Preparing for a job interview can be a daunting task, but it’s important to take the time to get ready. We’ve previously spoken about successful interview tips for optimal performance. Here are some additional tips to help you ace your job interview:
- Research the Company: Take the time to learn about the company you’re interviewing with. This will give you a better understanding of their goals and culture, helping you to make a great impression. While they won’t expect you to know chapter and verse about every minutia of their business, they will expect that you’ll have at least bothered to research them. If you can only memorise three things that you’ve picked up from their website or a Google News search, that’s better than sitting back and expecting them to tell you everything you’ll need to know. An interview without adequate preparation is interview malpractice.
- Practice: It’s important to practice potential interview questions and answers. This will help you feel more comfortable and confident during the interview. I used to imagine the interviewer asking me the toughest, most difficult to answer questions and visualise how I would handle them. Most of the scenarios I had painted in my own head never actually occurred but the mental preparation certainly helps focus your mind.
- Dress Professionally: Your outfit should show that you take the interview seriously. Make sure your clothing is clean and ironed, and that you wear appropriate shoes. In reality, I would often counsel any candidate to check before attending an interview what the appropriate dress code will be. It’s often worse to be “overdressed” in your suit and tie when the hiring manager is dressed casually.
- Ask intelligent questions: One should be about the position of course; one should be about the company culture/office/people and one should be personal to the interviewer themselves. By asking a personal question about their career growth in the firm, you’re doing two things: You’re demonstrating an interest in the company and why they might be a good fit for you and you’re demonstrating an interest in potentially your next boss. Most hiring managers love to talk about themselves and their accomplishments so by giving them that opportunity, paradoxically you’re making yourself more fascinating to them. Trust me it works!
Campbell Rochford – Turning Good To Great!