This Resume Girl's
10
Interview Tips & Tricks
Know the Basics
Research the company and role you applied to prior to the interview; interviewers like to see that you put effort into preparing for the role and are at least somewhat knowledgeable about what the company does and what the position entails. In addition to getting some basic understanding of the company and role, think about what interested you in the position/company and led you to apply. It is especially helpful during the job seeking process to keep your applications organized – this helps with keeping details straight and knowing what you applied to when recruiters reach out to schedule an interview. Need help with creating an application tracking template? Just ask This Resume Girl!
Prepare & Practice
The best way to reduce interview anxiety is to feel prepared. This includes researching basic interview questions and practicing with friends, family members, or This Resume Girl! It can be very helpful to create a document listing out common interview questions related to the role you’re interviewing for (this is where Google comes in handy) and writing out your responses to study for your interview. When structuring your responses, I recommend utilizing the STAR Method - if you need additional help with preparation and practice, just let This Resume Girl know!
Be Your (Professional) Self
Your quirks and personality are what make you whole, and interviewers like to assess how you’ll fit in with the team when deciding on candidates. Although it’s best to bring your true self forward, it’s important to be professional as well (this doesn’t just apply to interviewing, but in the work environment, too!). Avoid slang and make sure to speak clearly and concisely when conversing with the interviewer. Keep answers related to the question asked and stay engaged in the conversation.
Connect the Dots
Interviewers want to evaluate what skills and knowledge you can bring to the role and workplace. When answering questions or discussing role-specific duties/responsibilities, relate your previous work, school or volunteer experience to aspects of the position. This shows the interviewer that you have a good understanding of what the position requires and how you have handled similar situations in past work environments.
Attire Matters
Do you need to wear a full suit for every type of interview? Realistically, no. However, you should strive to “dress to impress” for the role you are applying for. Depending on the industry, the style of formal wear appropriate for an interview will differ. In some cases, it may be most appropriate to wear that suit, yet in others a polo/blouse and khakis may be better. The best way to approach this is to ask the interviewer what the position’s dress code is and plan accordingly. Note that this tip holds true for both in-person and video call interviews.
Need help with decoding dress codes? Check out this helpful guide from Indeed.
Be Inquisitive
Prepare questions both specific to the role as well as general relating to the company and its operations. Questions that are role-specific can be based on the job description provided, or based on your previous experience. General questions can be related to company operations/processes, benefits, culture, or anything else that is important to you in a work environment. Remember that job seeking is a two way street; you want to impress potential employers, but they should try to impress you too! Bonus: If interviewing in-person or on video call, have a notepad/pen ready to take notes on information discussed – interviewers love to see an engaged and prepared candidate!
Honesty is Key
If asked about your experience with a specific task, duty, or skill, make sure to be upfront about your level of expertise. If you aren’t as well-versed in a skill that you’d like to be, explain what you’re doing (or what you’ve done) to improve that area. Make sure to give yourself credit where it’s due, but don’t exaggerate or make up experience! An interviewer would rather know that you’re working towards personal/professional development than find out later that you weren’t truthful about your abilities.
Follow the Flow
Initial interviews are generally structured with some basic questions from the interviewer and an opportunity for candidate questions. Although it is important to “Be Inquisitive” throughout the interview, make sure to allow the recruiter/interviewer to ask their questions, too. Oftentimes interviewers will have a set amount of time for the interview; be mindful of the timing throughout the conversation. If you feel that you did not have enough time to discuss a certain experience or ask a question, let the interviewer know that you will follow up with an email.
Find Your Space
If you are interviewing over the phone, find a quiet place where you can focus on the call and avoid any background noise or distractions - you'd be surprised at what recruiters can hear! You want to show that you are serious about the opportunity and have made the conversation a priority. Hold off on driving, making your lunch, or being around others until after your interview. For video calls, find a location that provides a plain background and will not distract the interviewer; avoid video calls from your car or public spaces (like a coffee shop) if possible.
Make the Time
Interviewers generally work 8AM-5PM in their time zone, you will likely need to make time during the work day to accommodate interview times during the job seeking process. Recruiters may be somewhat flexible, but availability may be more limited in later stages of the interview process when scheduling with hiring managers, supervisors, etc. Interviewers want to see that you are serious and dedicated to your job search; if your availability is limited, it may be necessary to take time off from your current role, come in late / leave early, or take a longer lunch to accommodate the interview. Realistically, if scheduling an interview with you is difficult (or impossible), the interviewer will likely move on to the next candidate.