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Learn the questions, answers, tips and tricks that will prepare you for your job interview

So, you’ve created a killer resume and landed a job interview at a great company. The job interview is the final door between you and your new job or career.

Learn the questions, answers, tips and tricks that will help you prepare for your job interview and kick that door wide open!

Job Interview Process

Before I start diving into how to prepare for a job interview, lets talk about the interview process first.

If you’re reading this, it probably means you’ve created a great resume, applied for the job or jobs that you are most interested in, and landed either a phone or in person interview. What you can expect in an interview varies by company to company and sometimes person to person within that company.

In my experience, you’ll have an initial phone interview that will screen the applicants. Then, assuming you made the cut, you’ll receive information regarding an in-person interview.

The in-person interview will include a group or panel of interviewers that will ask you questions to better determine your fit with the team and company. As part of the in-person job interview, you may be given a skills test (especially in technical jobs) that measures your ability to perform the basic job duties of the position.

How to Prepare for a Job Interview

Review the Job Description Again

Early on in your interview preparation, make sure to read over the job description again and make sure you completely understand the duties. Make a list of the education, skills, personal and professional qualities that would be required to perform the job duties listed and be successful.

Find What Makes You the Most Qualified

Inevitably one of the questions asked during the interview will be something along the lines of, “what makes you the most qualified applicant?” or “why should we hire you for this position?”.

To get ahead of this question, take the list you created earlier regarding the job description and compare it to your current credentials and experience. Make a list that identifies how you meet all or most of the job descriptions requirements.

An example could be for a business development manage job with a small business. The job description asks for someone that is self-motivated, excellent at maintaining and establishing new relationships, is willing to travel, has an MBA, and has 3 years progressive management experience.

Make sure your list addresses each of these descriptions. If you have all of these, great. That makes it that much easier during the interview. If you are missing something like the 3 years progressive management experience portion in the example above, think back to your previous experience.

Did you manage consultants on projects? Were you a manager, but you changed departments and had a smaller team for a whole, so it wasn’t necessarily progressive?

Focus on your strengths when creating this list (i.e. instead of mentioning that you don’t have something, mention how you have similar experience that you feel prepares you for the opportunity), but also be honest.

Don’t sweat it if you don’t meet all of the criteria, some credentials may be more important than others. Remember, the company wouldn’t have called you for a job interview if they didn’t think you were qualified.

Research Your Future Employer

While compiling your interview preparation material, spend some time finding out more about your future employer. Visit their About Us page to learn their story and find out more information about why the business was formed and how they operate. If they have more information on their website regarding clients or projects, spend some time to find out more (especially in the area you’ll be working).

Type they’re name in Google News and other local news websites to try and learn more about what the public perception.

Tap into your network and/or perform searches on LinkedIn to learn more about the people interviewing you. Do you have any interests in common? Did you grow up in the same town? Are you members of the same organizations?

Perform research on sites like Glassdoor or Indeed to ascertain salaries, benefits, and read reviews.

Interviews are less about qualifications and more about connections. A hiring manager is much more likely to hire someone that is recommended, has a connection to a current employee, or has something in common than one that doesn’t.

Common Interview Questions and How to Answer

The next step in your job interview preparation is reviewing the most common interview questions and writing down you’re answer to them.

This list will act as a study guide later when you’re preparing for the job interview. In this case, all of the questions listed below are behavioral as any technical questions will vary by occupation and position. Please see a list of questions and how to attack them below:

Tell me about yourself?

To answer this question, I would suggest talking about where you grew up, where you went to college, your employment history (chronologically), and anything you feel comfortable sharing for your outside the work activities (organizations, volunteer, etc.).

Why should we hire you?

Remember that list we created earlier? This list will serve as the template for this answer. List how you (hopefully) meet each job criteria. If you don’t meet one or two, mention how you feel like you’ve had similar experience in the past. If neither of these is true, just mention that you are willing to work extra to makeup the deficiency while on the job.

In my personal experience, I’ve had limited design experience using Microstation (mostly AutoCAD). When one of the criteria has been Microstation proficiency, I simply list that I have limited experience with Microstation and list the projects I’ve completed. I then talk about the projects I’ve completed with AutoCAD to help the employer understand that, although I don’t have much experience with Microstation, I do have a good amount of experience with Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) as a whole.

Make sure to use as many stories as possible to display how you’ve performed the work in the past. If there is a project that directly shows how you’ve done something in the past, tell it. Don’t exaggerate or lie when telling stories. Your interviewer will be able to tell and it will disqualify you for the position.

What can you offer us that someone else can not?

You would answer this question the same way you would answer the question above. What makes you the most qualified, should also make you stand out from the other applicants.

What are your strengths?

To answer this question, try and think about something that is relevant to the job you’re interviewing for and isn’t controversial. Some good examples might be that you have a strong work ethic and are driven to succeed or you perform well under stress. Again, be honest.

What are your weaknesses?

Try to identify one or two things you’ve been working on getting better at. Try not to pick anything that will affect your chances of being hired. Also, resist the urge to say that you are too focused, a perfectionist, etc. Try to pick something that you really consider a weakness and would like to improve.

I once interviewed a guy who told me that his weakness was showing up to work on time. As you can imagine, this immediately set off red flags and he was not hired for the position.

What is an accomplishment you are most proud of?

This question says a lot about what you value in life. As long as you answer honestly, you should be fine.

Tell me about a time you made a mistake.

Ok, this isn’t a question, but is something often requested. Try to think of 2 to 3 examples of times you’ve made mistakes at work, handled them professionally, and learned a lesson. Try to pick examples that are minor in nature and have entertaining stories.

Tell me about a difficult situation you’ve had to handle.

Again, this isn’t a question, but is another statement you might encounter. Think of a time that you had to solve a problem or navigate a difficult situation. Your situation should be a story that demonstrates you are cool-headed, make difficult situations under pressure, and are a leader.

How do you handle pressure?

This is very similar to the request above. I would recommend responding to it the same way as above (with a story that demonstrates your ability to handle pressure).

Who’s your mentor?

For this question, list out your mentor’s for different areas of your life and be prepared to talk about why they are your mentor’s and what they bring to your life.

What were your bosses’ strengths and weaknesses?

Hopefully you shouldn’t have any problem identifying strengths for your former bosses.

For the weakness portion, be prepared to answer this one honestly, but avoid badmouthing your boss. You can have a difference of opinion without saying anything negative.

If you do describe a weakness for one of your former bosses, be prepared to discuss why you consider it a weakness.

Have you ever disagreed with your boss?

Don’t be afraid to answer this question. It’s ok to disagree with your boss as long as you were professional and respectful throughout the entire process.

Think of a story you can tell regarding a time that you and your boss disagreed and it was resolved positively. Try to stay away from stories where you were the party that was wrong (for obvious reasons).

If I called your boss right now and asked him/her what is an area that you could improve on, what would he say?

Just answer this honestly. Make sure to include steps you’ve already taken to improve or are taking to improve.

How would you deal with an angry or irate customer?

If you’ve ever been in any kind of customer service job, you know how difficult this can be. This question measures how you handle stress and how much emphasis you place on customer service.

A good answer includes staying calm, allowing the customer to finish speaking before responding, take a little time to assess the situation and come up with a solution, and inform the customer.

In most circumstances, the customer just wants to be heard and acknowledged and will calm down once they’ve had they’re say.

What are your salary requirements?

Using the research you performed earlier on sites like Glassdoor and Indeed, find out what a typical salary is for your position, preferably at the company you’re interviewing with. Ask for market value or higher. Do not undervalue yourself (something I’ve been guilty of in the past).

What motivates you? or What Gets Your Up in the Morning?

This is a very important question because they want to make sure that you will be self-motivated to succeed. Good examples include family, career ambition, etc.

What would you look to accomplish in the first 30 days/60 days/90 days?

Develop a plan that describes in high level what you would plan to do in order to get acclimated and hit the ground running.

Typically, you would meet and get to know the team. Get familiar with the company’s procedures and take all required training and classes. Become familiar with all of your job duties and work toward becoming proficient. Identify any continuous improvement opportunities in the established procedures. So on, and so forth.

This question depends on the job and what the duties are. If you have the ability to hit the ground running, the better as your future boss wants you to be able to take the load off as quickly as possible.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Your answer should always include working for the company you’re interviewing for, assuming you don’t know otherwise. The interviewer is asking this question to see how committed you would be to the company.

What is your dream job?

Again, you want to include a job that is either offered at the company you’re applying for or that the company would allow you to achieve much later on. A good example might be to be the CFO of the company you’re interviewing for.

What are your career goals?

This question is a little different than the two above. You should include your dream job as the ultimate goal, but list the certifications, milestones, etc. along the way that will lead you to your ultimate goal.

Are you willing to relocate?

Answer honestly. Don’t answer yes just to get the job as you may be asked to relocate at a later date.

Are you willing to travel?

Answer honestly. Same as above. If you say you are, be prepared to travel 80+ percent of the time (or whatever it says in the job description).

Would you work holidays/weekends?

Answer honestly. Same as above. If you say you are willing, you WILL work holidays and weekends.

Why are you looking for a new job?

If you are currently working this may come up. When you answer don’t make it seem like you’re running from a difficult situation or bad mouth your current employer in any way.

A good example would be that you are looking for more responsibility and to advance your career. Your current employer doesn’t offer that right now, but this job did.

What are your co-worker pet peeves?

This question is asked to identify fit with the current staff. Be honest, but try not to be too specific.

An example would be saying that you can’t stand co-workers that are deliberately confrontational. This is a pretty universal pet peeve and shouldn’t disqualify you from a fit perspective.

How to Dress for An Interview

How you dress for an interview says a lot about you. If you have the opportunity, you should drive by or find out what people at the company wear to work. Whatever they wear, try to be one step more professional in your work attire for the interview (i.e. if they wear business casual, you should wear a suit and tie).

If ever in doubt, dress business professional. Most people will not fault you for being over-dressed for the occasion.

For men, this means a suit (dress shirt, jacket, pants, tie, coordinating socks, and dress shoes). The suit should be comfortable and fit well.

For women, this means a suit with either a pants or skirt bottom. Again, the suit should be comfortable and fit well. Wear a conservative blouse and skirt. Make-up and nail polish should be understated and flattering. Keep jewelry and hair accessories to a minimum. Shoes should be conservative and fairly low-heeled with a close toe and heel. Hose should be neutral colored (skin tone).

Avoid being flashy with your colors and design choices; small accents go a long way. Your clothing should be neat, clean, and pressed. Make sure you shower or bathe the morning of the interview. Make sure your hair is groomed to look neat and clean. This should go without saying, but put on deodorant and brush your teeth prior to leaving for the interview.

What to Bring to a Job Interview

Bring a portfolio that includes a writing pad, writing utensils, copies of your resume, a list of references, and your list of questions to ask the interviewer.

Remember to bring a form of identification and to turn off your cell phone. Don’t bring any drinks, food, cigarettes, candy, or really anything that could be a distraction with you to the interview site.

Get Directions and Perform a Test Run

Prior to interview day, make sure to print off the directions and perform a test run to the site. This will give you an indication of how early you need to leave and any pitfalls you need to avoid. Add plenty of time to account for accidents, work zones, etc. on interview day.

Jobs Interview Tips and Tricks

Job Interview Greetings

When you arrive at the interview location keep in mind that everyone you encounter should be considered an interviewer. Greet everyone you meet professionally, pleasantly, and with enthusiasm.

Confident Speaking Voice and Body Language

When shaking someone’s hand make sure you do it firmly. Make eye contact when you are speaking and when others are speaking to you.

Be respectful and pay attention when others are talking; wait for them to finish before speaking. Be an enthusiastic listener and speaker (which should be easy since you want the job!).

Part of the reason you prepared the questions and answers ahead of time was so that you would be at ease and more comfortable come interview day. When speaking, project your voice and articulate your words. Don’t be afraid to pause before answering. It’s much better to gather your thoughts and answer confidently.

Be Yourself and Answer Honestly

Don’t try to be something you’re not. Be honest throughout the interview. If you’re not, your body language will betray you and the interviewer(s) will be able to tell.

Instead of simply answering the questions in a yes or no format, try to add as much context as possible with stories. Stories demonstrate your knowledge and experience much more succinctly than a simple direct question and answer format.

Also, people tend to connect and remember stories, so your points are more likely to stay with the interviewer(s) well after the job interview.

Never Say Anything Negative About Your Current or Previous Employer

It’s ok to disagree with your boss or company about different methods or choices they’ve made, but in an interview setting, you should avoid saying anything negative about your current employer.

It is a small world and there is a chance that what you say may make it back to your current employer.

Also, when you are negative about your current employer to the interviewer, you are sending the signal that you will do the same thing to them one day.

Most likely, when you get to the end of the interview, the interviewer will ask you, “do you have any questions for me?”. If they don’t, take it upon yourself to volunteer the questions once they are done. Some questions you may want to ask the interviewer include:

What is your ideal candidate?

What does the team consist of?

When would you like the chosen applicant to start?

When will you make a decision and when will you tell the chosen applicant?

What are the scheduled hours?

Does the company provide opportunities for paid continuing education, certifications, or professional organization memberships?

Have I said anything in this interview or given you any other reason to doubt that I am a good fit for the role?

After your interview, you should prepare a thank you note. This will allow you to stay front-of-mind with the interviewer, demonstrate that you are genuinely interested in the position, and allow you to answer any questions they may have had in more depth or bring up points that you forgot to mention the first time.

For the sake of simplicity, here’s a rough outline for how you can structure the thank you note.

Start by mentioning the job title and thanking your interviewer for the opportunity.

Then, expound upon a conversation had or a question posed during the interview that seemed especially important to the interviewer. Tie that point back to your experience and interests.

Reiterate briefly why you are the most qualified for the job and if there was anything that you wanted to say at the interview, but either forgot or were not given the opportunity, briefly state that information.

Finally, invite them to ask you any additional questions and close by saying you’re looking forward to hearing back.

Conclusion

Job interviews are very important to your job and ultimately your career. There are very subjective in nature and, all things similar, come down to how well you fit within the team and organization. There is no guarantee that if you do all of the above job interview preparation, you’ll land a job every time. What I can guarantee, however, is that if you take action and spend the time to prepare for your job interview as listed above, you will greatly increase your chances of kicking that door in and landing your new job!

Do you have any tips or suggestions for acing a job interview? What are they?

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