Interviewing - something that most people do less than 15 times in their career - kind of crazy if you think about it! Working on your interview skills when starting to apply for jobs is important to make sure that you are prepared. Yes, your resume is a big part of your job applying process, telling employers what your experience is and what skills you have, but your interview can showcase more about you than your resume can.
Let's talk about some basic do's and don'ts when it comes to your interview.
Do Do Not
Prepare in advance | Wait until the last minute to prepare yourself and your materials |
Gather things together in advance of your interview | Be unorganized or have a lot of papers that you are filing through during your interview |
Know where to go and when to be there | Be late |
Dress to impress! And dress for the position that you want. | Wear hoodies, sweatpants or other loungewear. |
Research the company you are interviewing for and come with some questions about | Go to the interview with no information on the company or what they do. |
Interviewing is one of the hardest parts of the job hiring process. It can immediately affect your chance of getting the job you are interviewing for. Here are some more tips that could help you improve your chances at your interview:
Be positive
Maintain eye contact
Promote the best qualities about you, but also admit when you have room to grow and what skills you are looking to improve
Be a little earlier to your interview (Early is on time!)
Dress to impress the interviewer
Make a memorable, positive first impression
Write a thank you note or send a follow-up thank you email to your interviewer expressing your gratitude to them for their time
The number one thing to remember - be yourself! You want to work for a company that fits your own personal beliefs and personality as well, so don't be afraid to be yourself.
Good luck on your next interview! Connect with our recruiters today if you want to schedule some time to do a mock interview and get ready for your next opportunity.