Top 1 Tips to Acing Your First Job Interview
Walking into a job interview can be stressful, especially if it is the first one for you. However, with proper research, practice, and homework, you do not have to worry. Experts believe that 73% of candidates feel much more relieved and stress-free if they are with some sort of background knowledge about discussions and practice. Your CV and resume will just get you through the doors of a conversation, but getting hired for the job depends on the evaluation phase entirely. Now it is up to you to take control of the situation and give an impeccable discussion. Being over-prepared has never been a thing, so before walking through the doors of your potential new workplace, preparing for an interview is never a bad idea.
We have for you a series of tips and standard practices that you should try before every interview. Whether it is your first professional job interview or the fifteenth, always turn to these tips to boost your confidence and be prepared for what is going to come your way!
The tips for acing a job interview have been divided into three phases, before discussion, during discussion, and after discussion. Without further ado, let’s dive straight into it so that you can start preparing as quickly as possible.
Before Going to the First Interview
1. Do your Homework on the Company
Let’s look into the first tip for acing your interview is that always be prepared, remember, being over-prepared is not a thing. Being prepared and doing research on a company is essential, and it is the most important tip of all. For you to stand out to the recruiters, you must prove that you are interested in the job and that you already have information about the firm itself and how they go about their practices and work environment. The best way to do so is to research it online. Use the company website to your advantage to understand how it operates. This will give an individual an advantage over other candidates in the race. To make your research more efficient and effective, make use of these methods.
2. Learn about the Job and Your Duties
Another crucial step that you must carry out before heading over to your interview is to take out time and learn about the job itself. What are your responsibilities towards the company? How will you do your daily tasks? What does the company expect from you? Which skills are needed for the job? Ask yourself these questions and provide answers to them to see if you are eligible for the job if you can convince yourself then you will convince the recruiter too. It will allow you to prepare your answers for the meeting, and it will show the recruiter that you are genuinely interested in the job.
3. Find a Mirror and Practice
Much like a play, we must practice what we are going to say during an interview. It is imperative because one wrong move and the entire meeting may just go off the rails. Find yourself a mirror and repeat statements, actions, and gestures that you plan on incorporating into your interviewing style. Not only will this boost your confidence, but it will provide you with a sense of your how long it takes you to answer questions and more. Additionally, trying on outfits is a good idea too. During an interview, it is essential to dress formal and decent. The first impression of a candidate is based on how they look and what they are wearing. Trying on two to three different work attires before an interview and asking for opinions will help you a great deal.
4.Time Management
Ensure that you are not late for the interview. The HR manager of the firm who is interviewing you will read into it and make assumptions about the candidate. If an individual is late, it can be seen as a sign of lack of responsibility, no value for time, and delay. That is not a good impression to leave at your future workplace, therefore plan. Manage your time by waking up early, scheduling a ride to the interview beforehand, and not leaving anything to the last minute. Instead, arrive early rather than being late!
During the First Interview
5. Be Confident
If a candidate is not confident about themselves and their skills, the recruiter can sense it automatically. Therefore, to nail your interview, you must have confidence. In your actions, in your tone, in whatever you say, faith should be present. While speaking, try to step out of your comfort zone and incorporate relevant yet interesting information about yourself. During an interview, the panel is testing your personality, skills, confidence, and much more all at once, so you must be aware of yourself.
6. Maintain an Appropriate Posture and Stay Formal
If you plan on walking into an interview and sitting with your arms crossed or standing with your hands in your pocket, do not bother going at all. Recruiters know about your skills and achievements from your CV. The primary purpose of an interview is to check your personality type, behavior, and how you handle yourself. Therefore, if you sit with your arms crossed, you will seem informal and give off unprofessional vibes. Maintain an alert and straight posture, so that recruiters can see that you are interested and open to the situation. Moreover, a formal attitude is necessary to seem professional.
7. Only Give Required Information
During the interview, giving irrelevant information will only make the meeting long, boring, and unimportant. To avoid that, provide recruiters information which will make them more interested in hiring you. The main goal of an interview for you is to get hired. So, only sate those qualities about yourself, which will push the company to have you on their team. Include skills and experiences that will intrigue them. Additionally, add some outstanding achievements about yourself.
8. Thank the Interviewer for Their Time
Once the interview is over, out of courtesy and good mannerism, it is polite to thank the individual taking the meeting for their time. It will prove to them that you are grateful for the opportunity and that you are respectful towards the firm.
After the First Interview
9. Wait Patiently for a Call Back
After the interview, the recruiters may take a few days to get back to you. The best thing to do is wait a while and be patient.
10. Write a Thank You Note
In many cases, candidates become so anxious about how their interview was that they start calling to firm non-stop. That is not a good idea, this will not only irritate the firm to some extent, but it also seems exceptionally unprofessional. A better approach is to wait a week and write a thank you note to the firm for the opportunity that they could potentially provide you with the job. This way, you are not pressuring them to respond, but in case they did forget, you will subtly remind them.