Acing an In-person Job Interview

We have all been there at some point in our professional lives: interview day. It is the day we have been waiting for, and the stress is building, and the pressure is mounting. Fortunately, there are ways to relieve the stress and pressure of an interview, and it all comes down to one word: preparation.

Like many, I played sports my entire life and something that a childhood coach of mine comes to mind when discussing preparation. He said, “If we are not prepared, we are prepared to lose.”  That saying has always stuck with me, and I think it applies to many aspects of life, especially when it comes to acing a job interview with preparation.  With the following tips, you can be ready to ace your next in-person interview and potentially land your dream job.

Research

When people talk about preparing for an interview, what exactly does that mean? When it comes to preparation, start first with research. The first thing you want to do is check out the company website. Spend time reading through the company’s objectives. Find out who their customers are and know their competitors.  Become an expert on the company you are interviewing with. The more information you can find, the better. Questions may come up during your research, and that’s fine. Most likely at the interview, you will be asked if you have any questions. Be a step ahead and have that list of questions about the company or questions that are important to you regarding the position.

Also, research the location of the company.  Where are they located? How long is it going to take me to get there? Is there traffic?  You don’t want any surprises on the big day.  I recommend even taking a dry run to the company so you know what you are getting yourself into.

First Impressions

Remember, at an in-person interview, you are making a first impression with your potential employer, and as the old saying goes, “You never get a second chance at a first impression.”  For men, it’s pretty simple: a nice suit is a good rule of thumb.  For women, a business suit or slacks are a safe bet.  You want to give the impression that you are professional and well-kept.

Practice

I know it’s cliché, but it really is true: practice makes perfect.  Have a mock interview with a family member or a friend.  Have them ask you questions you typically hear during an interview or questions regarding the company and it’s history.   Get yourself to the point where you can answer those questions naturally and confidently.

Resume

There are a few essential things to remember about your resume that some people don’t think of.   First, make sure the resume you submitted to the employer is the one that you bring with you for the interview. This is extremely important, as employers will be quizzing you on this, so you want to make sure the resume you studied is the one you submitted.  Also, bring a few copies.  Sometimes it’s only one person conducting the interview, but other times you’ll interview with a few different people.  Make sure you have enough for everyone; it shows that you took the time to be prepared as well as organized.

Hopefully, these tips will help you get ready for your next interview.  I know the stress of landing that next job can be overwhelming, especially as we are coming out of a recession, and in some industries, there is a lack of open jobs. However, being prepared should get you started in the right direction. Before your next interview makes it a point to be prepared to win because it can make the difference in landing your dream job. If you’re ready to start looking for your dream career, send us your resume today.

What are your interview tips? Let us know in the comment section below.