You applied to numerous jobs and finally got that call for an interview, but now you’re feeling nervous about the face-to-face. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many jobseekers get nervous about meeting prospective employers. These job interview tips will help you to prepare yourself and create a strong first impression so that you will stand out from the competition.
Choose the Right Outfit Physical appearances play a role in first impressions, which is why what you wear matters. No matter what job you apply to, you want to dress to impress. This typically means wearing clothing slightly nicer than required for the job. If the company expects you to dress in business or business casual, opt for business.
That being said, you do want to dress appropriately for the job. For example, if it is at a workplace where most people wear jeans and a t-shirt and business casual clothing would be too much, you still want to dress nicely. This might be new, nice jeans and a polo shirt or blouse rather than a suit or a dress. It is always better to be overdressed than underdressed, no matter the company culture.
Prepare Answers When you are in your interview, it is important to have some answers ready to go. This avoids moments when you sit there in silence trying to come up with an answer or are stuck offering a lot of “ums” and a poor response. Researching common interview questions online can provide you with a clearer idea of what to expect. Come up with answers to these so that you have an arsenal of talking points in your head. This also helps you to get in the right mindset so that you will more easily be able to come up with responses.
Research, Research, Research One of the most important job interview tips is to spend time researching. Research the company, its products and services, the culture, the hiring manager and any other component. This can help you to better answer the questions, and it might also reduce some of your anxiety. You also can develop some questions of your own to develop rapport and demonstrate your actual interest in the job.
Give Yourself Plenty of Time The last thing you want to happen when you go to an interview is to arrive frazzled, late, stressed out and not in the right mindset. To avoid this, give yourself plenty of time to get to the location. Map out directions ahead of time and even drive there prior to the interview so that you do not get lost.
Arriving early also shows that you will be a reliable employee. Aim for arriving about 15 minutes early. However, do not be too early, as this might be disruptive. If you get there a lot earlier than 15 minutes, head to a nearby coffee shop or just sit in your car and prepare for the meeting.
Remember the Interview Starts the Moment You Walk In Remember the interview starts the moment you enter the building. Therefore, make good first impressions to all the employees. Be polite and friendly to the receptionist, parking attendant, janitor and anyone else you meet. You never know if the hiring manager will talk with these employees about you. The time that you spend chatting with the recruiter on the way to the office before the interview might also end up more important than the interview itself. Therefore, smile, make eye contact and have a positive attitude.
One of the most important job interview tips is to spend time researching. Research the company, its products and services, the culture, the hiring manager and any other component. This can help you to better answer the questions, and it might also reduce some of your anxiety. You also can develop some questions of your own to develop rapport and demonstrate your actual interest in the job.