Your resume blew away your future employer, you got an interview and now you need to ace it to get the job. Interviews can be quite intimidating, but in the end, success comes down to being well prepared, likable and confident.
Here are 9 tips for how to ace a job interview:
1. Knowledge = Confidence
When you prepared your job application, you likely did some research on the company. Take that a step further – find out about the company’s mission, achievements, and milestones. Check out their social media channels to learn more about what is relevant to the organization. Combine this with a review of their industry niche, the competition, and the person you’re interviewing with. The more you know, the more empowered and confident you will feel.
2. Dress the Part
Interview clothes should always look professional, be comfortable and make you feel confident. Look into what the company culture is like and how people dress before deciding on what you’ll wear. And remember that if you rarely wear suits and want to wear one for the interview, practice wearing one in advance (you might end up looking and feeling uncomfortable otherwise). Lastly, don’t forget to shine your shoes before you head out to the interview.
3. Master the Warm-Up Questions…
It’s a given that you’ll have to tell the interviewer about yourself, why you should be hired and what your career goals are. Practice these answers but don’t sound like an actor delivering their lines. Don’t just memorize your resume. Use it as a reference point since your interviewer is likely to have it in front of them. Mention key events or points when appropriate, but just make sure your answers always add something interesting to the story your resume already tells.
4. …and Get Ready for Some Tough Ones
Why don’t you tell me about your weaknesses? Here’s how you score bonus points with tricky questions like these. Pick a weakness and elegantly turn it into a strength that relates to the job. “I’m a little impatient, but it’s because I like to finish projects on time and not disrupt the flow of the team.” Be honest, and never ever answer with: “I have no weaknesses.”
5. Prepare for Some Challenges
If you were a kitchen tool, which one would you be and why? These questions don’t always come up, but if they do, try to be relaxed and confident when answering them. They’re designed to test you on your critical thinking skills and how well you think on your feet. Make sure to highlight your personality with your answer and make your answers as fun and interesting as you can (without being inappropriate, of course.) And what about that kitchen tool? Consider an answer like this: “I’m a can opener. Even though it’s not the first tool that comes to mind in the kitchen, it can be crucial for every course of the meal.”
6. Be Honest
Gaps or detours in your resume are no reason to worry. You got an interview, so they clearly liked your profile and want to get to know you better. Be honest and explain what you learned during any time off (whatever the reason was) and how it will benefit you in the job you’re applying for. A period of unemployment can be turned into an advantage if you used that time to develop yourself somehow and kept actively looking for work.
7. Avoid Doing These Things
Don’t be late, rude or talk bad about your former bosses or colleagues. Lying, oversharing, making inappropriate jokes or dominating the conversation are other great ways to make a bad impression. Eating an onion sandwich on a poppy seed bun right before the interview might be problematic as well. If you show up on time, look presentable and come across as nice and sociable, you’re pretty much guaranteed to get off to a good start.
8. Always Ask Questions
Questions are easy to prepare so never miss the opportunity to show off your critical thinking skills. You can be specific about your future role by asking what kind of projects you’ll be involved in. Or you can discuss larger-picture items like; where they think the company will be in the next few years. Remember – it’s not a one-way street. It’s a conversation between you and the interviewer.
9. Follow Up Like a Boss
Last but definitely not least, always follow up with an email or even a handwritten card thanking your interviewer for the opportunity. It’s a good chance to reinforce why you’re a good fit and how terrific it was to meet everyone. Keep it short and friendly and remember to send it within 24 hours of your interview.
