A Better Interview in Four Steps

The thought of a job interview incites fear and anxiety in many people, but interviews really aren't so bad once you get the hang of them. If you are in the middle of a lengthy job search, tweaking the way you interview and follow up with hiring managers can help you get better results. Follow these tips to do a better job explaining your qualifications and connecting with hiring managers on a personal level.

1. Do Your Research

It's not enough to know that the company manufactures purple widgets or provides accounting services to small-business owners. You need to conduct extensive research before you set foot in the door. Spend time reading company press releases, interviews with company personnel, profiles of company executives and industry news related to the company. Try to commit the most important points to memory, at least until your job interview ends. Doing this kind of research makes it easier to connect your qualifications to the essential functions of the job.

2. Prepare Questions Ahead of Time

At the end of a job interview, the hiring manager usually asks if a candidate has any questions. Do not waste this opportunity to learn more about the job opening or the company as a whole. Skip basic questions about office hours and benefits; you can ask these questions if you are offered a job. Instead, ask intelligent questions about how the hiring manager expects the role to evolve. Make sure you are clear on whether there are any supervisory responsibilities included in the role. Gather plenty of information during your job interview so you can make an informed decision if the hiring manager makes you an offer.

3. Tie in Past Experiences

Shorten your job search by learning how to tie past experiences to the duties of open positions. If you apply for a job with cash-handling duties, but you've never handled cash in a professional capacity, tell the interviewer about your work as a treasurer for a local nonprofit organization. Be persuasive when you tell the recruiter about your experiences and achievements. Saying you volunteered as a treasurer isn't very convincing, but saying you balanced accounts and distributed petty cash shows you have what it takes to handle cash on the job.

4. Thank the Interviewer

Stand out from the crowd by thanking the hiring manager shortly after the job interview. Write a short email expressing your thanks and reiterating your qualifications. Remind the hiring manager of what you discussed during the job interview to be sure she is aware of your skills and professional background. Send the note within a few hours of your job interview to ensure the interviewer receives it in a timely manner.

There are probably a dozen things you'd rather be doing than interviewing for a job, but attending a job interview should be your top priority. Spend the days before your interview gathering information, rehearsing answers to common interview questions and preparing questions to ask the interviewer.

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