Last Minute Interview Tips
It’s not a good idea to show up unprepared for an interview. This may lead to the hiring manager questioning why you did not plan ahead enough to make sure that you were ready. In fact, showing up unprepared can result in a no-hire decision.
A little bit of preparation goes a long way. You need to know what kind of questions you might be asked, and the best way to answer them. When preparing for a job interview, you will want to focus on the most common types of interview questions such as behavioral questions and problem-solving questions.
10 last-minute interview tips
The last-minute interview process is stressful enough without the added pressure of nerves and anxiety. So here are the 10 interview tips.
1. Professional Dressing
It’s important to show up to a job interview dressed appropriately for the environment. However, your wardrobe needs to take into account the type of environment and office dress code you’ll be working in. Read about the specific guidelines of your prospective employer and then check out their social media pages.
Wearing a suit or dress code in a company you’ve just been hired to work for is a good idea, as it’s more professional. But if you’re interviewing for an administrative position at a business that prefers to wear casual attire, it may look odd. You should always consider whether the environment will affect how you appear and what would be appropriate.
2. Read the job description
Even if you have a few hours before an upcoming interview, it’s important to go over the job description in detail to ensure that you’re fully aware of exactly what the employer is looking for. After all, it’s hard to get a job without knowing what you’re doing.
Think about what experiences you’d like to see a potential employee bring with them into the company. You can ask them about these experiences during the interview. If you have a list of these topics and skills in mind, it will be easier to refer to them during your interview.
3. Research the industry
If you want to interview for a job, do your homework. You should know who the major competitors in the industry are by studying any trends that you could refer to during your interview.
It takes less than a minute to find information on your industry on the internet. It might be a good idea to help you prepare for your interview and to make sure you know what is happening. The interviewer might be impressed that you cared enough to look at the subject and that you understand the field.
Also check, Boost Your Job Interview Skills
4. Research the company
Researching a company before applying for a job at that company is always a smart move. It gives you a great idea of what the company is like, so you can find out if it’s a place you want to work for. In addition, you can determine what types of questions you’ll be asked, so you won’t be caught off guard in the interview.
It’s not enough to research a company and find out about their products. What really helps you to stand out is finding out what they’re doing to make their products more appealing. What will really help you to demonstrate that you did your homework is being able to answer questions about their products and services.
5. Identify few key examples
If your resume is lacking in experiences that showcase your leadership, communication skills, or problem-solving abilities, you’ll need to show your interviewer that you have those qualities in real-life scenarios, either on the job or during an interview.
If there are certain skills that will be key to the job, it’s a good idea to find a few stories where you demonstrated those skills. Having stories that you can share about past successes or the experiences you’ve had that have helped you in the workplace can help demonstrate your value.
6. Find something interesting about yourself
Think of something that you can show during the interview process that will make you memorable, or that can make the interviewer more likely to select you over the other applicants. Some of these qualities are things you have already done for yourself (you’re organized, you’re friendly, etc.) but others may be transferable to the position you are applying for. For example, if you are applying to work in marketing, you could show that you are well-versed in a specific programming language or platform, or have experience working with social media.
Marketing teams are important because they create demand for IT, but they don’t create demand by themselves. Think about how you can use your marketing experience to make an even bigger difference to the company.
7. Connect with employees online
To find out more about an employer, follow their company on social media and connect with employees who work there. Asking simple questions is the most common way to begin a conversation.
8. Prepare responses to common questions
Think through how you’ll respond to some of the more common questions that interviewers ask, such as “tell me about yourself” or “why should we hire you?” Make sure you’ve practiced these answers before your first job interview and that you know them well enough to deliver them confidently.
Related article, How to Answer, ‘Why Do You Want to Work Here?’
9. Make a positive first impression
Be sure to make the appropriate number of eye contacts, smile, and offer a firm handshake in order to make a good first impression on the interviewer.
If you’re a first-time job applicant, you might be nervous. You probably know the basics of what you need to do, but it’s not exactly the same as knowing how to present yourself for an interview. There are many things you can do to increase your chances of getting the job:
10. Prepare your exit strategy
In addition to making sure that you have an idea of where the interview is headed, you should also think about asking questions about what you discussed during the conversation. If there are questions that relate to the things that you talked about, then this could make the interviewer feel that you were listening.
When interviewing, be sure to always practice asking other questions that may indicate how you feel about the role or organization and how you’d like to work. Make sure you emphasize your enthusiasm for the position, even if it’s just to see if they’re interested in hearing more about you.
Related: What is the Perfect Answer to “Tell me about yourself”
