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Must Know Job Interview Tips for Today’s Job Market

by Susan Ranford

Congratulations: you’ve made it through to the interview stage. Getting this far is an achievement in itself, but the thing is that today’s job market is more competitive than ever. Employers are always looking for the cream of the crop to add to their team, and an interview is the best time to showcase how you’re the perfect candidate for the job. With some golden interview tips, you can win over your new employer in no time.

Make a good first impression

First impressions count for a lot in interviews, with most employers making up their mind about a candidate within the first 90 seconds. Luckily, there are two simple rules when it comes to making a great first impression: dressing appropriately and exuding confidence. Much of how you should dress comes down to which industry you’re hoping to work in. For example, if you are applying for a corporate role, stick to suits and smart shoes. When it comes to confidence, smile, make eye contact, and perfect your handshake. This way, you’ll radiate confidence, even if you’re nervous.

Bring a copy of your resume

One of the most important attributes in a potential candidate is being organized. Before you turn up to your interview, make sure you print a copy of your most recent resume to bring along with your personal documents. If you’re strapped for time, there’s no need to worry; building a LinkedIn resume is the quickest way to create an eye-catching, professional resume that will impress your interviewer.

Look at some popular interview questions

There will always be some interview questions that are specific to the role you’re applying to. Yet, there are some common interview questions that employers in every industry like to ask. Though you can’t predict the entire interview, get ahead by researching the most popular interview questions online. These often include questions about where you see yourself in five years’ time, and how you effectively deal with stressful situations.

Conduct a mock interview


You might have nailed a response to a common question in your head, but you don’t want to run the risk of your response sounding unnatural. Instead, ask a family member or friend to sit down and conduct a mock interview with you. This won’t just prepare you for the types of questions you could be asked, but it can also help calm pre-interview nerves. Remember to ask for honest feedback from your friend to help you improve.

Express why you want the job

This may sound like an obvious point, but it is essential to let your employer know how much you want the job. They will be looking for passionate, enthusiastic individuals to join their team, so make sure you express why you want the job, and how you see yourself fitting in with the company. Make sure not to talk too, much, however, as this can often be portrayed as a sign of nerves. Often, you can express via your body language how excited you are about a role, by keeping your shoulders back and actions open.

Learn about the company


One of the biggest turn-offs for a potential employer is if you don’t know anything about the company you’ve applied to work at. It’s true that they need to know you’re passionate about your role, but they also need to know why you’ve chosen their company to work at above all others. This doesn’t just mean having a basic knowledge of their ethos and what they do, but taking a few hours beforehand to thoroughly research them. This shows your interviewer how much you respect their company, but also how much time you’re willing to put in to make a good impression.

Ask questions


There is always a moment at the end of an interview where the employer will ask you if you have any questions. Most people think this is a trick question intended to catch them out, but this is only true if you don’t ask them anything. The rule applies here that no question is a stupid question, so make the most of this time. Many people dedicate these moments to clarifying anything they are confused about, but also to ask for feedback on how they did. If you appear genuinely interested, you already have a better chance of standing out.

Be yourself

With all things considered, it is easy to get carried away with interview prep. The one piece of advice you should remember, though, is that you should always be yourself. Perhaps most importantly is to have confidence in your abilities, but not to brag. Employers want to know they are getting the real you, so they can figure out exactly how you might fit in with the company. Remain professional throughout, but don’t lose sight of what you want.

Follow up


An interview doesn’t just end when the timer runs out. In fact, it is a great idea to follow up with the company after you’ve left. Express again what it means for you to get the job, and also how much you enjoyed visiting their offices. Above all, this will show them how committed you are. Even if the role you were interviewing for isn’t a perfect match, they might like you enough to place you somewhere else in the company.

About the author

Susan Ranford is an expert on career coaching, business advice, and workplace rights. She has written for New York Jobs, IAmWire, and ZipJob. In her blogging and writing, she seeks to shed light on issues related to employment, business, and finance to help others understand different industries and find the right job fit for them – Strategics360.com

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