If a hiring manager asks you to come in for a job interview, you need to start preparing right away. Just a few hours of prep time can really make a difference, so follow these interview tips to ensure you come across as poised and polished when you meet the hiring manager.
1. Prepare Questions
Candidates tend to worry about how they are perceived during interviews, but the job interview is actually a two-way street. The hiring manager has a chance to assess you as a potential employee, and you have a chance to find out if the employer is a good fit for your personality. Prepare a list of three or four questions to ask the hiring manager at the end of your interview.
2. Memorize Key Information
If a hiring manager asks you to summarize your work history, you don't want to be caught off guard. Take time to memorize key information from your resume and cover letter, such as dates of employment and official job titles.
3. Tell Stories
The key to a successful job interview is showing the hiring manager how your past experience prepares you for the challenges of a position. Before you meet with a hiring manager, have several stories in mind to help you demonstrate your knowledge and skills. If you are applying for a supervisory position, for example, be prepared to tell the interviewer about a time you showed strong leadership skills.
4. Educate Yourself
You need to be able to speak knowledgeably about potential employers and the products or services they offer. Beef up your knowledge of the company by reading profiles of its executives or reading several posts on the company's blog. Better yet, think of a way to connect your skills to the information you uncover in your research.
5. Know the "Big Why"
Be prepared to give the hiring manager a good reason for wanting to work at a particular company. You may want the job because it comes with a corner office or an excellent benefits package, but that answer isn't good enough to share with hiring managers. If you need help coming up with an answer, take a look at the company's mission statement for inspiration.
6. Pick Three Strengths
Interviewers don't have a lot of time to get to know candidates, so you need to get a lot of information across in a short job interview. For best results, pick three of your biggest strengths and mention them throughout the interview session. All of your stories and examples of past experiences should touch on those three qualities.
7. Edit Your Social Media Profiles
It's not unusual for hiring managers to check social media profiles to see if they can find any information on the candidates selected for interviews. If your profiles have any questionable content, remove it before your job interview. Take down any pictures of you drinking beer, wearing revealing clothing or doing anything you don't want an employer to know about.
With a lot of practice, it's possible to show a hiring manager exactly why you are a perfect fit for an open position. Follow these interview tips to make sure you are prepared for your job interview.
Photo courtesy of Robert Montgomery at Flickr.com
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