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There is no single list of
Strategies
- Research the Company: Understand its mission, products, and culture.
- Know the Job Description: Tailor your responses to demonstrate your fit.
- Practice Common
Interview Questions : Be prepared with compelling answers. - Dress Professionally: First impressions matter, dress for success.
- Bring Necessary Documents: Have copies of your resume, portfolio, and references.
- Show Enthusiasm: Show interest in the role and the company.
- Ask Intelligent Questions: Show your engagement and knowledge of the role.
- Showcase Your Skills: Highlight your competencies and accomplishments.
- Follow-Up After the Interview: Send a thank-you note to express your interest.
- Stay Positive: Maintain a positive attitude, regardless of the outcome.
First Impressions
The first thing to be aware of is that often it’s not your lack of ability that leads you to defeat – it’s your nerves and mindset in how you approach the interview, so let’s look at some friendly advice on shifting your paradigm to tackle your tense state.
- Treat the interview as a place to “give” rather than a place to “get”; meaning you focus much more on what you can give them, rather than what you can get in return.
- Remember there are plenty more fish in the sea; meaning there’s no need to feel desperate.
- Treat the interviewers as friends. If you think back to when you took your driving test, one of the best pieces of advice driving instructors give their students is to take the heat out of the situation by viewing yourself on your driving test as a chauffeur or taxi driver… as this takes away the intensity of the situation and allows for a calmer and more relaxed approach. Treat the interview as a chance to connect and build a relationship; rather than a “you vs. me” scenario.
Know the Basics
There are some basic questions that, if not specifically asked, should be communicated by you at some point in the interview. These questions (a few of which are listed below), will help you control the interview rather than have the interview control you:
- Tell me about yourself – Be prepared with a short, concise overview of who you are and what you do.
- Why do you want to work for our company? – Assuming for the minute that you would not be interviewing if there was not some interest, do your homework on the company (and the interviewer) before arriving.
- Why should we hire you? – This is where you go into your prepared pitch on your skills and experience and how they align with both the position and the company.
- The endless list of basic interview questions – Again, there is no definitive list of questions for which you can be prepared, but the following links will help you in your preparation:
Dress for the Part
Sounds basic, but you would be surprised what some people wear to an interview. There is no one dress code, every company and most industries have differences in their dress code. So rather than bore you with a fashion report, take a look at the following links:
- Tips to Dress the Part for the Interview
- 6 Interview Techniques You Need to Know
- How to Dress for an Internship Interview
Take Control
Like everything in life, it is better to be in control than to be controlled. To the extent possible (without being rude or too aggressive), try to keep the interview under control. How? See the following links.
Research the Company
You really need to learn as much as possible about the company where you are going to interview. With the Internet at your fingertips, this should not be a problem. You can also leverage sites like LinkedIn.com and ask people that work at the company.
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