No matter what age you are, it is completely normal to feel nervous for an interview, especially if it is for your dream job. You want to impress the interviewers from the get-go and make them realise that you are the perfect candidate, without feeling awkward and stumbling over your words.
The truth is, not every interview will be the same and it depends on the industry the job is in, which can help you to prepare beforehand. However, there are some tips and tricks that can help you to ace that interview you’ve been wanting. Read on for the ways you can improve your chances of being offered the job.
Always Prepare for the Questions Being Asked
You will never know all the questions that will be asked during the interview, but you will be able to know some of them. It is important to prepare for the obvious questions, preferably a week before the interview and leading up to it. No matter what industry you are wishing to work in, there are set questions they will all ask. These can vary from being asked what you know about the company, why you want to work there, all the way to knowing what you can bring to the job role in question.
You don’t have to have the perfect answer, but you need to be able to answer in a timely manner that shows the interviewer you are prepared. It will show them that you know what you’re talking about and your viewpoint on certain topics which will be important to them. It also pays to be ready for the unconventional questions they may ask, but these are to gauge your personality and creativeness, as well as your ability to think on the spot.
Make Sure You Look Presentable
There is nothing worse than turning up to an interview looking scruffy. It is guaranteed to make a bad first impression and you won’t get offered the job. Before you head to the interview, you need to make sure you own clothes that are smart, clean and will show you to be sophisticated. Being dressed in a shirt and tie or a smart dress will show that you can be taken seriously. It also shows that you take pride in your appearance and won’t bring the company down by potentially turning up to work looking untidy.
Bring Documents and Certificates as Proof
Some job interviews require you to bring proof of grades or certificates that match what you have mentioned in your resume. Bringing these along show that you can back up your claims and that you are organised. This is especially helpful when it comes to talking about previous jobs where you might have helped reach a sales target or pulled off an incredible social media campaign. Having charts and figures on hand also gives you something else to talk about with the interviewer, and a chance to impress them. As well as this, having the proof will show you are attentive to details, which is something that is important in many jobs.
Be Prepared to Show Your Skills in Unique Ways
Not every interview will have a question-and-answer format. Sometimes, interviewers will want to test your literary, numerical or practical skills. Sometimes this can be in the form of giving you a situation to find out how you would react and solve a problem. Other times they give you twenty minutes to answer a series of multiple-choice questions, which will be marked after the interview is over and be factored into whether you get the job or not. It can be very daunting, especially if you aren’t expecting it, but when you know that this can happen, you won’t be as stumped.
Ask the Interviewer Questions
In general, interviews only last between thirty and forty-five minutes, which means you may not always find out everything you want to know. It is common for interviewers to ask you whether you have any questions to ask them. Most of the time people aren’t prepared for this question and stutter as they admit they don’t have any. If you aren’t sure what to ask, then how about inquiring what the interviewers favourite part of the job is. You can even ask them if the company has met all the targets for the year or what the direction of the company will be in the future. It is these sorts of questions that show you are prepared for the interview.
These tips will help you in many ways and stop you from feeling as if you don’t know what you’re doing. It is normal to feel jittery on the day, but if you keep these points in mind, you will find the interview will go much smoother.
