How to Succeed in a Job Interview

After countless hours spent combing job boards and filling out job applications, you're finally making progress in your job search. You've passed the resume screening and the phone interview; now the next step in the process is the job interview. Of course, you want to make a great impression and present yourself as the ideal candidate to the recruiter. So, what can you do to stand out from other applicants and have a successful job interview? Being well-prepared and practicing in advance will enable you to put your best foot forward, no matter how experienced you are as a job seeker. Using the following tips, you can walk into the interview room with confidence.

Understand the Company and the Role

One of the simplest ways to get a leg up on your competition is to thoroughly research both the company and the job description. Review their website, read any news articles about them, and check out their social media accounts. You want to understand the business and their mission, as well as get a sense of the company's culture and values. This will help you understand what they're looking for in a candidate and whether their priorities and work environment align with your needs. Additionally, you'll be able to discuss the company's goals and initiatives during your interview, which will display your interest in the role and allow you to point out specific ways you can contribute to their success. You should also have a clear understanding of the job description, so you can prepare your own interview questions and clarify any aspects of the role that are unclear.

Get Insight from Your Professional Network

Make the most of your professional connections. If you know someone who currently works at the company or has been employed there in the past, ask them for advice. They can give you insider information about the company culture, what the interviewer may be looking for, and other tips that could give you an advantage over the competition.

Research the Interviewer or Hiring Manager

If you want to impress at your interview, look for opportunities to build rapport with the people you meet. Ask for the names of your interviewers ahead of time, and then look them up on LinkedIn or the company website. Do you have any similar interests or experiences? If so, keep an eye out for openings to bring these up naturally during the conversation. Discovering common ground can help you make a more personal connection that will enable you to stand out from the other applicants. Pay attention to their description of their job on their professional profile too, since this will give you insight into the day-to-day activities of the company, which will help you decide if the job is right for you.

If your interviewer writes or shares articles on industry-related topics, take the time to read them before your interview so you can speak knowledgeably on the subject if it comes up. Make the most of opportunities to demonstrate your knowledge of industry trends and news. The extra time spent researching can help you create rapport and demonstrate that you are knowledgeable in your field and would be a good fit for their team.

Be Ready Before Interview Day

Interviews are stressful enough without unnecessary last-minute issues. You don't want to realize your printer is out of toner or your favorite professional outfit is wrinkled half an hour before you need to leave. Make sure you have everything prepared ahead of time so you are ready to go on the day of the interview. That includes proofreading and printing your resume and any other materials, laying out what you're going to wear, finding directions to the interview location, and completing all of your research. Being prepared in advance will help you avoid unpleasant surprises, so you can stay focused and calm.

Practice Your Interview Skills

Good interview skills, like good communication skills, come with practice. While you can't predict every question you'll be asked during job interviews, preparing for common interview questions will help you become comfortable discussing your skills and qualifications. Once you know the key information and experience you want to highlight, you should be able to answer most questions easily. You should also have a few specific examples prepared to show how you have displayed the key skills or traits that would be essential in your new role. This will help you prepare to answer behavioral questions, which often start with phrases like "tell me about a time when” or "give an example of” and are designed to assess how you would react in certain situations. Providing detailed examples of how you have implemented these key skills will make a much stronger impression than simply saying that you have the required abilities.

Once you have identified your main talking points and examples, practice answering common questions out loud. Pay attention to your body language and tone of voice as you're speaking. Are you making eye contact? Do you have good posture? Do you sound confident? Record yourself on your phone so you can play back your responses and assess your delivery, or practice with a friend or family member who will give you honest feedback about your performance. Have them ask some difficult or unexpected questions so you get used to thinking on your feet. This is also a great opportunity to identify any verbal tics or crutches (like saying "um" or "like") that you want to avoid during the actual interview. You should be able to discuss your experiences confidently and clearly, and practicing will help you deliver your selling points smoothly.

Prepare to Answer Difficult Questions

Most job seekers have experienced the stress of being asked a question they didn't expect or hoped to avoid answering during the interview process. A great interview can quickly be derailed if the hiring manager asks a difficult question that catches you off guard. Take a few minutes to view your application from the interviewer's perspective and reflect on the tough questions you might be asked. Is there a gap on your resume? A previous position that ended badly? Or are you missing a potentially important skill or experience that the job description mentions? From the reason you're looking to leave your current employer to why you are switching industries, you should have a well-thought-out answer for anything that could potentially trip you up.

Be on Time

Being on time for your interview is one of the most important things you can do to make a good first impression. It shows that you're reliable and punctual—two qualities that are essential in any employee. Plan to arrive early to account for any potential delays or unexpected issues. Remember that you need enough time to park and find the interview location. You also want to give yourself a few minutes to take a deep breath, calm any pre-interview jitters, and review your notes one more time before entering the interview room. If you're interviewing remotely, you still want to give yourself time to handle any computer or connectivity issues and have a few minutes to mentally prepare before the interview starts.

Be Polite to Everyone

The way you treat the receptionist, janitor, or other staff members says a lot about your character. If you're rude or dismissive to someone because you think they are not in a position of authority, it shows that you lack respect and courtesy. This is not the impression you want to give to your potential employer. Instead, be polite and respectful to everyone you come into contact with during the hiring process, from the person who schedules your interview to the CEO of the company.

Everyone you meet is a potential coworker, and you never know who might have a say in whether or not you get the job, so it's always best to be friendly and courteous to everyone. The hiring manager is assessing whether you will fit in with the team and how you will interact with customers or clients, as well as your ability to do the job. Simple good manners can go a long way toward a successful job interview.

Don't Badmouth Previous Employers

When you answer questions about your previous employers or coworkers, be honest, but don't badmouth anyone. Being too negative about a current or previous job will often reflect poorly on you and could be interpreted as a red flag. The interviewer may suspect that you are attempting to transfer blame for a poor job performance, or they may question whether you would speak the same way about them during your next interview. If you need to discuss a difficult experience at work, try to focus on what you learned from it and how it made you a better employee instead of just complaining about how terrible your former boss was.

Be Professional

You only have one chance to make a good first impression, so it's important to be aware of how you present yourself to potential employers. Your appearance, body language, and speech should all convey confidence and professionalism. When it comes to the interview dress code, it's usually better to err on the side of caution and dress more formally. You want to look clean, put-together, and professional.

Be conscious of your body language as well. Sit up straight and maintain eye contact with your interviewers. Avoid fidgeting or playing with your hair or other objects, as these behaviors can make you seem nervous or unprepared. Silence your phone before the interview begins so you're not distracted by it during the conversation. Be aware of your tone and word choice—you want to sound confident without being arrogant. Avoid using language that could be offensive. If possible, practice interviewing with a friend beforehand so that you can get feedback on your language and speech patterns.

Know Your Salary Range

Be prepared to answer a question about your salary expectations. The interviewer will usually have a range in mind and will want to make sure your expectations fit within their budget before deciding to move forward with you. Research the average salary for similar positions in your area if you're not sure what is appropriate. At this point in the interview process, it's best to give a range rather than a firm figure. You don't want to disqualify yourself from the position because your salary is too high and you appear unwilling to negotiate. There is no need to get too specific before you even have a job offer, and keep in mind that the company may be able to offer other incentives or benefits that could make up for a salary that is a little lower than you hoped. Your focus right now is on determining whether the position is even a good fit, so don't get too caught up in the numbers at this stage.

Have Your References Ready

If the interview goes well, you may be asked to provide professional references. Professional references are typically people you have worked with in the past who can attest to your skills and abilities. Choose references who will speak positively about you and have good things to say about your work ethic and character. When possible, provide references from your direct managers, supervisors, or team leaders. These will carry more weight with a potential employer than a reference from a coworker. You might not need to bring your reference list to the job interview, but you should be prepared to offer it as soon as it's requested.

Before job interviews, you should have determined who your references are and obtained their permission to list them as references. If it's been a while since you asked them, reconnect and let them know you are in the middle of a job search. Verify that their contact information has not changed, and make sure they are still willing to provide a reference for you. You don't want a potential offer to be delayed or fall through because of a negative or missing reference.

Show Your Enthusiasm

Your attitude is just as important as your qualifications if you want to have a successful job interview. It's important to show that you're excited about the opportunity to speak with the interviewer and potentially work for the company. Employers want to hire people who are eager to work with their team, not someone who's looking for just any job. Include something about the company that interests or excites you in your talking points. Ask questions about the company culture, what projects you would be working on, or anything else that interests you. This will show that you're not only qualified for the job but that you're also a good fit for the company and want to grow there long-term.

Send a Thank-You Note

Send a thank-you note to each interviewer within 24 hours after the interview. Thank-you notes are an often overlooked opportunity to reiterate your interest in the role and the key points that make you the best person for the job. It demonstrates to a potential employer that you are polite, excited about their company, and appreciative of their time. If there was a particular topic you focused on, or if you connected with your interviewer about your mutual love of dogs, briefly reference it in your note. This will show you were engaged and interested in the conversation and will help your interviewer remember you and your conversation when they are reviewing applications later on.

How Do You Know If You Had a Successful Job Interview?

A successful interview doesn't always end in a job offer. No matter how perfect your job interview performance was, you might not be the right fit for the role. Keep in mind that you are also interviewing the company, and you may determine that they aren't a good match for you either. The interviewing process is an opportunity for both you and the employer to assess each other, so stay positive, even if an interview doesn't go as well as you hoped or you don't get the job. As you get more experience with interview conversations, your self-confidence will grow, and you'll be better equipped to ask questions and market yourself as a candidate. Job interview success might include making a connection who could help you with your job search, recognizing that you aren't interested in a certain industry, or even just becoming more adept at answering interview questions. With practice, you will learn how to succeed in your next job interview and increase your chances of getting hired for the role you want.

Article Author:

Ashley Meyer

Divisional Business Coordinator

Albany, NY