Top 5 Job Interview Tips

Hello everyone, it’s Megan!

As my last fall semester comes to an end, I’ve naturally started to think about the future and what it holds - especially as an international student! Graduating college can definitely be scary in and of itself, but the thought of having to get a job right after college makes it all the more terrifying. One of the most common concerns for seniors in college in terms of graduation is having a job lined up for when you’re done with school. Relatedly, going to job interviews is a nerve-wrecking experience for pretty much everyone, and all of these stress factors related to job searching inspired this week’s blogpost: Interview tips! 

So, without further ado, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind when the time comes for you to interview for your future job!

1. Research the company and your interviewer(s)

Let’s start things off with the basics - do your research! Before you go into a job interview, it is important to show that you are familiar with the company you would like to work at. By communicating to your interviewer that you’ve done your homework prior to meeting with them, it lets them know that you are serious about your interest in working there, as opposed to it being “just another job interview”. The company’s website, social media posts, and recent press releases are all good sources to provide you with a solid understanding of what the company is about, and how your skillset fits into the equation. For a more detailed guide on how to research a company effectively, here is a helpful website!

Now, keep in mind that researching your interviewers can come across as creepy if you don’t do it right. There is a fine line between coming across as knowledgeable about the company, and being borderline creepy. You don’t want them to feel like you have invaded their privacy, so stick to looking for information that relates to their career persona. You can also try to find some commonalities between you and your interviewer, as this could make them remember your interview favorably over other applicants. At the same time, be sure to not give away any suggestion that you actively looked up information about the interviewer themselves.

2. Practice answers to common interview questions

Most job interviews will include some standard questions that are common across the board. These are usually questions like “tell me why you would be a good fit for our company”, or “tell me about a time when you faced a challenge, and how did you deal with it?”. These sorts of questions are commonly used by interviewers, and practicing some of the most predictable questions will give you an edge if you have already prepared yourself on what to answer. Giving well-rounded answers to these questions illustrate that you are able to reflect on your own strengths and weaknesses. If you are not familiar with common interview questions, you can visit this website for a helpful guide.

3. Prepare questions for your interviewers

A lot of times we forget that a job interview is a two-way street, however, you should ask some questions, too! When you’re reading the job description of the position you’re applying for, think about what questions come to mind and what you would like answered. 

For me, I am always curious about what a hiring manager has to say about the office culture, meaning, what the “overall vibe” is amongst the employees. For you, this might not be a relevant question at all, so make sure that you find a couple of things to inquire about when you are given the chance to ask questions. Not only does it show that you have seriously thought about working there, it also gives the hiring manager an idea about which aspects of the job matter to you.

4. Make a great first impression

We usually spend more effort preparing for the actual content of the interview, including the points mentioned above. What is arguably just as important however, is to prepare your external presentation as well. Don’t forget to pay attention to the little things! If this is a high-stake interview, put some extra thought into the details of your appearance; like doing your hair nicely, making sure your nails are kept, ironing or steaming the outfit you’ve chosen. Essentially, you wan’t to show your interviewers that you care about this position, and spending time on your appearance and making sure that you look presentable is an obvious way to show that you’ve put effort into your meeting with the hiring manager. Most importantly, looking good will make you feel more confident, which will show through as well!

5. Send a personalized thank you letter after the interview

You should practice the habit of sending personalized thank you notes to each interviewer. When you are meeting with them, ask for their business card during the interview, and if you have multiple interviewers you should ask them individually. This allows you to follow up with them individually, as well. This note (or email) should be sent the same day, or the following morning depending on when you had your interview. If you interviewed in the morning, try to send out an email within the end of the workday. If your meeting was later in the afternoon, waiting until the next morning should be fine. Make sure that the emails are personalized though, and incorporate some of the notes you took during the interview to show them that the email is meant specifically for them.

Alright, so these are some of the best interviewing tips I have come across over the past few years, and now - I pass them on to you. The most important part is come across as authentic, meaning: just be yourself! Regardless of whether you choose to follow the tips in this post, I wish you the best of luck with your job-hunt moving forward. You can do it!!!

— Megan 

Inspiration taken from Indeed.com.