How to Get Your Dream Job
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Clinch the Job of Your Dreams with These 6 Interview Tips
Written by: Derek Goodman of Inbizability
Interviews are often the most stressful part of a job search, and this is because they play such a major role in whether you get the position you want. However, more than anything, an interview is an opportunity — an opportunity to show the organization that you fit in with the company culture and possess the necessary knowledge, skills, and experience to excel in the position. Here are six tips to help you clinch it!
Solidify Your Online Reputation
To start your preparation for the interview, make sure you have a stellar online reputation. Employers are now more likely to check the social media profiles of any serious job candidates. This means you may want to revisit your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media sites and remove any unsightly content that would deter the organization from hiring you. If you want to go the extra mile, you can hire a reputation management company, which will ensure that any volunteer work, awards, or prizes you’ve been involved with are highlighted via articles, press releases, blog entries, and so on.
Do Your Research
Next, you want to do some research online. Look into the organization’s history and see if you can find recent news involving the organization. This could be useful knowledge to have during the interview and can help you explain how you will be an asset to the team. Furthermore, Roblert Half recommends talking to any current or recent employees of the organization to get an idea about the culture.
Practice the Interview
Once you have gone over your online presence and have done your research, find some of the most common questions asked during a job interview and prepare an answer for each one. Get with a friend, family member, or someone in your professional network to do a mock interview and go over the questions. If you tend to clam up at interviews or struggle with what to say, a career coach can lend professional insights.
Dress Like You Care
This one may seem a little vain, but it’s important nonetheless. Observe the employees at the organization, and take your clothes up a notch for your interview. For instance, if the dress code looks to be casual, opt for slightly more formal attire. Add some tasteful but inexpensive jewelry sets from Love, Peace, & Bling to complete your look. Also, don’t forget grooming; you want it to be clear that you practice personal hygiene on a regular basis. Make sure your hair is neat and brushed and apply makeup conservatively.
You might even get a fresh haircut and style for the occasion, and give your smile a boost with an in-home alignment system. If you opt for the latter, it’s important to know what factors go into the cost, like location and treatment specifics. Some systems even include whitening! One system might work better or be more affordable for your circumstances, so do your research.
Actively Listen and Respond
As mentioned before, you don’t want to sound like a robot with over-rehearsed answers. Instead, you want to engage the interviewer by actively listening and responding. And as Glassdoor notes, you shouldn’t be afraid to inquire about the organization, the position, or even about themselves, so long as the questions are relevant. It can also help to have some stories ready to tell about previous work experiences, such as a time when you helped your team handle an issue with a customer.
Follow Up with the Interviewer
After the interview, follow up. Either the same day or the next, send an email or letter that shares your appreciation for the interviewer taking the time to meet with you. Include that you hope to work together. You can be casual with the letter as long as it contains correct grammar.
If you’ve landed an interview, that means the organization is at least interested in what you can offer. Properly prepare by making any necessary changes to your online presence, researching the organization and industry, and rehearsing the interview. Be sure to look your best at the interview and to engage the interviewer. Finally, follow up after the interview. If you put the work in, the organization will notice, and you’ll have a better chance of landing that dream job!
Photo Credit: Pexels
