How to Prepare For an Interview
This blog post will provide you with tips for how to prepare for an interview, so you can be sure to impress your future employer.
After reading this blog post, you'll know what questions to answer and what other information is expected from a job interview. You'll also pick up on common mistakes that most people make during the interview process and learn vital skills such as interviewing, answering tough questions, and staying focused. So grab a coffee (or your favorite beverage) and settle in for a good read!
One of the most important parts of any job search is the interview process. This is when you find out if you're the perfect fit for a particular position. But what makes an effective interviewer? What questions should you ask during an interview? How can you decide whether or not this is the right job for you? Read on to learn more about these issues and how they can improve your job search.
Employment in America continues to climb, but it's still hard to convince people that there are jobs available. According to a 2014 report put out by Congress, there are still 3 million jobs open and qualified people looking for work.
However, many of those jobs remain unfilled because there's no one willing to do the work. If you want to be the person who fills these jobs, you'll need to take an active part in your application process. Unless you apply for a position that matches your skills and abilities, there's no guarantee that you'll get it.
Finding a job is difficult enough, but so is finding the right job. Don't settle for anything less than a position that truly interests, inspires and excites you. If you take the time to find this kind of job, you'll do an outstanding job during the interview process, eventually working your way into that dream position.
In addition to applying for job openings, there are other things you can do to improve your chances of getting a call back from a potential employer. You can develop your resume, create a portfolio of your best works and talk directly with a hiring manager or recruiter. These are all effective ways to ensure that you're prepared for an interview and that you're ready to be offered that dream job!
The most important aspect of interviewing is preparing beforehand. This involves knowing what questions they're going to ask before they ask them so that you have time to gather relevant information.
Many employers realize that they'll have to take extra time during the interview process with you, so they plan their questions carefully. They know that it's important to get as much information from you as possible so that they can be sure that precious candidates are the best fit for the position.
Here are some of the most common questions:
What do you think of our company?
How do you define success? (This is a very open-ended question, but it allows your interviewer to learn how realistic your expectations are. You might want to consider giving some examples of success from your professional or personal life.)
Why do you want to work for our company?
What are your strengths and weaknesses? (This is a popular question, but it can be difficult to answer. You want to focus on your strengths, not just mentioning anything that comes to mind. But you don't want to focus so much on your strengths that you gloss over any weakness! You'll want to consider this carefully before immediately answering.)
What did you like (or dislike) about your previous jobs? (You'll need information about how the interviewer likes the job they have now, so they can judge whether or not you're a good fit for the position. You don't want to give too much information about previous jobs, but you want to make sure that you speak positively about your last employer.)
What are some of the responsibilities you have in your job? (Your interviewer wants to know what you do on a day-to-day basis, so he can give details about the position and whether or not it suits your needs. For example, if it's a full-time position, be sure to mention when you're expected to work and how many hours per week.)
How well do you communicate in person? (This is an important question because this will determine whether or not they'll need someone who works well with others. So be sure to make it clear that you do have strong interpersonal skills.)
What's your biggest weakness? (This is a difficult question to answer, but you don't need to reveal any of your actual weaknesses. Instead, you can talk about some of your strengths. For example, perhaps you're a perfectionist or maybe you're hard on yourself. You might want to consider giving examples of how you've overcome pressures in the past or work through setbacks.)
Are there any reasons why we shouldn't hire you? (Since they'll want the best person for the job, they'll want to know if they should give it to someone else. You can frame this as "why would we want to give someone else this opportunity?" or you could go a step further and point out an experience you had where there was a problem and how you handled it.
What would be your strengths and weaknesses in working with our current team? (Depending on the position, there might not be a lot of overlap with your current team. So be sure to mention something that your interviewer will find interesting and that they'll be able to use in their decision as to who they should hire.)
Do you have any questions for me? (This is a good time to ask any questions that aren't on the list above, so be sure to iron out all of the details beforehand. For example, you could ask why they think the position is available or what kind of person they're looking for.)
Whether it's a local bookstore or your closest library, you'll find plenty of help in improving your job search skills. They can provide information on:
How the employment market works specifically in your industry (or even region) and how to unlock more job opportunities by being proactive.
Tips for developing a strategy for finding new jobs that best suits your needs and schedule. This may include using social media networks, looking for additional training or asking for referrals from current employees.
How to develop your own job search strategy. Depending on your location, job market trends and how the economy is doing, you may want to add additional steps to your job search.
How to handle difficult conversations with hiring managers. This can include everything from negotiating salary increases to being truthful about any questions about previous interviews or whether or not you're a good fit for the position.
How to find out if there are any companies within driving distance that are hiring at the moment. This might include finding social media profiles for companies or contacting people who work for that company and asking them if there are a specific jobs available that you might be able to apply for in person or over email.
Conclusion
The subject of job search skills is vast, but you should use this article to get started in learning what it takes to improve your job search.
There are many other articles on our blog that address specific topics related to your job search goals, such as hiring managers and interviewing tips. But with any job market, you're going to need more than just a good resume and cover letter. You'll want to be able to communicate with potential employers in multiple ways so that they know that you are the right fit for the position.
Hiring managers value candidates who can apply knowledge beyond their field of expertise, who can communicate well and who can develop new skills during their career by learning from others and being flexible with their schedule.