Research.com reports that there are over 4,300 higher-learning institutions in the United States. That means a lot of graduates will soon be flooding the job market. With so much competition out there, it’s essential you’re ready to tackle your next employment interview head-on. Here are a few tips that will help you nail it.
Review Your Resume
Double and triple-check your resume for typos and formatting errors. Then have someone else review it again. Remember that any minor mistakes you overlook may be glaringly obvious to the decision-maker. That person may decide that if you’re careless in preparing your resume, you will also be in performing your job.
Research the Company
Perform research by reviewing the company’s website and social media pages looking for awards, current happenings, and other newsworthy items. Then think of ways you can subtly let the interviewer know you have performed your research. You don’t want to force the topic, but be prepared to reveal your knowledge whenever the opportunity arises.
Rehearse
Stage a mock interview where you can practice reviewing some of the most frequently asked job-screening questions. Better yet, have your interviewer make up a few random questions so you can get used to being put on the spot.
In particular, utilize the STAR method to talk about how you have successfully handled precarious situations in the past. In case you’re not familiar with the STAR method, it stands for:
- Situation – Discuss a difficult situation you have encountered in the past. Whenever possible, make it relatable to the job for which you are applying
- Task – Identify the particular task you were given within the situation
- Action – Relay the action you took to overcome the challenging situation you were faced with
- Results – Talk about the results you achieved and tie them directly to the action you took
Be Prepared
Make sure you are prepared for your interview by:
- Choosing an appropriate interview outfit
- Printing at least five copies of your resume on high-quality resume paper
- Mapping out the route to the interview location as well as an alternate travel course
- Having the contact information for the person interviewing you just in case you do run into an emergency
Part of your preparation should involve arriving at least 15 minutes early for your meeting. And while you do want to avoid showing up too soon, it’s better to be too early rather than too late. If you get there with more than 30 minutes to spare, just hang out and wait in your car until the time gets a little closer.
Make a Good First Impression
Hiring decisions are often made within the first few seconds. Accordingly, you should assume you are being interviewed from the minute you walk through the door. Some ways you can guarantee your first impression is a positive one are:
- Carrying yourself with confidence. Stand up straight, walk with self-assuredness, and make eye contact with everyone you encounter.
- Smiling, giving a firm handshake, and offering a warm greeting to whomever you check in with.
- Shaking your interviewer’s hand and thanking them for meeting with you.
- Giving clear signals that you are interested in what the hiring manager is saying. For example, nodding your head, listening intently, and taking notes.
Prosperous Careers Begin with Successful Interviews
Use these tips to help you land that perfect position and jumpstart your career. Here at Able HR, we wish you lots of success with your job hunt and hope that, at some point, we’ll be managing your benefits for you as well.
