Feeling stressed about an upcoming interview?
I’ve got some good news and some bad news.
The good news is that you don’t need to be nervous about your next job interview. In fact, you can probably do better than most people.
The bad news is that the techniques I’m about to share aren’t easy or magical, and they require a lot of practice, commitment and hard work.
Here are a few tips for getting ready for your interview:
1) Figure out what type of job you want – There are a few different types of jobs that people apply for in the recruiting process. So it pays to know what you want so that you can prepare accordingly instead of winging it in the workplace.
2) Prepare for Interviews – Have your mind made up on what type of job you want before you go on an interview. Most companies want to hire someone who has specific experience and expertise – if not necessarily a technical person, then someone who has worked on complex projects like web development or mobile app design at big companies before they start working at smaller ones.
3) Talk About Previous Employers – Talking about previous employers is a great way to show off your experience and confidence in yourself — both things that hiring managers look for when evaluating candidates at the interview stage (and especially during their initial “screening” process).
If the company does not have any previous employees available or has yet to hire anyone, talking about previous employers can be an effective way to show potential partners your background before approaching them directly.
4) Be Flexible – Show them how flexible you will be by being willing to change up your schedule depending on how busy/easy/hard interviewing is going to be!
5) Answer Questions that are asked of You – When answering questions from hiring managers, don’t just answer questions directly from your CV like: “What experience did you have?”
Instead, ask more open-ended questions that let them know more about why they should hire you over other candidates such as the wins and challenges from your current experience.
6) Be a good listener
How to handle a job interview
I’m a huge fan of interviews. I feel that nobody can prepare themselves for the rigours of an interview as well as they can prepare themselves for the rigours of a job search. But, sadly, many people suffer from over-preparation and under-experience.
When you’re interviewing for a job, you want to be able to say: “I’ve been through this before” or “I understand what I want to do here.” And so many people throw themselves into an interview process with little preparation or experience beforehand — thinking that if they can just get through an interview, everything will be fine. Nothing could be further from the truth!
Here are some tips on handling your next job interview:
1) Don’t make it harder than it has to be
2) Relax and ask questions
3) Be honest with yourself
4) Let your interviewer know what they need to know
5) Take advantage of their time
6) Make sure you have all the information needed
7) Don’t fall into the trap of being too nervous
8) Maintain composure and confidence
9) Ask questions
10) Listen
11) Ask follow-up questions
12) Learn new things
13) Remember there’s no right or wrong
Techniques to get you through the stressful job interview process
There are a variety of interview questions and techniques that can be used to help you get through the job interview process, even if you don’t actually have an interview.
Prep; know your CV and LinkedIn profile, know exactly the job you’re being considered for, check LinkedIn for the people you’re meeting at the interview, and check if your network knows them!
Breathing; yes, remembering to breathe slowly is one technique to lower your stress levels
Mock interviews; actually do the prep
Sleep; getting 8 hours of sleep for the 3-4 nights before your interview can seriously reduce stress levels
Being prepared for the job interview
At the job interview, you may be asked several questions about your background and education.
Begin with the questions that are most relevant to your experience and skills.
For example, if you have a doctoral degree in one of the science or engineering fields, then it would be a good idea to discuss your research achievements and interests. Similarly, if you were a high school teacher for the last five years, before applying for jobs as an engineer or software developer, you will want to discuss your teaching experiences and accomplishments.
If you have worked in sales for the last four years, then you will want to discuss your sales experience at previous jobs as well as how well this preparedness applies to what is expected of you at a job interview. In sales, however, if you don’t know your numbers, then you won’t interview as well as someone who knows their targets, what they’ve achieved against those targets and the impact their contribution made to their company.
How to deal with stress and nerves during a job interview
If you are looking to get a job, you will undoubtedly face some form of stress during your next job interview. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be that way.
As a recruiter, I’ve heard many horror stories from friends and colleagues who have had trouble dealing with the stress of a job interview or the pressure that comes along with it. A recent study by the University of Cambridge showed that hiring managers reported that they were “nervous” and “highly stressed” during interviews, which seems to be an understatement when it comes to how much they are feeling the pressure to hire someone they are not familiar with yet.
Know that the person or people you’re meeting may well have their own nerves too. It is on their neck if they make a poor hire so no pressure!
After all, you’re all human!
No one knows who you are better than you do.
You can tell if someone is taking this job seriously, if they want it more than anything else in life, and if they’ll make an impact upon their career right away or not. This is something many people don’t realise — but it takes a lot of time to build your reputation as an interviewer.
You have to be well-versed in interviewing methodology and face-to-face communication skills — which means you need practice!
Know how to answer the obvious questions;
What do you do best?
Where are you from?
How long have you been there?
What does your background look like?
Are there any particular skills that come easily?
What kind of people do you like working with?
Do you prefer dealing with people one-on-one, in pairs or in groups?
If we take this process one step further… as yourself:
How ready are YOU for this job?
Can YOU do this job right now?
What skills would YOU need to learn after being hired here ASAP (and how quickly would these needs be met)?
Do you want an exciting challenge while being paid well/being treated fairly/having fun while doing work/doing work because you feel passionate about it?
Once you can confidently answer these types of questions, get yourself to the interview on time, breathe, smile and head on in there.
Still need help?
If you would like more advice ready for your interview or some further assistance with your job search, feel free to get in touch with the team at Your People Partners. We love to help!
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