1. Research the Company Before the Interview Research the company prior to the interview
Hiring managers know that they’re dealing with someone who is serious about the position when the candidate has taken the time to research the company.
2. Plan What You’re Going to Wear First impressions are the most important in job interviews
If you’re not sure what to wear, ask ahead of time about the workplace dress code. The safe bet is to dress professionally, paying attention to grooming, soothing colors, and tasteful accessories.
3. Practice Interview Techniques and Responses
Employers will try to challenge interviewees with tough questions to judge their compatibility and to see how they cope under pressure. Expect questions about work experiences, stressful moments, difficult decisions, and where you see yourself in several years. Practice answering some of the standard interview questions. If you feel overly nervous about the interview, have a family member or friend role play as the interviewer and video record yourself. Dress in that interview outfit you just picked out, so you feel the part. While no one wants to hire someone who acts mechanically and comes across as too rehearsed, feeling prepared can help you to feel confident enough to be yourself. In turn, this can enable you better torecall relevant details from your past employment during the interview.
4. Prepare for Behavioral Interview Questions
Employers use behavioral questions to dig into past achievements and to predict future performance. Behavioral questions are those that give the interviewer insight into your personality and emotional intelligence in the workplace. These questions identify applicants' key competencies and skills, so it’s vital to prepare answers to match your skills to the employer’s requirements. Focus on past achievements that highlight your abilities in leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and learning from failure.
5. Arrive Early, But Not Too Early
Arrive for your interview about 5-10 minutes early. Good employers value punctuality, and if you arrive even a minute late, you will likely give a poor first impression. Arriving more than 10 minutes early can put undue pressure on the interviewer, especially if they have a number of interviews to get through in the day.
6. Be Aware of Your Body Language
Remember to exude confidence—hold your head high, stand straight and tall, hold a slight smile, and relax. Introduce yourself with a smile, a reasonably firm handshake, and a relaxed and self-assured demeanor. Greet others, and if you’re interviewing with more than one person, follow the interviewer’s lead to sit down or move to another room. Do your best to enjoy the interaction as much as possible. Keep it professional at all times.
7. Don’t Ask About Salary or Benefits
Don’t bring up salary on your first interview, unless the employer brings it up first. If they ask what you're making at your current place of employment, provide an exact salary or a salary range. If appropriate, you can mention that you feel it might be premature to talk salary. What is most important in the first interview is getting a sense of compatibility between yourself and the company. Don't ask about benefits unless the interviewer broaches the subject, and never bring up overtime, even to show a willingness to work extra hours. The interviewer will nearly always note that you asked about overtime, and they may doubt your determination to work efficiently during regular work hours.
8. Always Be Honest
Don’t lie if you were laid off or terminated from a previous job. The truth will likely come out before being hired. 9. Have Questions Ready to Ask A job interview is an investigation into your experience, achievements, and compatibility with the company culture. But it's also your opportunity to find out if the company is a good fit for you. You can demonstrate your intelligence and communication skills (active listening) by asking thoughtful questions
9. Follow-Up After the Interview
t's a good idea to follow-up on an interview within 24 hours. Email each interviewer or, if you want to make a lasting impression, send a written thank-you card. In the email or letter, thank the interviewer for his or her time, reiterate your interest in the opportunity, and mention one topic from your notes that addresses an area of the interviewer's focus.
