Job Interview Tips for Your Dream Career

Looking for a job requires a lot of time and concentration. Any job search is stressful, but the most crucial part comes after you've submitted your resume and received a call for a job interview. To get the job of your dreams, you must present all your positive points like a professional in a short period. Here are some job interview tips to help you achieve this.

Good preparation is critical

Prepare in advance before the interview. This is a significant job interview tip because it helps you form a mental picture based on the information you have from the ads, including what questions they might ask you and what you could answer. Familiarize yourself with the company, and identify its typical characteristics and whether they match your personal and professional values.

With such information, you will lead the conversation more quickly because you will come across as enthusiastic, making the conversation flow positively. To achieve this, check what the company stands for besides the primary company data, which direction it is going in, whether it is environmentally conscious, and whether it is socially responsible.

The employer will research you - so you should research them

Accessing information is so easy now. So, use everything the internet and social media offer and explore the organization, company, or firm in every possible way. Every company now has social networks that you should check, and the official website is also one thing you should look at even before sending your resume. On the Locanto website, in the Jobs United States category, you can find here more than 1,250,000 job offers. These will help you in your job search and provide you with a lot of information about companies that can help you during the interview.

Recheck the job description before the interview

Always check the job description before going to the interview. This is another vast job interview tip. When sending out your resume, you should match your experience with the job description points in the job advertisement. For example, if the job description states that you will be working a lot with a specific software and have experience in that software, make sure you put this under the experience section of your CV. Prepare well because it is likely that the responsibilities listed in the ad will relate to the questions during the interview. Additionally, including professional headshots in your application materials can leave a positive impression on potential employers, adding a personal touch to your candidacy.

Make a list of questions

Consider preparing a few questions to ask the person interviewing you. You can inquire about the company and the job you'll be doing, but not questions that indicate you haven't done your research. You could maybe ask some questions about company culture, team structure, and progression that perhaps you can't find on their website.

Always come to the interview well-rested

The impression you will leave depends on how you feel at that moment. When you have an essential job interview, you should always come well-rested and ready to answer questions. Job interviews take up a lot of brain power!

Nonverbal communication is still communication

Don't wave your hands too much, try to remain calm, avoid nervously shifting your knees, and speak naturally as if talking to a friend.

Of course, some gestures are desirable and can effectively emphasize what you are saying. These are mostly hand movements with palms facing upwards, symbolizing openness and honesty. If you notice that your gesturing isn't naturally going in the direction you like, you can fold your arms in your lap.

Eye contact

Often, you face two or three interviewers during an interview. Whether everyone is asking questions or some are just sitting and observing the conversation, try to pay equal attention to each of them.

A genuine and pleasant smile usually elicits a positive reaction from the other side. It's natural to respond with a smile. This then softens the whole communication and makes everyone in the room feel more relaxed.

Practice the STAR technique

The STAR technique answers questions by describing a specific situation, activities, and results you have achieved, writes Infostud.

The name is an acronym: Situation, Task, Action, and Result.

Situation: Set the scene and provide the interviewer with the details for the example you plan to give.

Task: Describe your tasks and responsibilities in the given situation.

Action: State and explain the steps you took and why.

Result: Explain what results the steps you took led to.

How to apply the STAR technique?

Now that you know the STAR technique, you must learn how to apply it.

Remembering the appropriate example is just the beginning. You need to tell what you want in enough (but not too much) detail and, understandably, make sure the story stays on a tangent. This technique should help you with that.

Remember the relevant situation you will use as an example. You cannot know in advance what questions will be asked during the conversation, so it is helpful to prepare several examples. Even if you cannot remember an appropriate one during the conversation, ask for a minute to think. This will show that you are willing to make an effort around the answer.

You recount the selected example for a reason—you had an essential role in achieving the results. Explain your tasks and responsibilities and your goal without explaining the implementation method (for now).

Since you explained your role in the previous step, it's time to explain your actions. Avoid general formulations, be specific, and tell the interviewer what you did and how - which strategy you applied, what software you used, and whether and how you made a plan.

What was the outcome of the steps you took? It is recommended to cite examples with a positive result. If you opt for an example with a negative outcome, highlight what you learned. As before, avoid general formulations and quantify the achieved results.

Arrive on time or a little early

Arriving on time for the interview is mandatory, but it may be desirable to come a little earlier to stabilize yourself and your thoughts before the conversation begins. Take at least ten minutes to get familiar with the space and the environment where you are.

In addition to that, arriving on time shows that you value not only your but also the other person's time, and in that way, the employer can get the impression that you will appreciate the time of the clients you will be working with, customers, or anyone you will be in contact within the position you are applying for.

People who are late will have a much lower chance of getting a job; this is one of the things that the employer will evaluate first when considering whether to hire you or not and whether you are suitable for that position. First impressions count!

Answer all of the questions

In every interview, you may get questions that are unexpected curve balls. But no matter how strange the question may seem to you, unless it is inappropriate, always answer that question. If you don't respond correctly, think about your answer for a minute or two. Give yourself time to compose your thoughts, and you will surely come up with something great. Besides, there is nothing wrong with asking a question if something is unclear, so the employer will see that you are ready to ask, willing to learn, and capable of constructive conversation.

Keep the communication going even after the interview

Usually, a significant number of candidates apply for one position. To stand out as the best candidate, it's essential to stay in the memory of the colleague or manager who conducted the job interview. You never know exactly what impression you have made and whether you are remembered. Therefore, send a very professional email to thank them for the interview and, again through the email, mention why you are the best candidate for that position. You could also reference an exciting topic during your conversation, showing your engagement with the interview process. Not only will you stay memorable, but you will also continue the communication, increase your chances, and create an excellent impression to the employer that you are careful in your work and can apply to future clients.

Here are some frequently asked questions at interviews:

Why should we hire you?

Here, you are expected to summarize your work experience. Here's a brief example below:

"During my three years of work in a student organization, I enhanced my experience and achieved significant results in increasing the quality and number of students participating in the exchange. I can contribute to changes in your company."

What are your weaknesses?

Make sure not to mention personal qualities but instead focus on professional attributes. In your answer, discuss what you are currently doing to improve this weakness. This shows you are always willing to learn and improve yourself. This is a great job interview tip example.

"I strive to improve my communication skills to become a better presenter. Recently, I completed a course on assertive communication, which I found to be a valuable experience."

Why do you want this position?

People tend to take pride in the company they work for, which you can also expect from the person conducting the interview. So, now is your chance to say some positive words about the company. Is it a domestic or international company? How many employees does it have? Is it active in the community? Are the products and services of adequate quality? This is also a great time to discuss how you'd like to progress your career and what opportunities this new company can give you. Make sure your answer mixes what you can provide to the company and what the company can give to you. Your response could be:

"Working for this company will allow me to develop my skills and improve my knowledge by learning and collaborating with your knowledgeable team members. But I also believe that my creativity, passion for learning, and high-quality work would be an asset to your company, and my own experiences would be valuable to you. In this way, we can succeed together as a team".

What starting salary do you expect?

Even though this can be a taboo subject, it's essential to understand the budget for this role and if the salary matches the type of experience and qualifications you already have. Do your research to find out how much a similar position pays in your area. If asked this, you will have a rough figure in mind based on the market and your current experiences. If you would like to ask this question tactically, such as: "What is the salary for similar jobs in your company?"; "How much do you usually pay someone with my qualifications?". Having a lower and upper limit salary range in mind is also essential, so you have some wiggle room if negotiations come into play at the offer stage.