Getting through a job interview is one of the most important hurdles on the path securing a new position. To succeed in this all-important professional ritual, you must be at the top of your game, in terms of both preparation and your mental state.
Decide How You Fit
An employer uses a job interview to determine whether or not you're a good match for the company, both in terms of professional skills and personality traits. Make that process easier by figuring out how you fit in before the interview starts. Start by looking up the other people on the team you would be joining. Find their educational backgrounds, and look for their public social media profiles to get an idea of their personalities. Read any available publications written by one of the team members. During the job interview, make a point to highlight the traits and skills that make you a great fit. If no one in the group has programming abilities, for example, mention that you have extensive HTML experience. If you get the sense that the team is relaxed and fun-loving, make sure not to allow nerves to make you appear stiff or uptight. While this process doesn't have an effect on your qualifications, it helps you tailor your performance to the needs and style of the company.
Get Focused
On the day of a job interview, when your nerves are high, it's easy to let small things get to you. Traffic jams, late trains or a disagreement you had before you left the house can all affect the way you behave. No matter what happens in the hours leading up to the meeting, take time to pause and refocus. Take a minute to close your eyes and breathe deeply. Read over your notes, speak important anecdotes aloud and connect to your enthusiasm for the new position. If you can, consider giving yourself a pep talk, or hold a power yoga pose for a few minutes. In less than 10 minutes, this simple process can put you in a positive, productive mental space.
Getting through a job interview is one of the most important hurdles on the path securing a new position. To succeed in this all-important professional ritual, you must be at the top of your game, in terms of both preparation and your mental state.
Decide How You Fit
An employer uses a job interview to determine whether or not you're a good match for the company, both in terms of professional skills and personality traits. Make that process easier by figuring out how you fit in before the interview starts. Start by looking up the other people on the team you would be joining. Find their educational backgrounds, and look for their public social media profiles to get an idea of their personalities. Read any available publications written by one of the team members. During the job interview, make a point to highlight the traits and skills that make you a great fit. If no one in the group has programming abilities, for example, mention that you have extensive HTML experience. If you get the sense that the team is relaxed and fun-loving, make sure not to allow nerves to make you appear stiff or uptight. While this process doesn't have an effect on your qualifications, it helps you tailor your performance to the needs and style of the company.
Get Focused
On the day of a job interview, when your nerves are high, it's easy to let small things get to you. Traffic jams, late trains or a disagreement you had before you left the house can all affect the way you behave. No matter what happens in the hours leading up to the meeting, take time to pause and refocus. Take a minute to close your eyes and breathe deeply. Read over your notes, speak important anecdotes aloud and connect to your enthusiasm for the new position. If you can, consider giving yourself a pep talk, or hold a power yoga pose for a few minutes. In less than 10 minutes, this simple process can put you in a positive, productive mental space.
Listen
Sometimes, a job interview feels like a nonstop session of self-promotion. That, combined with the high-intensity atmosphere, make it easy to get overly focused on prepared answers and planned talking points. In the process, you might miss important cues or small comments. Stay engaged by making a point to listen carefully each time you finish speaking. Watch the speaker's face, process the reactions of other people in the room and pay close attention to facial expressions and body language. In doing so, you can get a sense of highly charged issues and determine when to tread lightly. Your observations can also make it easier to ask the right questions.
Although a job interview can be intimidating, it's an inevitable part of almost every job search. By preparing with intention and staying present during the session, you can leave the best possible impression on a potential employer.
Image courtesy of Ambro at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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