Being interviewed for a job position is hardly easy. The anticipation can quickly shift to anxiousness as the big day approaches. Especially if a lot personally depends on getting the job or if it’s a role you are incredibly interested in. The easiest way to overcome the common stress attached to job interviews is often times the right amount of preparation going in. In this blog post, we are going to outline three tips to remember leading up to the job interview. These tips are designed to set you up for success and help your potential shine bright when it matters most.
3 Great Job Interview Tips to Remember
1. Do Your Research
It may come a surprise to you, but research plays a massive factor in the success ahead as you walk into your job interview. There are two key types of research you need to add to your to-do list. Both types are equally important and play a valuable role in how you perform.
Understand the Company
The first of the two types of research you should do is focused on the company. Not only to gather enough information to casually bring up during the interview to flex your interest, but also to make sure it will be a great fit for your own personal goals.
If it’s an industry you are familiar with, then make sure to mention that at some point confidentially. But if the company is in a brand-new industry unlike your previous roles, then you should make sure enough research goes into that part, too. Loving the idea of joining a specific company could overshadow the potential of that company being a part of a dying industry. As you know, things move quickly in today’s modern age. If you are interviewing for a company that is slowly being pushed to the sidelines due to outdated products or systems, then you won’t need a crystal ball to assume it may not be the wisest move for a secured future. But that’s ultimately up to you! We suggest leaving that awareness in the forefront of your mind but not letting it dictate any excitement you may have.
The last piece of the company research should surround the role you are interviewing for. It’s best to get a very strong understanding into what is required during your potential day-to-day. That way you have your clear path to success in the role by knowing how to get to that point. And at the very least this piece of research will help you with confirming it’s the best fit for you. Which leads us directly into the second piece of research – YOU!
Understand Yourself
It’s okay to be selfish when it comes to making major decisions that directly affect your life. This is absolutely one of those times. When moving into the interview stages with a company, it’s best to clearly understand your wants and desires. It’s easy to assume that a job interview is a one-way street since you are the one in the hot seat. But that absolutely isn’t correct! You should have a mental checkbox ready to go as you progress through the meeting. Having the priority on yourself in this checklist is crucial and should never be overlooked.
One thing to keep in mind is what we will call the “long-term mentality.” This job role may seem wonderful and exactly what you were hoping for in your next career move. But how could you look at it after one-year passes? How about five years? If you have no plans to commit that long and simply plan to use the role as a stepping stone, then ask yourself how this specific job is able to get you there. Doing the research into your happiness long-term is a must.
While speaking on long-term, let’s discuss goals. What could this role’s long-term growth look like for your career and does it have the potential to check off one of the mental checklist boxes? During your research and even during the interview, ask yourself these questions. You’ll be thankful you did! If the role wasn’t exactly what you envisioned, then count it as a win that you knew what to look for to come to that conclusion. If it’s exactly what you hoped for, then that’s an obvious win, too. Keeping both doors open is valuable.
Questions to ask while researching a company to benefit you:
- Is it a good culture fit?
- What’s the average tenure?
- Does the average salary max meet your expectations?
- Do you believe your strengths will be highlighted?
- How would the role affect your life positively?
- How would the role affect your life negatively?
2. Practice, Practice, Practice
Expect the unexpected in most cases with interviews. You will likely be caught off guard by something at least once. Are you ready for it?
A few nights before the interview, glance over your resume. Obviously, it’s something you lived firsthand. So limited studying here is likely necessary. But a simple reminder of past roles is always a good idea. Especially since it’s commonly the main thing referenced throughout the interview. Practice going over a few different ways to explain each role and achievement listed on your resume. This should help with getting you in the right mindset ahead of time.
You should also lean into using information available online. Searching for common interview questions is an excellent starting point to practice answering. You can drill these searches down more to become specific for the role you’re interviewing for. Try searching for “common interview questions for…” with the exact job role. And if you want to take it even a step further than that, you may be able to depending on the company size. Often times on job search websites and applications, you can see write-ups and community submitted questions and answers surrounding companies you apply for. This can help narrow down the potential questions to practice very closely to the realistic scenario. Obviously not a guarantee. But a fantastic resource to take advantage of that may be available to you right now.
3. Be Yourself
This tip sounds cliché on the surface. But truthfully, being yourself makes our third best tip to highlight for an important reason. Being yourself is usually always best practice. During an interview, it’s easy to answer what you believe the interviewer wants to hear. But challenge yourself to stray away from that mentality while maintaining professionalism. You should be yourself because people hire people. Honesty and transparency are refreshing to someone who has watched the same set of similar answers be given every time they ask certain questions. Change up the monotony and answer questions staying true to yourself. Not only will it give a precise definition of who you really are, but will also help you stand out. Obviously know your boundaries and never dance on the line of presenting yourself unprofessional. But be yourself, know your values, have confidence, and have your mental checklist ready to go. Success will surely follow.