The job market is still very active right now and that means that more people are looking for and finding new jobs. This is great for the economy, but it’s also great for job hunters. One of the most intimidating parts of finding a new job is the interview process. Some people have been in the same company for so long that they don’t remember what it’s like to go to an interview. Other people struggle with knowing what to say and how to present themselves well. While there are plenty of consultants out there who can help prepare you for an interview, you can get yourself started with these tips below.
Research the Company in Advance
People often forget that they are interviewing the company as much as the company is interviewing them. It’s important to learn as much as you can about the company so that you go into the interview process prepared with knowledge about what the company does, how long it’s been around, and some of the challenges they may have faced in the past. Aside from learning about benefits and vacation time, there is so much more to determine if a business is a right fit for you to work at.
Dress the Part
There is a saying that goes something like, “don’t dress for the job you have, but dress for the one you want.” Basically, it’s reminding people that your clothes leave an impression on people and good or bad, it’s critical to dress up when it comes to interviewing. Even if you’ll be working the manufacturing line, always dress to impress.
Some places are more formal, and you’d need to wear a suit and tie or a skirt with a button-up shirt and a suit jacket. Others you can get by with business casual shoes for women and men along with a clean pair of slacks or skirt and a nice shirt. Gauge the atmosphere by what you know about the position you’re interviewing for and what you know about the work environment.
Practice Some Q&A
They say practice makes perfect and frankly, no one wants to freeze up in an interview. But the truth is that certain questions are asked with intention, and if you can learn some of the basics, it’ll help you better prepare. Think through some of your past accomplishments and find different ways to communicate them. How would you say that you’ve worked on a team? What about solo projects or projects you spearheaded? What would you say are your strong points? What about your weaknesses?
Come Up With Your Own Questions for Them
If you want more insight into their company, ask them about how they handle things when people take time off. Do they expect staff to be on-call regularly? Ask them when the last time they took time off was. Dig into questions about their company culture. How do they handle harassment claims? Is there a revolving door? How long was the last person in the position you are interviewing for? Did they leave the company, or did they move up into a new position? Asking good questions helps give you better insight into whether there is a healthy or a toxic culture at the workplace. Knowing this before you say yes to a job can protect you from a lot of stress and heartache later on.
Review the Job Description
It may have been a few weeks since you sent in your application before you got an interview. This means you may have forgotten exactly what the job was all about by the time they give you a call, especially if you’ve been recently applying to a lot of different jobs. It’s critical for you to review the job description before you go into the interview.
This can also help you think through how your skills and experiences uniquely suit you for the role. While you clearly did this when you wrote a cover letter and applied for the job, it’s important to do this again before you get interviewed. Keeping these duties fresh in your mind will help you during the interview to formulate your thoughts and no matter what happens, to present yourself well.
