Congratulations! You’ve landed the interview. Now it’s time to prepare. Interviews come with their own unique etiquette and norms, so knowing what’s expected of you before, during and after the interview is important. Here’s everything you need to know how to have a successful interview.
How To Have A Successful Interview
Dress for Interview Success
The first impression you make on a potential employer can make a big difference in the outcome of your job interview. The first judgment an interviewer makes is going to be based on how you look and what you are wearing. That’s why it’s always important to dress appropriately for a job interview. What’s appropriate varies by employer, so you’ll need to pick out an outfit that’s a fit for where you want to get hired.
Minimize Interview Stress
Interviews can be stressful, even if you’re a pro who has gone on many of them. There are techniques you can use to minimum stress before and during your job interviews, and strategies you can utilize to reduce the anxiety that may accompany your job search. It will make it much easier to manage the interview when you’re not feeling stressed.
Learn about behavioral interviewing techniques
Behavior-based interviewing is when your interviewer asks you about how you handled past situations at work. This interviewing technique gives a potential employer valuable insight into the way you approach challenges in your job and turn them into favorable opportunities.
You can prepare for this type of interview by making a list of your skills, strengths and weaknesses. Prepare an example of a time when you displayed each of these qualities. Your example should show the employer how you successfully handled the situation.
Make time for practice
Practicing will always lead to some improvement. Ask a family member or a friend to interview you and get their feedback. You can also record yourself. Study how you are delivering answers and observe your body language.
Prepare for small talk
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You may find yourself interacting on a personal level with your interviewer. You can practice some common casual conversation topics to help you feel more confident if your interview turns into an informal conversation. Here are some small talk tips that can help you:
- Focus on the environment you are in. You can compliment the design of the office or its location.
- Compliment the employer on an award the team might have won recently or other similar achievements.
- Find a common interest and talk about that.
- Be positive during the conversation.
Consider what to bring
The following is a list of things you should bring with you for a successful interview:
- A printed copy of your resume
- A list of references
- Work samples and publications to show the employer
- A list of questions to ask the employer
- A notebook and pen to take notes
Line up your questions for the interviewer
Come to the interview with some intelligent questions for the interviewer that demonstrate your knowledge of the company as well as your serious intent. Interviewers always ask if you have any questions, and no matter what, you should have one or two ready. If you say, “No, not really,” he or she may conclude that you’re not all that interested in the job or the company. A good all-purpose question is, “If you could design the ideal candidate for this position from the ground up, what would he or she be like?”
Be assertive and take responsibility for the interview
Perhaps out of the effort to be polite, some usually assertive candidates become overly passive during job interviews. But politeness doesn’t equal passivity. An interview is like any other conversation – it’s a dance in which you and a partner move together, both responding to the other. Don’t make the mistake of just sitting there waiting for the interviewer to ask you about that Nobel Prize you won. It’s your responsibility to make sure he walks away knowing your key selling points.
Send thank-you notes
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Write a thank-you note after every interview. Type each note on paper or send them by email, depending on the interviewers’ preferences. Customize your notes by referring specifically to what you and the interviewer discussed; for example, “I was particularly excited about [or interested by, or glad to hear] what you said about …” Handwritten notes might be better if you’re thanking a personal contact for helping you in your job search, or if the company you’re interviewing with is based in Europe. Whatever method you choose, notes should be sent within 48 hours of the interview.
To write a good thank-you note, you’ll need to take time after each interview to jot down a few things about what the interviewer said. Also, write down what you could have done better in the interview, and make adjustments before you head off for your next interview.
