Going into an interview is stressful. You want to make sure that you give the best impression as possible so that you have the best chance of landing the job. This includes speaking about your past experience and demonstrating that you would be a good person to have on the team.
Consider the following advice, and then walk into your next interview with confidence – you are ready to impress!
Research the Company Beforehand
Before you walk into an interview, you should make sure that you do your homework. It will be immediately obvious to the person interviewing you whether you are familiar with their company or not. You need to have a good understanding of their needs, values, and the types of projects that they work on. This will help you better highlight your own relevant experience.
The other key factor in this situation is that it allows you to ask smarter questions. This is a strategic move that can show that you have done your research. It also allows you to have a more meaningful conversation, as opposed to spending the interview time focusing on basic, boilerplate information.
Be Courteous and Professional
Hopefully all of these tips are straightforward and obvious. However, you would be surprised just how many people forget about the little details. Plan to show up about twenty minutes before your scheduled interview. You never know if there will be some unforeseen traffic or other circumstance that could otherwise make you late.
Dress appropriately for the position you are applying for. You do not necessarily need to be wearing a suit and tie, but make sure that you are well-groomed and look tidy. Plan to bring a copy of your resume printed out and make sure that your phone is turned out.
Speak Positively About Past Employment
You may not have left your previous position under good terms, or perhaps you are looking to work for a new company because you did not agree with how your current company is run. Either way, talking poorly about your previous foreman or being overly critical of processes will not go over well.
Instead, focus on the positives and then offer constructive criticism. This will show that you have a good attitude and the new company will not have to worry whether or not you would speak poorly about them down the road.
One Last Word
Remember that interviews are a two-way street. This is also the time to find out whether you think that this would be a good company that you would want to work for.
Photo by Daniel McCullough on Unsplash
