8 Useful Tips for Your Next Job Interview
Job interviews are some of the most nerve-wracking conversations to be had. After all, we’re expected to sell ourselves to a room of people who may be our future bosses. And while we can make intelligent guesses or obtain information from crowdsourcing websites, we never know what questions will be asked during the interview. This creates fear and pressure in us to think quickly on our feet and present the best versions of ourselves to our interviewers.
Fortunately, there are a ton of resources written by recruitment experts on how to ace interviews. So, whether you’re a fresh graduate or part of the Great Resignation, we’ve pulled out some of the oft-cited tips which hopefully will come in handy for your next job interview opportunity. Be sure to also check out our book recommendations at the bottom of this article!
1. Get Your Introductions Right
Most interviews will invariably begin with the question, “Tell us about yourself.” This is an invitation to give your elevator pitch—the equivalent of what you can bring to the table. It shouldn’t merely be a summary of your career history (and definitely not your life story), but a strategic message on how you are the right fit for the job.
Career coach Robin Ryan recommends preparing a “60 second sell”. This is a concise but info-laden statement where you include your five most marketable skills. You must then repeatedly illustrate them throughout your interview when answering subsequent questions. Done well, the message that the hiring manager will hear is that you can perform well in the job, giving them the confidence to hire you. Ryan says it’s important to cap it at a maximum of one minute so that you don’t bore your interviewer with a long-winded answer.
2. Understand What All Hiring Managers Are Looking For
Before you craft your introduction, you must understand what all hiring managers are looking for. In general, all of them are looking for the following:
- Your ability and suitability for the job, including your knowledge of the industry.
- How you anticipate, identify, prevent and solve common problems in your job.
- Transferrable skills and professional values, such as critical thinking, good communication skills, commitment and reliability, determination, integrity, etc.
- Teamwork and manageability.
Another perspective is that your interviewer has three main concerns when interviewing you:
- Can you do the job?
- Do they like you? Will you fit in?
- Can they afford you?
Put yourself in the shoes of your recruiter and keep these points in mind when preparing your script for the interview.
3. Deconstruct Your Target Job
Got a dream job? You can increase your chances of landing a job offer by studying relevant job ads and understanding what companies are looking for when they hire for such roles.
Martin Yate, another career coach, recommends this method for doing your research. First, gather 6 to 10 ads of jobs that you are most interested in. The location of the role doesn’t matter.
Say you have six ads. Look through the ads to identify the single job requirement that’s mentioned in all the ads. Identify the next requirement mentioned in five of the ads, then four, three, two and so on. This will give you an idea of employers’ prioritisation when they hire someone for the position.
Next, identify common issues you might have to deal with in your desired role, and think about how you’d solve such problems. Think about the best person you’ve ever known in such a position, and reflect on the traits that supported their performance. Similarly, think about the worst person and reflect on their traits.
You can also use this guide to plan for your professional development. If you lack the skills and knowledge, see which courses or resources you can access to plug these gaps.
4. Prepare Success Stories to Substantiate Your Claims
For every claim in your resume, you must be prepared to back them up through third party endorsements (such as a positive testimonial by a client) or success stories. A wise move would be to rehearse these stories ahead of your interview so that you can deliver them smoothly and effectively to prove that you really do possess the skills the recruiter is looking for.
It’s common for interviewers to pose behavioural questions such as, “Can you give me an example of one time when you had to resolve a conflict within your team?” In order to respond well, you must practise good storytelling skills. Experts recommend these proportions: Allocate 20% of your story to set the scene, 60% to describe the action, and 20% to conclude with the happy outcome.
In general, aim to show, not tell. Instead of stating “she was really upset”, you might say, “My boss shouted at us to meet him in his office immediately.” Such techniques make your responses more impactful and memorable.
5. Set a Clear Target to Receive a Job Offer
You must have the right mindset when going into job interviews. Don’t go to a job interview just to see whether you want the job. Martin Yate explains that there is nothing to decide unless an offer is put on the table. You should go to a job interview aiming to get the job offer. Or at the very least, to improve your ability to get job offers at future interviews with higher stakes.
In other words, once you accept an interview, commit to performing your best. Preparation is half the work, so make sure to put in the time and effort to research the role and company, strategise your messaging and rehearse your answers.
6. Show Genuine Enthusiasm During the Interview
Seasoned recruiter Russell Tuckerton says he wants people who are excited about his company and the work that they’re doing. If the company you’re interviewing for is your second or third choice, never let it show. Interviewers can easily pick up on your lack of interest and rule out your application immediately.
It’s better to present yourself as intelligently enthusiastic. Job interviews are understandably stressful, but don’t forget to smile, use relaxed and confident body language, and genuinely engage with the interviewer through thoughtful responses and questions about the role and company.
7. Exercise Caution When Talking About Salary
When asked about your salary expectations, it’s in your best interest to postpone giving an exact number for as long as possible. You need more information about the job, the salary structure, benefits, bonuses, salary reviews etc. before you can evaluate the attractiveness of their offer.
If pushed for an answer, talk in ranges. You could say, “I’ve done some research and found that an acceptable range for someone with my years of experience is between $x and $y. Is this the range that your company has budgeted for this position?” Avoid rushing through salary negotiations during interviews because there’s no going back once you sign on the dotted line to accept an offer.
8. Dress Well, Arrive on Time and Be Polite to Everyone
Finally, timeless advice about interview etiquette worth repeating: Always dress well. Give yourself more than enough time to reach the interview location so that you’ll arrive early. Hover around, collect your thoughts, then knock on the door about 5 minutes early. Be polite to everyone you meet, including the receptionist and any other support staff. Your attitude towards other members of the company will also inform your interviewer on whether you are a likeable candidate or not.
For more helpful tips on how to impress your interviewers, check out the following titles:
From left to right:
60 Seconds & You’re Hired! — Robin Ryan | Physical Copy, eBook
15 Minutes to a Better Interview: What I Wish Every Job Candidate Knew — Russell Tuckerton | Physical Copy
Knock ’Em Dead Job Interview: How to Turn Job Interview into Paychecks — Martin Yate | Physical Copy, eBook
What to Say in Every Job Interview: How to Understand What Managers Are Really Asking and Give the Answers That Land the Job — Carole Martin | Physical Copy, eBook
