How to Nail A Job Interview

The world works in crazy ways, as I got a new job barely two weeks after being let go from my previous job. There were a lot of ways that I prepared for this interview, and I am so thankful for the staffing agency who helped me through this entire employment process. I thought these tips were so helpful, that I wanted to pass them along to those that read my blog, hoping to help someone with the long journey that is employment. Whoever needs job interview advice, or is looking for a new job, this blog post should be extremely helpful to you. Let’s get started!

Tips for Prepping Before the Interview

There are 3 different pieces of homework you have to do before the interview:

• Do your homework on the company

  • Find out as much about the company as you can

  • Look up their mission statement and what they look for in employees

• Do your homework on the position

  • Be prepared to ask questions about the position itself

  • Learn the basics about the position

• Do your homework on yourself

  • Review your career history and your job responsibilities

  • Be prepared to cite specific examples of accomplishments & how your specific experiences can help the company

TMAY… Tell Me About Yourself

When an employer asks you the dreaded TMAY, it is best to come prepared with your answers. A confident answer tells the employer that you came prepared and were ready for the interview since you walked into the building. Here are the 3 things you need to do when your employer asks you to tell them about yourself.

1. Summarize your career in 5 or 6 sentences (about 1-2 minutes)

2. Identify 2 accomplishments in your previous 5 years that are both significant and relative

3. Say, “what I am looking for in my next position is…”

Tips for being an interviewing star

There are a lot of tips for being an interviewing star, so I am just going to round them off in bullet point fashion below.

• Arrive 15 minutes early to the interview

• Bring at least 2 extra resumes in case the interviewer misplaces it, or you end up meeting additional people

• Don’t answer questions with simple “yes” or “no” answers - be specific!

  • Use examples, answer questions to the point, and don’t ramble on

• On the initial interview, don’t concern yourself with salary or vacations

• STAY POSITIVE!

  • Don’t make derogatory remarks about past employers

  • Flip around the negative situation by stating what you’ve learned and why you are better for experiencing it

• Tell your potential employer what you are going to do for them, NOT what they can do for you

• Don’t underestimate the power of the receptionist

  • They may comment on you when you leave

  • Be nice to them, and try to have a conversation with them (if they aren’t too busy)

• Always represent yourself honestly

• Dress for success & be professional

• Act like you already have the position, and the interview is simply a matter of explaining the details

• Answer questions with excitement, enthusiasm, and confidence

• Ask the interviewer questions about the company after they have asked you questions

• Let them know that you are interested in the position and can start right away

Questions to ask in an interview

There are good questions and bad questions to ask in an interview. Let’s start with the good ones!

1. Can you describe a typical month in this position?

2. What are 3 main qualities you are looking for in a candidate for this position?

3. How will you measure success in this position?

4. (2nd to last question asked) Based on our discussion & looking at my background, what do you think would be my greatest challenge?

5. (Closing question) Assuming everything goes positive today, what is the next step?

DO NOT ask these questions…

Now that we have covered the good questions to ask in an interview, let’s move on to the questions you SHOULD NOT ask in an interview.

1. What is the salary range of this position?

2. How many sick days or vacation days do I get?

3. How many holidays are given?

4. Will I have to work overtime?

Odds are, if you get this position, you will find out these details in due time. Just be confident about what the position requires, and don’t focus on the benefits on the position until you receive the offer letter.

Ways that applicants strikeout when interviewing

You might think that striking out in an interview can be hard, right? That is where you are wrong, as these examples can harm you during the interviewing process. Here are a couple of ways that you can strike out when interviewing:

• Poor personal appearance

• Limp handshake

• Lack of interest and enthusiasm

• Failure to look at interviewer while conversing

• Being late for the interview

• Failure to express thanks for the interviewer’s time

• Inability to take criticism

• Lack of manners/courtesy

• Asks no questions about the job or company

• Inability to express oneself clearly

Reading through all of these interview tips helped me land a job offer 30 minutes after my job interview.

And remember - confidence is key when it comes to looking and feeling your best.

I hope that these tips help you, or someone in your life that is struggling in the job market.