Landing a job interview is only half the battle. The hard part happens when you have to ace the interview as your future employer weighs your credentials and personality against other candidates. Consider these 12 tricks you cannot afford to ignore.
1. Relax
Relax before the job interview. Try deep breathing exercises or visualizing your success. Remember that the people interviewing you aren't against you. They are human, too, and they might hope you're the perfect fit.
2. Ask Good Questions
Your preparation includes coming up with good questions to ask your interviewers. Your questions indicate how well you know about the company and the position. Great queries also show you're genuinely interested in the job.
3. Break the Ice
Start the job interview with a good conversation starter. Ask about the interviewer's weekend, or discuss a recent blog post from the employer. Again, this shows your interest in the organization and the people conducting the interview.
4. Remain Honest
Recruiters sometimes ask difficult questions during a job interview, including, "Why are you leaving your current position?" Honesty is the key to winning the interviewer's trust. Also, you should mention what you hope to accomplish in your career by changing positions or leaving your previous employer.
5. Maintain Positive Body Language
Positive body language shows you're paying attention. Maintain eye contact, smile, and keep a positive attitude. Learn how to mirror someone, which means subtly mimicking the body language of the person in front of you. This psychological trick puts you in a comfort zone with the interviewer.
6. Know How to Correct a Weakness
Knowing your greatest weakness is one thing. Understanding how to correct it means you are constantly working to improve yourself. It's okay to be honest about your weaknesses, so long as you know what to do about them.
7. Slow Down
It's perfectly fine to slow down during your job interview and think about your answers. Take a couple of deep breaths, think about what to say, and then give an answer to the question. This indicates you display thoughtfulness ahead of taking action.
8. Stay Focused
Stay focused on what you can do for the organization. Everything you talk about should explain why you're a perfect fit.
9. Keep It Real
Be real about your motivation for wanting the job. Never fabricate stories or exaggerate experiences in an attempt to impress the hiring manager.
10. Prepare to Talk About Money
Do your homework when it comes to salary negotiations. You don't want to undersell yourself, but you also need to have some idea as to what this position is worth.
11. Ask About Next Steps
Determine what happens next after the interview. Your hiring manager should say when to expect a response.
12. Write a Thank-You Email
Compose a thank-you email within 24 hours. Address it to the hiring manager and other interviewers. Mention one of your conversation points you had during the interview so the people receiving the email remember you and your abilities.
These 12 tips help you to have a more successful job interview. Even if you don't land the job, you leave everyone with a positive impression that may get you a position in the future.
Phot courtesy of Ambro at FreeDigitalPhotos.Net
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