Job interviews are always stressful, there doesn’t appear to be a way around it. However, if you are prepared and practiced – you are more likely to be called back for a second interview and you just might get the job.
So how can you best prepare for an interview, take some of the fear out of it and come across as confident?
First, you should understand the basic idea of what an interview is and is not.
It is:
- The interviewing company’s opportunity to see if you fit the job and the culture.
- Your opportunity to show that you are the right choice for the position.
It is not:
- The hiring company’s responsibility to make the interview fair or even easy.
- Your opportunity to be sarcastic, egotistical or demonstrating a sense of entitlement.
Second, you should be prepared.
Research the company you are interviewing with.
- Website (culture, benefits, what they say about themselves)
- Public information like Reference USA – usually available with your local library
- Google search the company – see what others are saying about them
- Learn the hash tags associated with the company and follow those tags
Have copies of your references ready to hand out – bring 10 copies on your resume paper
Be ready for crazy questions!
- Not all companies ask crazy questions but a little research should give you some idea what those crazy questions might be and you should have some good rehearsed answers.
- They are looking for your on the spot creativity and critical thinking – so if you know a few answers to crazy questions you might be a little more prepared.
- http://www.thestreet.com/story/11812783/1/crazy-job-interview-questions-to-expect-from-us-greatest-companies.html – questions to ponder
- http://www.cnbc.com/id/100371504 – questions with answers
Third – you must have a great answer to the below question – no more than 2-3 minutes which means you need to practice. The question you almost always get – “tell me/us about yourself. “
- This is asked on phone interviews and in person interviews. They want to see what you say about yourself and how that relates to the company and position that is open.
- This is NOT the time to be sarcastic, egotistical or acting with a sense of entitlement. No one wants to hire these kinds of people.
- This is the time to reference your skills to those in the job description but I usually leave that to my final part of the pitch.
- Life hacker and social-hire wrote excellent articles and gave a great examples – this is the type of stuff you should practice and have ready to say.
A job interview should always be taken seriously. This is your time to shine but not share so much that you come off odd or creepy. Practice your pitch, practice the interview. Have your friends/family ask you some typical interview questions and get comfortable answering them. Your opportunity to seal the deal and get the job may depend on it.