A job interview is a crucial step in the job search and an opportunity to sell your skills and experience. Hiring managers need to see your professionalism, your personality and your willingness to make an impact in the industry. Use these interview tips to secure your spot as the ideal candidate when interviewing for the first time with a new company.
Research the Company
Hiring managers are seeking candidates who are prepared and knowledgeable about their products, services and internal processes. Spend ample time conducting online research prior to your job interview to identify insight about the company. Search for its mission and goals, and inquire with your professional network about the company culture. To further impress hiring managers, form questions you can ask that display this knowledge, and dig deeper into what the company has to offer a new professional entering the field.
Assess Your Experience
Prepare for interview questions by making an inventory of your skills and experience. Even if this is your first time attending a job interview, you have experience you can tap into to justify your work history. Evaluate your volunteer experience, side jobs you completed while attending school and internships that prepared you for the field. Make a list of the skills you gained through your education or while working on campus. Take careful note of the job description, and identify keywords and desirable skills the company is seeking that you can discuss during the job interview. Show you are the ideal candidate by mentioning the creative projects you completed in your classes or describing how well you worked with teams when volunteering.
Rehearse Common Interview Questions
Utilize the resources at your college to further prepare for a job interview. Work with a specialist from the career services center to rehearse professional responses to questions the hiring manager may ask. Focus on your skills, and determine a professional way to display your personality. Hiring managers are seeking individuals who not only perform the job but also integrate comfortably into the internal culture of the business. While you may be lacking the experience of a seasoned veteran in the field, you can win over the hiring manager with your enthusiasm, positive outlook and eagerness to learn while on the job.
Leave a lasting impression with the hiring manager to increase your chances of obtaining a job offer. Make sure to offer your appreciation for the interviewer's time, and follow up after the job interview to inquire about a hiring decision. Applicants who send a personalized thank you letter or card also leave a positive impression with hiring managers. This gesture helps to remind potential employers of your skills, professionalism and willingness to join the team.
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