8 Most Relevant Interview Tips
A job interview is like game day for an athlete. Or opening night for a performer. You get one shot to get it right. No wonder 93% of candidates feel anxious going into an interview.
However, don’t let this stress weigh on you. There are ways to maximize your chances of impressing your interviewers and landing that job. You just need diligent preparation and a positive attitude.
It also helps to match up with the right employers. A top recruiter, like SmartTalent, will connect you with companies looking for your exact mix of skills and experience. Reach out to SmartTalent to find the perfect opportunities for you.
Once you locate a great potential employer, it’s time to optimize your chances of scoring the position. With that in mind, here are the eight tips most likely to help you succeed at your job interview:
Learn as Much as You Can
Launch an intensive research push going into your interview. Learn as much as you can about the potential employer. This will help guide your answers and give you a firm background for a detailed conversation.
Understand Your Best Selling Points (and Your Weak Spots)
Your pre-game process should also include a self-assessment. Look at the role you want to fill. What parts of your work history make you a good candidate? Are there areas that throw up a red flag?
Once you’ve identified your strong and weak points, you can take a more targeted approach to the discussion. You’ll have the context you need to formulate a winning strategy aimed at impressing your interviewers.
Outline Your Career Narrative
Understand how you want to present your career trajectory so far. Think about how the job you are interviewing for fits into that longer-term view. This will help you stay on message as the conversation unfolds.
When organizing your interview strategy, it helps to have expert advice. SmartTalent can give you the insight you need to prepare an excellent sales pitch, teaching you how to display your value as an employee. Connect with SmartTalent today to improve your preparation.
Prepare for Common Questions
Once you’ve outlined a broad understanding of the job and your selling points as a potential employee, it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty. Write out your answers to common interview questions. This will help you deliver confident, targeted responses when the typical queries come up.
Practice Your Answers
Don’t just plan out your responses. Practice exactly what you want to say. Like rehearsing a play, you want the words to feel natural, so you can deliver them with confidence under a pressure situation.
Of course, you need to guard against becoming overly robotic in your delivery. But, overall, you’ll feel more comfortable if you run through your answers.
Master the Interview Logistics
Think about the details surrounding your interviews. This includes nuts-and-bolts concerns like how you’ll get to the interview and what to wear. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Practice your route
- Arrive early (but not too early)
- Dress for success
- Stay polite and upbeat
Have a Plan for Remote Interviews
Given the rising popularity of remote interviews, you should have a set strategy for these interactions as well. For the most part, these steps should parallel your traditional approach. However, you should plan on making the appropriate accommodations for video or phone conversations.
Present a Calm, Professional Demeanor
Of course, the answers you give during an interview will have the biggest influence on the outcome of the process. But it’s not all about what you say. How you say it matters. In your interview, also make sure your nonverbal cues also convince the interviewers to hire you.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Body language
- Eye contact
- No fidgeting
- Avoid “ums” and “uhs”
Interviews get easier when you know an employer represents a good fit for you. SmartTalent can steer you to ideal opportunities.
Contact SmartTalent today to accelerate your career.