Job interview skills

How to Ace Your Job Interview

Your resume has been good enough to win job interviews tickets. You receive a whole bunch of telephone, Zoom and in-person job interview invitations. That’s absolutely exciting; but do not be too excited! Before jumping ship to a new company, you inevitably need to test the waters during the job interview.       

The purpose of a job interview is twofold:

• It offers the employer valuable insight into your personality and abilities
• And it allows you the chance to discern whether your credentials and career goals match up with what the company seeks. 

Job interviews can be quick sometimes lasting as little as a half hour or long, if you meet separately with two or more people from the company.  When both parties listen intently and speak accurately, there is much to gain from the job-interview process.

Step 1: Before the Interview

Research the company

• Find out who the clients/customers are and what the company culture is like.
• Find out about job duties, company policies and what is expected.
• See what the previous and current employees have to say about the company. Figure out their turnover; visit glassdoor.
• Use your notepad and pen to write down information as you are researching the company.
• Evaluate the match between you, the company culture and the position.
• When you receive a telephone call from the employer unexpectedly, buy time.

Step 2: During the Interview

• Search for common interview questions for the role you are being interviewed for.
• Review the sample answers and watch videos.

• Prepare questions to take to the interview. Ask about job responsibilities and opportunism for growth. This shows the interviewer you are motivated, and career driven, two traits that companies look for when hiring.

• Dress well, look professional and arrive early. 
• Let your best ‘self’ shine in the job interview meeting.
• The job interview is the perfect place to show off good manners and your ability to clearly articulate thoughts and ideas.
• Engage in small talk and try to make a good impression.  
• Remember to make the appropriate amount of eye contact without staring because it conveys honestly, trust, intent and likability during the interview.                                                   
• Demonstrate your communication skills.
• The reason you are in this meeting is to convince the other party even if you are not completely sure you want the job show off of your work ethic and abilities.   
• Sell yourself and what you have to offer.
• Talk about your career goals, if appropriate. (Be careful with this one, if your goals don’t coincide with what they have to offer you, you might be disqualified from candidacy.)                                                   
• Interviewers want to know why hiring you will benefit their company. Tout your achievements at previous jobs and be specific with numbers. If you were managing projects and met the deadlines, say it out loud! If you cut costs that greatly impacted the bottom line, say it explicitly: "I cut costs by 40 percent and saved the company $600,000 last year."
• Be prepared to answer, ‘what is your salary expectation?’ question. Be aware of the going rate in the market.

Step 3 : After the Interview

• Send a thank-you note preferably on the same day.
• Reflect: based on what you are hearing and witnessing, is this someplace you could be productive, engaged and comfortable? 
• Just by having the interview near the employees, you'll see how people are dressed, what the tone of the job site evokes, and if company morale appears high.
• Be realistic about job duties, travel time, benefits and the salary.
• Find out everything you need to know in order to make an informed decision about the job.