When it comes to nailing that all-important interview, preparation is critical. Whether you’re applying for your first job or vying for a promotion, these tips will help ensure you make a great impression and land the position you want:
Research the company in advance
Before you can impress your potential employer in an interview, you need to do your research. Read up on the company’s history, mission statement, recent news stories, and anything that could be relevant to the role you are interviewing for. This will give you a great foundation and a reference to use when in the interview with your potential employer! Learning as much as possible about the company ahead of time shows that you’re genuinely interested in working there and not just looking for any old job.
Prepare your elevator pitch.
You might be wondering– what is an elevator pitch? An elevator pitch is a short, memorable description of who you are or what you sell. In this case, you are simply selling yourself! While building your elevator pitch, create a storyline of how and why you got into the field or where your past was the catalyst for getting into this line of work. Creating interest and emphasizing relevant skills help steer away from short, underdeveloped answers in an interview.
Know the job description by heart
Leading up to your interview, you’ll want to ensure that you have carefully read through the job description from your potential employer. Doing so will help you get a better understanding of what will be expected in this role and what skills are required that you should be focusing on while in the interview. Then, you can align your specific skillset and qualifications with what is being looked for to navigate your conversation with the interviewer better.
Read through your resume.
Knowing your resume, skills and experiences can help you better explain how they qualify you for the new position. The interviewer will likely ask questions about or reference your resume at any point during your interview. You’ll want to ensure you’ve carefully read through your resume to prepare to speak about your experience eloquently and promptly.
Arrive early & be prepared with questions to ask
Being prepared with questions to ask your potential employer is another excellent way to express your interest in the position. Asking questions about the company you’re looking to work for shows that you are genuinely interested in working for them and that you are engaged in the conversation. These questions also allow you to gain more insight into what will be expected in the specific role you are going for, so do not be afraid to ask as many questions as you need to. Some great questions to ask are:
- What is your favorite part about working for this company?
- Can you tell me more about what the day-to-day would look like in this role?
- What is the number one thing you’d like me to accomplish in the first 90 days of being in this role?
- Where do you see the company in five years?
- Does the company provide opportunities for growth and development?
These are just a few potential questions you can ask to impress your interviewer and keep the conversation flowing.
Acing an interview doesn’t have to be a daunting task. The most important thing is that you come prepared. Knowing and understanding how your experiences align with the job you’re interviewing for sets the tone for the interview and will boost your confidence tremendously. We hope that these tips from our recruiters help you land that dream job. Good luck!
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