How to Interview Well and Get Great Jobs

If you want to land great jobs and stand out amongst hiring managers, you need to know how to interview well. Interviewing well doesn’t mean having the best portfolio or resume, although it can encompass that. It also means knowing how to be confident, connect well, and catch their attention. I have never had a problem getting great jobs, and it’s because I know how to crush an interview. I’m going to teach you a few elements of how to interview well so that you, too, can be fearless and bold sitting across from your next hiring manager.

I’ve broken it down into five simple tips.

1. Handshakes, Smiles, and Eye Contact

Have you ever met someone and went to shake their hand, only to find it limp and cold, hanging there like a disembodied limb? I have, and it’s not very attractive. My mom calls this the “dead fish” handshake. Someone once told me that you could tell someone’s character by their handshake — I don’t know if that’s true, but you get the point. It may seem trivial to focus on a handshake as one of your first steps in landing your dream job, but I have had multiple managers comment on my handshake and tell me it’s how they remembered me out of a hundred other applicants. One supervisor even told me he hired me because I had the strongest handshake he’d ever come across and he remembered it when he was sifting through resumes. A strong, confident handshake shows you’re highly motivated and you’re going to be at the top of their list when they’ve got a stack of fifty resumes to look through. Do not underestimate the power of a confident handshake.

Also, eye contact and smiling (ahem, real smiles) are crucial to a solid interview. Do you get pumped when you meet people who don’t look you in the eye and hide their gaze from you? Yeah, me either. Not to be brutal, but this is human interaction basics 101, so you’d be smart to practice authentic smiles and solid eye contact. You want this job, so prove it from the get-go!

2. Exude Confidence but not Cockiness

All employers look for confidence. Go in expecting to get the job. When I’m interviewing, I am showcasing that I’m secure in myself and my abilities, I’m capable of handling the duties I’ll need to perform on the job, and I’m eager to be their best candidate. Be optimistic and unafraid because it will show! However, confidence can turn into cockiness when you act like a know-it-all so be sure to stay humble while you’re promoting yourself.

3. Sell Yourself!

Selling yourself is easier than you think, even if you’re not a salesman by trade. Practice your responses to questions they might ask. Why are you an asset? What do you have that they desire? How are you invaluable for what they need to accomplish? Be specific about why you’re the best choice and how you can improve their business. This is the part of the interview where you really get to shine, so take advantage of it. You don’t have to have experience to sell yourself and land a sweet position. Be confident, and you’ll have their attention from the start.

4. Focus on your strengths and downplay your weaknesses by being honest and getting creative

It is possible to apply for jobs for which you have zero to minimal experience and get them, so don’t be afraid to get creative when you have no background in the field. I had no experience nannying but wanted to work as an au pair because of the potential for significant money. After practicing my skills over the summer babysitting for friends, I applied for a full-time au pair job with a French family. In my resume, I didn’t lie when I said I had only three months of job experience, but I sold myself on all my assets and brought attention to my highlights. When I met the mother, she told me even though I had less experience than everyone she interviewed, she loved that I was able to connect with her kids right away. She said my integrity and honesty was something that stood out. I landed the job and ended up getting paid vacations to France, a private car and credit card, not to mention my ideal job. It was all because I stayed honest and got creative with exhibiting my best assets even when I had minimal work experience.

Another example was when I walked into a business I wanted to work for and had no experience whatsoever in this field, but I was determined to get the job. I knew there were probably two-hundred other candidates who were vying for this same opportunity, so I took a chance when I shook the manager’s hand and looked him in the eye and said, “I want to work for you. If you let me walk out of here without a job, you’ll be disappointed you didn’t hire me.” I was bold and creative in the way I approached the initial meeting, and I got hired that same day. If you’re hungry enough, you can make it happen. Think of ways you can highlight the best parts of your resume and downplay your lack of qualifications.

5. Make a lasting impression

There are several ways you can go out with a bang and leave a lasting impression. One way is by asking the interviewer about themselves and being genuinely interested. You will immediately make them feel like they are important, and everyone likes to talk about what makes them tick. Invest in the tactic of getting to know them because it usually pays off in your favor later.

Other ways to be remembered are to smile a lot, sprinkle in humor to lighten up the atmosphere, and always use their name multiple times throughout the interview. In Dale Carnegie’s book, “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” he talks about the importance of remembering names, and interviews are the perfect place to use these connection skills to get the job you want. Also, be yourself, be genuine and sincere. The better you can connect with the head honcho, the more likely you are to catch their attention and get a phone call saying you got the job.

I’ve covered the basics of how to interview well and land great jobs, but here are a few more tips and common sense preparations you can use to help you get your dream job.

First, know the company you’re interviewing for and don’t go in empty-handed. Research the basic history of the business and know why you want to work for them. This way, you won’t be unprepared when they ask you what you like most about their enterprise.

Second, be presentable and dress well. Don’t look like a slob. Enough said.

Third, avoid common canned phrases like, “I’m a good worker,” or “I’m a fast learner.” Managers hear this a thousand times, and nobody likes pre-rehearsed clichés. Make your answers unique, just like you are.

Finally, know what you’re worth and don’t be afraid to ask for it. If you have more experience than the person behind you, tell them why and don’t be afraid to push for a higher wage, but be ready to prove why you deserve it!

Now that you know how to interview well and land great jobs, go out there and crush it! I hope these insights and tools will be your ticket to the next excellent opportunity.