The thoughts you have before going to an interview can be terrifying. You can be a confident and outspoken person in your social life, but once it comes to an interview you can be shaking in your boots going so far away from confidence.
Let’s think of it this way...you were able to get a job interview, that means you are pretty much qualified for the job and you have something to offer - you’ve made it until this point. But now, now you need to think of how to nail this job interview.
Here are six ways to be an outstanding interviewee:
1. Know your story
“Tell me about yourself” is the most asked question in most job interviews. Your resume described you professionally; now is the time to show the interviewer who you really are. In other words, what's your personality? What was your source of inspiration that made you come to this point?
One more thing to put in mind is the skills that you want to highlight in your story. During an interview, the employer will be looking for specific skills. Come up with a list of skills that the company is looking for and highlight your matching skills.
2. Know the position
Make sure you understand what the company is looking for. What will you be doing? Study the post’s job description. Learning more about the job description will help you prepare for most interview questions. Most importantly, when you know the position well you will be able to think of specific story examples from your past experiences that you might be asked to share.
3. Know the company
One of the most important preparation steps for job interviews is to research the company. What’s the current and future situation of the company? Who are the company’s clients? What’s the company’s vision? Doing so will not only help you nail the interview questions but will also show the interviewer that you did your homework and that you are authentically interested in the company and the position.
4. Make your first impression
If you did the first three steps then you are well-prepared for the interview. Now is the time where you know how to build rapport and make a first good impression. Replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Remind yourself that you have made it that far; you’ve worked on the job search, built a strong resume and cover letter, and now you are here!
Greet your interviewer, make eye contact, and smile, as smiling helps you relax and helps put your interviewer at ease...let it all come out naturally. Remember that anxiety can hit you in the first one or two minutes of the interview, but then it goes aways - That’s anyone’s body’s natural response.
5. Ask questions
Ask questions about the company to show that you are interested and to make sure that this is what you are looking for. Avoid asking questions about the job and ask more about the company. For example, ask the interviewer what their favorite part about working at that company? Or how did they come to work here? You can also ask about the next steps if the interviewer didn’t mention them.
6. Follow up
After your interview, send a thank you email to the interviewer for their time. This step shows your keen interest in the company.