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When it comes to job interview tips, it can feel like no amount of preparation is enough. From discussing your previous experience to emphasising why you are perfect for your proposed position, there are few other situations quite as inquisitorial as having to justify your work to a potential employer. However, while it may appear daunting, that doesn’t mean you cannot give yourself the best chance at success.

At ConnektUs, our goal has always been to help people gain more control over their future. So, to help you get past that first big step, let’s discuss a few job interview tips that will put you in the best light possible.

1. Get Informed About the Company and Industry

There is an abundance of factors that an interviewer will consider when hiring for a new role that isn’t going to show on a resume. While this can include such things as confidence, demeanour, and even choice of attire, one of the main influencing factors to win over a potential employer is dedication.

An applicant that has taken the time to research the company they are interviewing for will have a much higher chance of being successful than one that is coming in completely blind. During your search, try and find answers to potential questions you may be asked, such as:

• What is the company’s position in its industry?
• Who would be considered the company’s major competitors?
• What kind of market are they looking to target?
• If hired, what areas of improvement could you focus on?

 
This type of information will not only allow you to answer the most typical kinds of questions and curveball interview questions that may come your way but will also provide you with more confidence in your understanding of what is expected of you. Answering industry-based questions with flop-sweating nervous chatter are never ideal when you want to make good first impressions.

2. Know Your Relevant Strengths

To put it simply, it’s going to be hard for you to convince someone of your strengths if you don’t know what they are. An interview is you convincing the interviewer that you are their perfect candidate, and to do that, it’s best to come in knowing what you have to offer.

Be prepared, if asked, to tell your potential employer why you want the job, what you could bring to the company, and why you believe you would be a valuable asset to their team. It’s also important that you can back up these answers, either with a well-thought-out justification or, better yet, with real-world examples. If, say, you feel that your best strengths lay in team management and leadership, think about times in your professional life where you have been able to display those skills.

3. Prepare for the Basics

Regardless of where you might be interviewing, there are some questions that are going to be commonplace among most industries. These are the kind of thing that any “Interviewing 101” job interview tips book is going to discuss in intimidating length. However, the problem that a lot of people come across in these books is that there are hundreds of “common” interview questions, which can leave you more confused and stressed than when you started.

Instead of filling a binder with potential questions and answers, focus on the questions that you are most likely going to be asked. Think about your age, level of education, what level of job you’re applying for etc. and try to come up with a shortlist of likely questions. By staying prepared, you can avoid fumbling when it comes time for the real deal.

Just remember, especially for less experienced applicants, that not having a prepared answer for everything is okay. The person interviewing you is just that, a person. Having an open and honest discussion about your place at a business is just as important as filling flashcards with flawless wordings.

4. Try to Anticipate Potential Concerns

Let’s face it, nobody is perfect, and with a large number of applicants that will be applying for any particular job, interviewers will be looking for areas of concern when screening interviewees. So, it’s important that you try to put yourself in their shoes; what reasons might an interviewer have for NOT wanting to hire you?

By preparing yourself for hesitations on the side of the employer, you will be able to mitigate those concerns more effectively, or even alleviate them ahead of time. Eg. “I know that [BLANK] may be of concern, however, [BLANK].”

5. Remember to Ask Questions

No interview should be a one-way street. In most cases, there will come a time when the interviewer asks you if you have any questions, and it’s important that you do. These questions will allow you to gather a clearer picture of what you are signing up for, as well as showing the interviewer that you have put time and consideration into applying.

Remember to keep your questions considered and intelligent, as the type of information you’re looking to glean will inevitably be a reflection of you. Ask what they are looking for in an ideal job seeker, or how they measure success in this role. A perfect question is both engaging and shows that you yourself are engaged.

6. Stay Positive and Assertive

Often, in the effort to stay polite and professional, applicants can lose track of something very important. Namely, that an interview is, at its heart, a conversation between people. Even the most boisterous individual can become flat and overly placid in an interview environment, and while some restraint is never a bad thing, it’s important that you allow yourself to show personality and stay assertive.

Especially in open-office environments, where you’ll be interacting with your colleagues frequently, the ability to express yourself is very valuable. Plus, an overly quiet or negative demeanour can be misconstrued as careless or apathetic, which is rarely considered a boon. This leads on perfectly to our next job interview tip…

7. Body Language

From your attire to your handshake to your ability to hold eye contact, everything about your body language comes into play when in an interview environment. In most cases, this will be the interviewer’s first impression of you, and all of these subtle gestures will help them shape an idea in their head of who you are.

Make sure that you dress appropriately, maintain your posture, and don’t go overboard with cologne. As much as you may adore the scent of your Gucci eau de toilette, having it permeate the room for 15 minutes may veer the interviewer’s attention away from you, and not in a positive way.

8. Don’t Worry About Coming Off as “Forced”

There are many instances in which, because they have scripted out and rehearsed their answers to questions, they are then worried about coming off as, well, scripted. However, this isn’t something to be feared at all! Being well prepared and having canned answers are two very different things, and as long as you’ve put thought into your responses, you will be absolutely fine. Besides, the mild anxiety of an interview is likely going to mask any “scripted speech” that you may have.

9. Nail The ‘Tell Me About Yourself’ Portion

It can be hard to talk about yourself, especially in an environment where you’re expected to “sell” yourself to a potential employer. So, what should you do when the question arises? Well, think about it this way; why are they asking you the question?

Naturally, as with all parts of a job interview, the interviewer is trying to determine whether you would be a good fit for the company, so take advantage of that. While a little backstory about your childhood and interests can go over well as a nice ice breaker, you should think about parts of yourself that tie into your selling points as an employee.

As with our example from earlier, if you believe that you are strong in a leadership role, then try to think of examples from your personal life in which that has been a factor. It’s okay to just focus on the parts of your past that put you in a good light. Just remember to not go overboard, as the line between self-positivity and egotism can be rather thin.

10. Never Give Up!

If you feel like things could have gone better, but also think that this job is still the perfect fit for you, things don’t have to end with the final handshake. Write a thank-you note, follow-up if you haven’t heard back from them in a few days, show that you are dedicated to this role. Whether this has any impact on the final result will depend entirely upon you, the company, and the situation as a whole, but if you don’t try, you won’t succeed.

It can be stressful putting yourself out there and displaying your skills for an interview. However, if you are able to stay prepared and positive, your chances of success will vastly improve. For now, good luck with your search, and remember to keep trying and honing your skills.