Everyone has been there at one point in their life. Whether you're 16, 32, or 60, you could be about to go in for your first ever job interview. And as exciting as this moment might be, it's also terrifying. These tips can help you prepare for the interview and ease your nerves.
If you want to feel confident on the day of your interview, you need to know what you're walking into. And that means researching both the company and your employer. The internet has more resources than you need to go in armed with knowledge.
To start your research, look at the company website. Read about their mission and values, and look into their main products or services. If the job is in sales, you should know about some of the top sellers. You can read news articles and journals to gain even more insight into the company.
It's also useful to find out who the company leaders are. Is the person you're meeting with one of those leaders? If the website doesn't have information about your interviewer, check out social media. You may be able to find the title of the interviewer or at least learn a little about them.
Doing your research does more than just boost your confidence. It gives you a competitive advantage against other job applicants. Typically, other applicants won't think to research the company. Or, they might only do superficial research. Although another applicant might recite the company's mission statement, they probably haven't been as thorough.
In researching, you also show genuine interest in the position. If you didn't take the job seriously, you wouldn't have gone through the effort of researching the company. Mentioning a few details you learned in your research could give you the upper hand.
When you go to your second or third interview, you have an idea of what to expect. But on your first interview, how can you know what questions you will need to answer? With a little effort, you can be prepared.
Start by looking only for common interview questions. Typically, employers ask you the following:
Tell me about yourself
What are your strengths?
What's your biggest weakness?
Why should we hire you?
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Although those might seem like innocent and simple questions, they're difficult to answer. Long before your interview, think about how you can answer the most common interview questions. First, write down your answers. Then, practice saying them out loud.
When you craft your answers, keep them relevant to the job at hand. Make sure they relate to the skills and qualifications you need for the job. As you come up with answers, remember to make it easy for the hiring manager. You can't expect them to see connections between skills or duties that aren't obvious. To make a strong case, give examples of how your achievements or skills would translate to the new job.
Always attempt to tie your answers to the job description. While you write down your answers, have the job description in front of you. Pick certain words from the description and use them in your answers.
It's not enough to practice the answers to the interview questions out loud. During the interview, you'll have an audience, and your practice should do the same as well. Ask a close friend to host a mock interview.
After the rehearsal, ask for feedback. Rather than be defensive of the feedback, keep an open mind. Make the changes you need to have great answers to the interview questions.
At the end of the interview, your interviewer will ask if you have any questions. Believe it or not, they want you to ask questions. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about the position and show your interest in it.
Because it can be tough to come up with questions on the spot, prepare your questions ahead of time. Don't ask something you could find on their website or with a Google search. If you do, the interviewer might not think you can take the initiative.
A few great interview questions include the following:
What has kept you working for this company?
Can you describe common challenges your new employees face?
How can an employee prepare for those challenges?
What qualities do your top-performing employees have?
Although the interview is about you and your assets, it's also about how you handle yourself. With the right questions, you can make a great impression. Just make sure you actually listen to the answers.
There is no one type of attire that's interview-appropriate. Rather, every job has unique needs, and the attire varies. Although you should always dress professionally, it's impossible to say what you should wear without knowing the job.
Today, some companies have a casual atmosphere. You don't want to show up to an interview in a full suit and tie if the environment is casual. With that said, you also don't want to show up in flip-flops and a tee shirt.
Because an interviewer doesn't have much time to get to know you, they place emphasis on first impressions. They want to know you care about yourself and know how to be professional. Even if your first ever interview is for a job in a warehouse, dress well. You can always call the hiring manager and ask about their expectations or dress code.
If you're going to your first interview, you made it past a major hurdle. You were able to use your resume to appeal to a hiring manager. When the individual looked at your resume, they saw something of interest.
Don't let your nerves get to you, and remind yourself you made it past the first step. Now, you can let your personality shine and show the hiring manager they were right to call you in for the interview. If you're confident, the interview may go your way.
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