Interview Tips to Land Your Dream Job

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Let’s face it.  There are a lot of thoughts running through your mind as you prepare for the job of your dreams.  Will you say the right thing? How can you sell yourself to the point where they remember you over all the other applicants?  Many times during an interview you are asked about a skill specifically, but other questions tend to be more generic in nature and the way you respond could have them wanting to know more.  This is the time to shine! So how do you show them you are the best candidate for the job? The following tips can help you take that next step professionally and land that job of your dreams.

  1. Sell yourself with the “Tell me about yourself” question.

Yep. You’ve heard this one before, but it’s almost guaranteed this will be the first question in your next interview. It may seem cliché and boring, but it is a pivotal question in every interview. This question gets the conversation started, gives you a chance to brag a little, and, hopefully, make an awesome first impression. Your answer to this question will set the stage for the rest of the interview. So, how can a question that is so easy, trip up so many people? To be honest, most of us overthink it. While you want to make sure you get out all your important points, you also have to sound like someone that will be a good match for the position.  When talking about yourself, you want to make sure you include the job at hand. Know as much as you can about the available job, the company, and the work you may be doing and tie that into your answer. Let the interviewer know what attracted you to the position. You also want to discuss your relevant experience. Don’t get too specific yet, but you may want to start introducing your strongest skills, personality characteristics, knowledge, and experience that are relevant to the job. Most importantly, you want to include your current situation and where you want to go from here. And, remember; your answer to this question isn’t the only thing that matters. What matters even more is your confidence, passion, tone, and delivery. This is your time to stand out and give them that memorable first impression.

  1. Bring several copies of your complete application packet to every interview.

It is always important to have several copies of your complete application packet with you when you go to every interview. If the interviewer has misplaced his or her copy, you’ll save a lot of time (and embarrassment on the interviewer’s part) if you can just pull your extra copy out and hand it over. This demonstrates that you are an organized person who comes prepared and will definitely be a strong representation for their company.

  1. Clarify your “selling points” and the reasons you want the job.

Prepare to go into every interview with three to five key selling points in mind, such as what makes you the best candidate for the position, and have an example of your experience with each of the selling points you prepared.  Make sure to include why you want that job, what interests you about it, what rewards it offers that you find valuable, and what abilities it requires that you possess. You want them to be able to feel how interested you are in the position.

  1. Line up questions for the interviewer.

Come to the interview with some intelligent questions for the interviewer that demonstrate your knowledge of the company as well as your serious intent. Interviewers always ask if you have any questions and no matter what, you should have one or two ready. If your response is “No, not really,” he or she may conclude that you’re not all that interested in the job or the company.

  1. Be ready for “behavior-based” interviews”.

One of the most common interview styles today is to ask people to describe experiences they have had that demonstrate behaviors that the company thinks are important for a particular position. You might be asked to talk about a time when you made an unpopular decision, what you did when you had a dispute with a coworker, displayed a high level of persistence, or made a decision under time pressure and with limited information.  Also, make sure to review your resume before the interview with this kind of format in mind; this can help you to remember examples of behaviors you may not have anticipated in advance

  1. Send thank-you notes.

Write a thank-you note after every interview. Type each note on paper or send them by email, depending on the interviewers’ preferences. Customize your notes by referring specifically to what you and the interviewer discussed. Whatever method you choose, notes should be sent within 48 hours of the interview.

Interviews are a stressful part of the professional world and can make or break your chance at the job of your dreams.  Consider these simple five tips the next time you are about to interview and take away some of that stress to sell yourself and stick out from the rest!

This Blog Post was guest written by Bradley Rumbel for Zekiah Technologies.