A job interview can be considered as a chance to offer yourself to a potential employer. While this may be a over exaggerated description but in some ways it is true. Interviewers are analyzing you, assessing your skills, and trying to see whether you are the best fit for their company. There are a few different ways you can help the employer to make sure that you are a strong candidate for the job. In this article we will discuss about some interview tips and tricks that will help you to ace your interview .
6 important interview tips and tricks are –
1. Research the Company Before the Interview
Research the company before your interview. Hiring managers know that they are dealing with someone who is serious about the position and the company when the candidate has taken the time to research the company.
Search engine research can turn up important information on most companies. Try your best to locate reviews from employees and customers on sites like Glassdoor.
For new companies, try to find out who the investors and partners are, as well as how much money they have raised so far. Be aware that a startup job may not be long term, but getting in on the ground floor of a profitable company can prove beneficial for you down the road.
2. Plan What You are going to Wear for Interview
First impressions are very important in job interviews. If you are not sure what to wear, get some information about the workplace dress code. The safest bet is to dress professionally, pay attention to grooming, soothing colors, and minimal accessories.
If you are actively looking for jobs, have a couple of interview outfits ready. That will help to avoid the stress of figuring out what you are going wear at the last minute.
3. Practice Interview Techniques and Responses
Employers will ask interviewees tough questions to judge their compatibility and to see how they cope under pressure. Get yourself prepared with questions about work experiences, stressful moments, difficult decisions, and where you see yourself in next five or ten years.
Practice answering to some of the standard interview questions. If you feel overly nervous about your interview, have a family member or friend to play the role of the interviewer and video record yourself.
4. Prepare for Behavioral Interview Questions
Employers use behavioral questions to delve into past achievements and to predict future performance. Behavioral questions are those that give the interviewer an insight into your personality and emotional intelligence in the workplace.
These questions identify applicants’ key competencies and abilities, so it is important to prepare answers to match your skills to the employer’s requirements.
5. Make a Pit Stop
If you are stressed out and there is a rest room you can use before you go to the interview, stop in and take a few deep breaths to calm down. Wash and dry your hands to minimize your sweaty palms.
If you are a coffee drinker or smoker, or you have a meal before the interview, make sure you use a mint or brush your teeth before starting.
6. Arrive Early, But Not Too Early
Arrive for your interview about 5-15 minutes early. Good employers always value punctuality, and if you arrive late, you will most likely give a poor first impression. Arriving more than 15 minutes early can put undue pressure on the interviewer, especially if they have a number of interviews to get through in the day.
Rushing will negatively affect your interview performance, so if you think you might be late for your interview, call ahead to advise them of the situation. If your excuse is reasonable , most employers will understand and may even offer to reschedule.