Interview Tips: Boost Your Job Interview Skills
You may not realize it, but job interviews are actually a little like dating—or, at least, they used to be. You meet up with a potential employer, discuss your skills and experience, and hope that your personal brand is strong enough to land you the gig.
8 Tips to Boost Your Job Interview Skills
Interview skills are often a key part of a job interview and interview tips, but it’s not always clear where to begin. Here are some tips to help you ace the interview process.
1. Dress Well
This may sound a bit silly but we all know that the interview process is a big deal. After all, the hiring manager will most likely make the decision about whether you are hired or not on the strength of your performance during the interview.
One way of looking at this is to approach the interview as if you were a client or a customer. In fact, the best way to prepare for a job interview is to pretend that you are a client. This means dressing the part as if you were going to a job interview with a potential client, i.e., dress professionally, look polished and put together.
2. Don’t Talk Too Much
This is a good time to reflect on what you did right in your previous job interviews. Don’t make the mistake of focusing on what you didn’t do—which is easy because you can always find something to say about what went wrong.
Instead, focus on the positive: What do you bring to the table that the company would miss if you left? And don’t forget to emphasize your accomplishments. You are going to interview with these people, and they want to know what you’ve done before and what you’ll do for them after you get the job.
When you get a job interview, don’t be afraid to show off your skills. However, don’t talk too much about yourself during the interview process. Remember, the hiring manager is going to ask questions to see if you are the right fit for the company.
Related: What is the Perfect Answer to “Tell me about yourself”
3. Use Appropriate Language
The second point on this list deals with language. To effectively use language when selling yourself and your skills, you need to know how to speak in a way that will help you communicate what you know and experience.
In order to do this, you need to get rid of some words that could be used to make yourself look less competent. Some of these words include “I,” “my,” “me,” and “mine.” These words imply that your knowledge, skills, and experiences are yours and no one else’s.
4. Know the Facts
Many candidates are unaware of the fact that job interviews are often a series of questions that the interviewer has prepared for the interviewee. They also have no idea what information will be asked, and how they can best answer the questions.
5. Remember to Focus on Listening
As we all know, job interviews are all about the interviewee. This means that you must take the time to listen and be receptive to what the interviewer is trying to accomplish. Many people overlook the fact that interviewers will be thinking of their own needs and requirements.
6. Practice good nonverbal communication
When you get nervous about a job interview, you can’t help but show it. One way to avoid this is to practice good nonverbal communication.
For example, if you’re going into an interview expecting a certain type of reaction from the interviewer, you might subconsciously behave accordingly and be unable to hide your nerves. As the interview approaches, try to maintain a neutral face, avoid looking at the interviewer directly, and make sure you keep your hands at your sides.
In addition, avoid fidgeting, chewing gum, or tapping your fingers as you speak, which could indicate nervousness.
7. Have Questions Ready to Ask
This job interview is really your first impression. Think of this as your very first meeting with a potential employer. You need to make a good one. Prepare for the interview by preparing some questions to ask the interviewer. The questions don’t have to be formal—they can be simple, open-ended questions. Be prepared with at least five questions that you’d like to ask.
The more specific you are in asking questions, the better. Think about what the employer does, how he or she does it, and what you think is important about the company.
8. Thank Your Interviewer
Before you head out to your next job interview, thank your interviewer for her time and the opportunity to interview. This is an excellent opportunity to practice the art of interpersonal skills. When you thank someone, you acknowledge their time, attention, and effort. You also express the desire to work together on a project.
This is important because it shows you are interested in the job position and is the right attitude to have for the duration of the interview.
Related article, How to Answer, ‘Why Do You Want to Work Here?’
