Top 10 Interview Tips & Tricks

A job interview is basically an opportunity to sell yourself to a potential employer. Interviewers are critiquing you, evaluating your qualifications, trying to see if you are suited for their organization and yeah, it can be stressful.

There are some ways you can help make sure that the employer views you as a strong candidate for the job. BUT..

Have you found yourself freezing up? Have you ever had a question where you haven't been able to clarify exactly what the interviewer was asking ? Here are my top 10 interview tips for this month.

1. Research the Company Before the Interview

Research the company prior to the interview. You are probably at least a little nervous so start out with doing some research about the company and why you would want to work there. You’ll really impress the interviewer if you find some simple yet compelling reasons as to why you want to work for the employer and what appeals to you about the role. Having some confidence is a solid first step to overcoming nerves and hiring managers know that they’re dealing with someone who is serious about the position when the candidate has taken the time to research the company.

While you're at it, research yourself! Employers want you to be self aware. Have a long hard look at what you have achieved, the way you have achieved that result and the skills you developed or demonstrated along the way. This type of reflection helps you understand your strengths. It gives you confidence and helps you overcome nerves.

2. Plan What You’re Going to Wear

First impressions are extremely important for job interviews.

To be safe, your best bet is to dress professionally, paying attention to grooming, soothing colors, and tasteful accessories. Plus, try having a couple of interview outfits ready. That will help avoid the stress of figuring out what you’re going wear at the last minute.

3. Practice Interview Responses

No two interview processes are the same. Depending on the organization and the role, you could be interviewed by a recruitment consultant, the HR department, the line manager, all three individually, or any combination. Each will have a different agenda for the interview.

However most organizations now use behavioral questions – which means they will be expecting you to provide specific examples of where you have demonstrated the skill they are seeking.

Practice answering some of the standard interview questions.

Feeling prepared can help you to feel confident enough to be yourself. You won't be doing yourself any favors if you try and suppress your personality, or pretend to be something that you aren’t.

4. Arrive Early, But Not Too Early

Arrive for your interview about 5-10 minutes early. Good employers value punctuality, and if you arrive even a minute late, you will likely give a poor first impression. Arriving more than 10 minutes early could put undue pressure on the interviewer, especially if they have a number of interviews to get through in the day.

Additionally, if you think you might be late, call ahead to advise them of the situation. If you have a reasonable excuse, most employers will understand and may even offer to reschedule.

5. Be Aware of Your Body Language

Remember, CONFIDENCE GURL — hold your head high, stand straight and tall, hold a slight smile, and relax. Introduce yourself with a smile, a reasonably firm handshake, & relaxed/ self-assured demeanor.

Relax, while you think this may be the perfect job for you, it really may not be. There are other jobs out there. If you keep this in mind then you’ll remove some pressure from yourself that this is your only chance to perform. If you think the interview is going south, just relax and use it as practice for the next one.

6. Take Notes

Bring a notepad and pen to take notes during each interview. This is an effective way to show your interest in the job and your attention to detail.

However, some companies may not be comfortable with this for various reasons (such as competitor stealing information), so it is appropriate to ask permission before pulling out your notebook and taking notes.

7. Don’t Ask About Salary or Benefits

Unless the employer brings it up first, don’t bring up salary on your first interview. If they ask what you're making at your current place of employment, provide an exact salary or a salary range. What is most important in the first interview is getting a sense of compatibility between yourself and the company.

8. Be candid about your weaknesses

In answering the question "What's your greatest weakness?" your initial impulse might be to craft a strategic response that really emphasizes your strengths. For example, you might say, "I'm such a perfectionist" or "I work too hard."

But recent research from Harvard Business School suggests that "humble-bragging," or boasting concealed by a complaint, can be a turnoff in interviews. It's wiser to say something genuine like, "I'm not always the best at staying organized, but it's something I always strive to improve in," which sounds more honest, and could make your interviewer more inclined to recommend you for the position.

9. Make eye contact when you first meet your interviewer

Confidence is key — when your interviewer comes to greet you, look them in the eye.

In one study, Northeastern University researchers asked participants to watch videos of strangers talking to each other for the first time and then rate how intelligent each person seemed. Results showed that the people who consistently made eye contact while speaking were considered more intelligent than those who didn't make eye contact.

10. Say Thank You

While thank you notes may not be necessary to land a job, they certainly help. In the follow up email or letter, thank the interviewer for his or her time, reiterate your interest in the opportunity, and mention one topic from your notes that addresses an area of the interviewer's focus.

- S