Ace Your Interview Tips

Congratulations for getting invited to a job interview! You are one step closer to getting your dream job. Your resume and cover letter may have given you the opportunity for the interview, but it is your performance in the interview that determines whether you get a job offer or get rejected. Yet, you will be surprised to know that many do not prepare enough for their job interviews and think that they can easily ace it. 80% of a successful interview depends on how much you have prepared beforehand. With more time spent on your preparation, you will definitely be more confident and ready to tackle the interview.

Hence, we have collected some tips on how to excel in the interview to help you prepare for your next interview.

Do your homework. Know the company you are applying for. Many candidates fail to learn about the company. This shows up in their answers during the interview. This suggests a lack of interest in the company, which is not the image you want to give in your interview.

Be prepared. Always bring hard copies of your resume, portfolio and any other documents which you think are relevant. If you are going to bring up facts and past experiences in the interview, you need to be ready to back your words. As words are free, it is not enough to just tell the interviewer what you have done. Use the portfolio to prove your claims and impress the interviewer by showing him or her that you are organized and detail-oriented. Also, prepare your answers for obvious interview questions that will be asked (this will be covered in the next post), so that you will not be caught unaware.

Be punctual. Always give yourself sufficient time to get to the place of the interview. Prepare at least a half an hour buffer time for unexpected traffic and aim to arrive at least 15 minutes early. This will allow you to have some time to freshen yourself up and for you to calm down before going in for the interview. Punctuality also sets aside a positive impression for your interviewer. If you are running late, do call ahead and let the interviewer know instead of just showing up late. Otherwise, it would show that you do not respect the interviewer’s time.

Dress well. First impression is always the most important, and clothes make up to 95% of all first impressions. Always dress the way you are expected to dress for the job you are applying for, or slightly better. You want to look well-groomed and smartly-dressed, not under-dressed. At the interview, as first impressions form a major part of the hiring decision, even if you are very qualified for the job, you may not be offered the job, just because the interviewer did not get a good first impression of you.

Ask the interviewer questions. If you are unsure of a question that was asked, do not be afraid to ask the interviewer what they meant. This will not affect the impression your interviewer has of you. By clarifying, it will not only ensure that you are answering to the point, but also give you a better understanding of what the interviewer is looking for, and allow you to craft your answers to fit their needs. Also, always prepare a set of questions that you can ask the interviewer. (Refer to 10 Job Interview Questions You Should Ask - Forbes: http://bit.ly/2fDATDu)

While this list is not exhaustive, with these five tips, hopefully you will be much more prepared and confident when it comes to your next interview!

Images taken from:

1st-https://payablaw.wordpress.com/2015/05/

2nd-http://www.bigearsmediagroup.com.au/gallery/

3rd-http://www.marichesse.com/2016/03/les-8-secrets-des-gens-qui-ne-sont-jamais-en-retard.html

4th-http://daniel-yo.rajce.idnes.cz/