Check out 20 job interview tips you won’t find anywhere else. Prepare yourself and get the job of your dreams!
Let’s talk about several tips that we never hear and read out there, but that are crucial for you to make a good impression on your recruiter.
What we will see in this article
Basic social skills and communication skills are evaluated along with your experience and education.
You and the interviewer should engage in a conversation – a mutual exchange of information and ideas.
Only through this dialog can you determine whether you, the organization, and the work are well matched.
Preparation is the key.
What is a job interview
What is a job interview? A job interview is the process of talking with a candidate to check his or her likely adherence to the requested profile of the position.
The job interview is just one of the processes within recruitment and selection, and is perhaps the last step for managers to make a final decision as to which candidate best suits the job manager’s requirements.
The job interview has several processes, and in this article we will look at some great tips for the applicant don’t let your nervousness and anxiety compromise this very important moment.
Sources for getting interviews
There are many sources that companies use to advertise their job openings. Having several different sources to send your resume to is really interesting and greatly increases the possibility of getting a job interview.
the world’s largest professional social network, with many contacts and referrals.
On Linkedin it is possible to establish several connections with professionals from different fields, different regions, and in this way be able to share more knowledge with each other.
Applications
Job apps are great because they bring notifications of new openings as soon as they go live.
With these notifications you can have a good filter to find the jobs you need in the palm of your hand, and you can send your resume almost immediately to the requested vacancy.
Job Sites
Job sites are great because they have vacancies from many different companies and also because of the feedback the candidate receives about the whole selection process.
In addition, human resources companies can guide the candidate to have a better resume and courses that he/she could take in his/her field.
What to do before the job interview?
Try to prepare as much as possible. Research about the company, about the market where it operates, its competitors, its culture, its location, and so on. Do your homework.
Also, try to rest well the day before so that your mind can be calmer, and arrive at least 15 minutes early to give your heart time to quiet down.
How to increase your chances of getting a job?
Let’s look from now on at some amazing tips that no one talks about the way we do, so that you can go further in this job interview process.
Be on time, not too early and not too late
This usually means 10-15 minutes earlier. Interviewers are usually ready before the appointment.
The fact that you are punctual only shows that there is a great commitment on your part to your tasks and commitments.
Punctuality has a very strong value message for managers, among them that you also comply with the rules set by the company.
Learn the interviewer’s name, spelling and pronunciation
When you are called for a job interview, it is important that you know who the interview will be with, isn’t it?
It is a very annoying situation when you arrive at some place without knowing who to talk to, so try to avoid embarrassment and know the name of your interviewer.
Also try to use his name during a job interview as being more objective.
If you don’t know the name, call ahead and ask the secretary. Also, write down the name of the secretary in case you need to call back.
Pronouncing the interviewer’s name shows a self-confidence and also your interest in the person who is talking to you, as well as establishing a link between the two of you.
With that, speak their name and look them in the eye, taking care to be respectful in their dealings. Avoid too much intimacy.
Ask questions and reassure yourself that you are the right person
There is nothing wrong with having a short list of questions and thoughts – it shows that you have done your research and want to know more about the organization and the position.
In this case be careful how many questions you ask and avoid asking just for the sake of asking.
Your questions must be relevant to the selection process.
For example, asking if the company is open on holidays is shooting yourself in the foot, as it only shows that you have more interest in your time off than in the work itself.
Be careful not to give the wrong impression about yourself when you ask the questions.
Sometimes you don’t understand a placement or something that was said about the company and the job itself, so being relevant to you, ask and state clearly that you did not understand what was said in your job interview.
Take multiple copies of your resume and one copy on your cell phone
In addition, bring a copy of your resume and also a well-written cover letter. Bring your papers in an organized way to the job interview.
Many times the interviewers make notes of the candidates on their resumes to make it easier to identify some points, so try to help them with this.
Carrying a hard copy also shows that you are a prepared and organized person.
Have a reliable pen and a small notepad with you
Carrying something so that you can write it down is interesting, but I have to say that it is not very common. It can give the impression that you are the one doing the interviewing and not the other way around.
Unless it is at a press conference, then discreetly you can make your notes.
In an online interview you will also have the ability to make these notes away from the eyes of the interviewer, but there is no need to do anything hidden, as it is not wrong.
If necessary, ask permission to make your notes.
Remembering that it is not something common really.
If possible, to avoid writing down information during the interview and focus on the process that is happening right now, immediately after you leave the room, write down everything you can remember, including your impression of how well you did.
And please never turn on your cell phone to record the meeting. This can be illegal if you do not have the interviewers’ and the company’s permission, and it sends the message that you are totally distrustful of them and the selection process.
These are some of the tips for job interviews, but we don’t stop there. Here are a few more below.
Greet the interviewer with a handshake and a smile.
Remember to maintain eye contact (which does not mean looking down).
Expect to spend some time developing rapport
Don’t get to the point. Follow the example of the interviewer.
Don’t be embarrassed if you are nervous
As you gain experience, you will become more comfortable with the interview process.
Focus
In your attributes, your transferable skills, and your willingness to learn; don’t apologize for lack of experience; describe your strengths in terms of what you can do for the organization.
What to say about me in a job interview?
Lies and exaggerations will come back to haunt you if you are not honest when talking about yourself in the interview.
Use transparency and don’t judge in advance what they are thinking about your speech.
Listen carefully to the interviewer
Make sure you understand the question; if not, ask for clarification or repeat it in your own words. Answer completely and concisely. Stick to the matter at hand.
Never underestimate a teacher, friend or employer
Loyalty is at the top of the employer’s list.
Observe your grammar
Employers are interested in candidates who can express themselves appropriately. Even if you have to go slow and correct yourself, accuracy is preferable to ungrammatical fluency.
Be prepared for personal questions
Some interviewers may not know what they can and cannot legally ask. Anticipate how you will handle these issues without losing your composure when speaking in an interview.
Wait for the interviewer to mention salary and benefits
To research salary scales, see the salary surveys and information on the Career Services website in the career library.
Don’t expect a job offer at the first interview
Often, you will be invited for a second or even third interview before an offer is made several weeks later.
Close on a positive and enthusiastic note
Ask what the next step will be. Thank the interviewer for his or her time and express your interest in the job. Leave quickly and courteously with a handshake and a smile.
No interview is complete until you follow up with a thank you note
Express your appreciation for the interview and, if true, reaffirm your interest. This last step can make the difference. Don’t forget.
What not to say in a job interview?
What is a job interview if not a good conversation, right? However, it is important to be aware that some issues do not need to be said right away, as in any relationship.
What to say in a job interview about myself?
I’m not talking about lying or leaving transparency aside, on the contrary, however, as in any relationship you have to be careful until the other person gets to know you well enough.
In the job interview you will be asked about what your strengths and weaknesses are, so act in a job interview like the professional you really are.
Just keep the focus of what you can do in your new position and your experience, not to talk about your personal life…
What not to say or do in a job interview
Now let’s look at quotes and try to understand what should never be done or said in an interview.
Sorry for the delay
Needless to say, punctuality is key. Your interviewer doesn’t want you to arrive at work 20 minutes late every morning.
What is your annual vacation and sickness policy?
It doesn’t look good if, even before you are hired, you are planning your absence from the company.
I will take this call
A large number of candidates think it is okay to receive phone calls, text messages, etc., during an interview.
I even advise you to turn off the device during this.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
When asked, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” never say, “Doing your job.
As much as this may be a genuine response, candidates should try to build an answer around the experience they would like to gain and the level of responsibility they would like to have, rather than threatening the interviewer’s job.
My previous employer was terrible
No matter how boring those roles may have been, “bad-mouthing a previous employer is not only unprofessional, but also reflects on your character.”
What is a job interview, if not building a good ethical and professional presence?
Your new employer may even have contact with your old employer, so it is never advisable to burn your bridges.
Do you make books? I thought you only made ebooks…
Failing to research your prospective employer thoroughly is a major gaffe.
Saying that you looked at their website is only marginally better – employers expect much more research.
What an F.
Never swear in your interview.
This can happen, especially if your interviewer is prolific with swearing, but don’t let him set the standard for the interview and remain professional the whole time.
I was very good at solving “PEBs” using “ARCs”.
Don’t fall for the industry jargon of your previous employer or assume that the interviewer knows anything about your experience.
Instead, speak clearly about your skills and experience to avoid any confusion or misunderstanding.
Do I really have to wear this uniform?
Any criticism of the team uniform will go down like a lead balloon. Do you think your interviewer enjoyed wearing that fluorescent green ensemble when you played your role?
When asked, “What did you like most about this interview and company?” never answer with any of the following: the perks, the pay, the lunch hour, my co-workers, or the holidays.
What should I answer when asked why I should hire you?
When they ask why I should hire you, you will be able to say so sincerely:
“Because dealing with the situations in this area are already part of the routine of my job and I have been able to go even beyond that in several situations.”
It may sound simple, doesn’t it? And yes, it is this boldness that recruiters also look for in a candidate.
Think that the recruiter is also insecure about the interview and the choice of candidates, because there is no way for him to know how each one will adapt, is there?
So you can say the above, as long as you don’t say it in an arrogant and overbearing way, but are firm and friendly.
Of course, you can answer in other ways, but the important thing is that the essence is the same: to make sure that you are the best person for the position that the company offers.
What about defects in an interview?
Usually the candidates avoid talking about it or they drop pearls that sound more like platitudes like:
- I am a perfectionist
- I like things done right
- I demand a lot that others work as well as I do
Anyway, these are items that give the wrong message of arrogance on your part, don’t they? Imagine yourself in the recruiter’s shoes hearing these quotes.
Think about real issues and always think humbly, such as:
- I am a bit of an anxious person, but I can handle it well and even help other people.
- I like things done right, but I also try to help my team so that everyone can achieve the same standard.
See the difference?
Online Job Interview Tips
For an online job interview the same tips we have talked about so far still apply, especially about being punctual and cordial in conversation.
Remembering that, unlike the live interview, the online one must wait for the other person to speak before it is your turn.
Also take care with:
- Background of the screen where it will appear,
- Ask people in your household not to pass behind you,
- Request silence from the people in the house,
- Take care that there is silence also from domestic animals such as cats and dogs, including that they do not appear on the screen, no matter how cute you may think they are.
Simulate a job interview
Before you go to the interview, try to simulate a job interview even in front of the mirror.
You will be surprised by your own looks and facial movements when you speak. Always think as if you were the recruiter and how you would see the person you are talking to.
Make a list of the questions you are most accustomed to and think of sincere answers, as well as humility with the assurance that you know what you are talking about.
Conclusion
With that, I hope you enjoyed this article very much and we look forward to your comments and learning more and more together!
If you haven’t been called for job interviews lately, be sure to also read: I am never called for a job interview.
I am sure this will help you a lot.
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