6 Interview Techniques That Everyone Should Know

“A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success.” – Elbert Hubbard

This is a guest post from Welles at alaskatourjobs.com, a leading provider of Alaska jobs.

So you’ve just graduated college and are finally heading out to the real world. Our condolences.

But the real world isn’t all that bad. Sure, you’ll have much greater responsibility and more bills to pay, but you’ll love all the new-found independence. First things first, though:

You’ve got to find a job.

And no job can be found without going through a dreaded interview.

Fear not. Whether the gig is trading stocks on Wall Street or an adventurous summer job in Alaska, these tips will help you look like a stellar applicant on your big day.

Top Interview Tips

You’re in control
One aspect of the interview many people don’t fully realize is that the interviewee is in control of the conversation. Job interviews always contain open ended questions that can be used to discuss a wide range of your qualities. Go into your interview having identified a few topics about yourself you’d like to cover, and steer the conversation towards them when it feels natural.
Prepare One Mistake Story
In every interview there’s always a question that goes something like: “Describe a flaw or mistake you’ve made in your past.” It’s crucial to go into your interview knowing how to respond to this. Be truthful, but always tell a story of a time you made a mistake but learned a valuable lesson that has actually made you a stronger candidate.
Let them get to know you as a person
Another important thing to remember is that while your resume and qualifications have gotten you in the door, the interview is more to get to know you as a person and how you would fit into the workplace. Be polite, friendly, and demonstrate your desire to work for the company (without going overboard, of course). As long as you act like yourself, you’ll have no regrets about how you handled it.
Sound confident, but not arrogant
While it’s important to talk about your better qualities, if you sound too confident you’ll talk your way out of a job. As long as you don’t go out of your way to discuss your accomplishments, you should do fine.
Dress the part
Even if you know the workplace has a casual dress code, you should dress up for your interview. Wearing nice clothes is a great way to demonstrate your desire to get the job. It’s OK to over-dress for an interview, but being under-dressed could deliver a crushing blow to your candidacy
Write a thank you note
You’d be surprised how many people forget this step. Writing a short note to your interviewers thanking them for their time and interest in you is one of the best ways to make yourself stand out. Don’t forget it!

Good luck in your search.

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