared isnt highly defined, that doesnt mean you cant do what it takes to make it happen. By following the right steps which well cover in a moment you can do proper laser focused research, prepare and practice relevant and engaging answers, and increase your odds of handling even the trickiest questions with ease.

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What Is Your Teaching Philosophy

This isnt a question solely for those applying to teaching positions. Employers may ask this of anyone who might be leading or teaching others. Your response will allow employers to gauge your personal skills and if you would be a good culture add. A good answer will concisely identify what you think teaching should achieve and include concrete examples to illustrate your ideas.

Example answer:When it comes to managing people, my teaching philosophy is to start by asking questions that hopefully get the person to come to a new conclusion on their own. This way, they feel ownership over the learning rather than feeling micromanaged. For example, in my last role, I was editing an article written by a copywriter I managed. The story didnt have a clear focus or hook.

In a one-on-one meeting, I asked her what she thought was the main point of the article if she had to sum it up in a sentence. From there, I asked if she thought the focus was clear in the article. She didnt think it was clear and instead thought she should rework her introduction and conclusion. As a result, the article improved and my direct report learned a valuable writing lesson that she carried into her future work.

How Do You Work Under Pressure

How to prepare for a job interview

Many jobs involve moments when, for varied reasons, there are unexpected situations that require swift action. The ability to stay calm, think logically and act correctly in such a scenario is a major asset.

This is another good instance of when to use the STAR method to talk about a specific time you were faced with a challenge, might have succumbed to stress but managed to calmly find a solution.

Example answer:Throughout my career, Ive discovered how to embrace working under pressure. I find that routine can make us complacent, so I try to look for challenges that push me to grow.

One time, I was supposed to deliver a project to a client in five days. A colleague who was working with another client had the same deadline, but he had to take a leave of absence due to personal reasons. I was forced to take up both projects at the same time. While I felt an initial sense of panic, I tried to reframe it as an opportunity to see what I might be capable of. Instead of letting the stress get to me, I came up with a very detailed time management plan and found new ways to boost my efficiency that enabled me to deliver both projects on time.

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Ask The Right Questions

Many employers would give you the chance to ask questions about the company and the position. It is a good idea to prepare these questions in advance so that the interviewers get the impression that you have taken the time to research the company and are also aware of what the position entails. Some questions that you could ask include:

What qualities do your most successful employees have?
What are the steps in your hiring process?
What type of in-house training programs do you offer?

Practice Using Mock Interviews

Practicing for an interview is one of the most effective ways to prepare yourself, relieve your anxiety and improve your confidence. This may be a tedious exercise, but the effort is worth it. You can ask your friends or family members to help you conduct mock interviews. If you don’t have anyone you could ask for help, you can use the mirror and practice your questions and answers out loud. Practice a few times because the more you practice, the better you will perform during the actual interview.

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Why Are You Leaving Your Current Job

There are many acceptable reasons for leaving a job. Prepare a thoughtful answer that will give your interviewer confidence that youre being deliberate about this job change. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of your current or previous role, focus on the future and what you hope to gain in your next position. Consider the following when crafting your response:

1. Focus on your skills:”Ive been refining my project management skills with volunteer opportunities and side projects with other teams, and I received my PMP last quarter…”

2. Keep it positive:”…Im looking for an opportunity where I can put those abilities to work for a mission Im passionate about…

3. Relate it back to the job:…I was also excited to read in the job description that this role will require regular presentations to key stakeholdersone of my key motivators is the ability to connect with colleagues and communicate my teams work, so this is an especially exciting part of this opportunity…

4. Provide a recap:…Ultimately, Ive learned a lot in my current role, but Im looking for the next step where I can continue to grow and use the skills Ive honed to contribute to a company I love, and this opportunity seems to be the perfect fit.

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