Whether you’re a fresh graduate or already have a few years working under your belt, interviewing for a job can be a stressful, anxiety inducing process. I have colleagues and peers who still get the pre-interview jitters and sometimes outright back out after feeling overwhelmed.
But, it doesn’t have to be that way. Since we’re all about helping through sharing here at the Work-Life Warrior, I’ve got your back.
Here are my top ten tips to get confident for your job interviews:
- Knowledge is Power
After the excitement of getting invited over for an interview subsides, one thing you must do is to read up on your prospective employer. Take the time to know their vision, what their goals are, their project portfolio, and if possible, who your interviewers are.
Top places to check out would be their company website, LinkedIn accounts of their management roster, and employee review sites.
Don’t forget to also take your research offline and ask your network if they have anything to share about the company.
- Review the Job Requirements
Believe it or not, I’ve personally seen some applicants not know about what position they’re applying for. I don’t know how that can even happen! So, to avoid this, read the job posting several times until your interview happens. Personally, I skim through the job posting an hour before an interview.
Doing so will give you some ideas in how to guide the discussion during the interview. You can also highlight certain skills and experiences that are relevant to the company’s requirements.
- Dress to Impress
Appearances matter in the workplace more so, I think, than most other settings. You have to be certain that your clothes and accessories are on point. In fact, I want you to plan out your attire beforehand.
It would also help if you can research the dress code at the place you’re interviewing at to find out their clothing range. (You can read all about dressing for success in my article here)
Another very simple tip: get a nice sign pen or fountain pen and stick it in your shirt pocket. It can be very handy whenever you need to fill-up forms and it has the added bonus of making you come off as a professional that’s always ready.
- Your Mindset Matters
One thing that I always tell others who get nervous about job interviews is that they should remember that your prospective employer isn’t the only one doing the evaluating. This subtle shift in mindset is empowering once you understand what it can do for you.
Simply put, just remember that you are also looking for a place that is a good fit for you. Does the company’s management share the same values? Is the culture a good fit? Keep in mind, you also have a set of criteria you’re looking for. So, stop feeling like a guinea pig! Interviews are like first dates: they can make you nervous, hell, they can get awkward too! But, if you find the right partner, then good times are ahead! (Not a good analogy but, you get it, right?)
- Move That Body
Body Language is another tool in your professional arsenal that you can bring to play during an interview. Make sure that you are coming off as positive and confident. One trippy trick you can try is mirroring. Your interviewer may have one or two go-to gestures that they do during the course of your discussion. Like a Jedi, you can use the Force and imitate them. For example, if they lean forward on the table with an elbow on top of the surface – do it, too!
Why? There have been some research that says mirroring enables a greater connection between people. It can also take your nerves off what you’re saying and get you to focus a bit more on your own body language.
Some simple reminders:
- Don’t slouch, sit straight.
- Smile
- Use hand gestures
- Ask Questions
Okay, so you’ve answered all that has been thrown your way. You’re confident that your threads and your smile have left a good impression, too! Job done, right?
No.
Remember what I told you earlier about an interview being a two-way evaluation? Don’t let the interview end without you asking the right questions according to your checklist. Some questions I ask during interviews are:
- How long the interviewer has been with the company.
- How the culture is.
- The interviewers’ favorite thing about working there.
- The organizational hierarchy and the team’s setup (the one you’re joining!)
- The most important or pressing matters that the position needs to address during the first few months after getting onboard.
There you have it. Don’t you feel more prepared to take down that interview? The job hunt can get stressful. Hopefully, my advice can take away some of that stress so that you can land that dream job of yours.
WORK-LIFE WARRIOR 