The best way to ace a job interview is to be prepared. No matter what type of job you’re applying for, the questions you’ll likely face have some common themes across industries. Having a good idea of what’s going to be asked can help you prepare for an interview and give yourself the best chance at landing an offer!
There are many job interview questions and answers found online that can help you get started in your interview preparation.
1. Practicecommon interview questions
Practicing common interview questions is one of the best ways to prepare for an interview. You can do this in front of a mirror, but it’s better to practice with someone else so that you know how you will interact with them. It could be a friend, family member or co-worker — even a camera can be useful if you have one handy.
2. Be honest and genuine
You’re going to be asked a lot of common interview questions, and you have to be prepared for them. You can’t go into an interview without knowing what they’ll ask you, whether it’s about your strengths or weaknesses, why you want this job or how many years of experience you have in your field. But there are also specific ways to prepare for an interviewer:
- Be honest about your strengths and weaknesses. Your interviewer will want to know both so that he or she can determine if those weaknesses are a deal breaker for the position. Be honest with yourself when determining which parts of your resume might give off the wrong impression (e.g., “I am extremely detail-oriented” vs “I am not very good at keeping track of time”).
- Be genuine about wanting this job/company/interviewer – There’s no point in pretending like you’re interested in something when really all that matters is getting through the interview process as smoothly as possible with minimal stress on all parties involved—including yourself!
3. Be prepared to make a good first impression with the receptionist
If you don’t want to be turned away at the door, make sure that you are dressed appropriately. If it is a conservative business environment, dress appropriately by wearing a suit or a nice dress. Make sure your shoes are clean and polished. In addition, smile as soon as you see the receptionist and make eye contact with them. Be friendly and polite when speaking with the receptionist—they may have some influence over whether or not they will allow you into an interview.
Giving perfect replies to their questions is one of the best ways to make a good first impressions and practicing job interview questions and answers is the best way to do it.
4. Make sure your personal presentation reflects the company’s culture
You should always make sure your personal presentation reflects the company’s culture.
If you are interviewing for a job in a conservative environment, for example at an investment bank or law firm, it is important to dress appropriately. However, if you are interviewing with a startup or technology company and they have casual dress codes then you should also respect that by wearing something similar yourself. It is also worth doing some research on the company before the interview so that you know what kind of role they offer and what sort of people they expect to work there (e.g., young professionals vs old-fashioned executives).
Practicing HR interview questions will make you research about the company’s culture which will in turn help you in deciding how to carry yourself.
5. Don’t be late
It’s important to arrive on time for your interview, as it shows that you value the interviewer’s time and effort.
If you’re running late and can’t make it there before the scheduled start time, contact them immediately via phone or text message. If it’s still possible for them to see you (and this is rarely the case), let them know how much longer it will be until they can expect your arrival.
If not possible, ask if there is anything specific that they would like from an applicant who was unable to make their scheduled meeting with them due to unforeseen circumstances and apologize again for missing out on an opportunity with this company due to these circumstances.
6. Know what you’re going to say to small talk
When you’re in a job interview, you’re going to be asked questions about yourself. Sometimes, these questions are about your career and sometimes they’re about your hobbies and interests. Other times, the interviewer will want to know more about who you are as a person (and whether or not they can see themselves working with you).
One of the most important things that an interviewer wants to know is how well suited you are for the position and company culture. They’ll ask questions like: “Why do think this position suits your skills?” Or, “What type of work environment do think works best for your personality?” These types of questions give them insight into what type of employee they could expect from you—which means that it’s important for them to get answers that reflect positively on both sides!
While doing job interview questions and answers you might have realized that they do tend to do small talk at times but it is done to know more about you and how your fit in the company.
7. Ask smart questions
Asking smart questions during an interview can help you in a number of ways.
First, it shows that you are truly interested in the position and are not just going through the motions.
Second, it allows you to get a better sense of what the company is looking for and whether or not you would be a good fit.
Finally, it gives you an opportunity to stand out from other candidates by demonstrating your intelligence and critical thinking skills.
When asking questions, be sure to avoid those that can easily be answered with a simple yes or no. Instead, try to ask open-ended questions that will prompt a more detailed response. For example, instead of asking if the company offers health insurance, inquire about what kind of benefits are available. This will give you a chance to learn more about the company and what they value in their employees.
Doing HR interview questions will help you in realizing what kind of questions you need to ask to spark some useful conversations.
8. Send a thank-you note after the interview
Your interviewer has spent time with you, so it’s important to show your appreciation. A brief, handwritten note (or email if that’s easier) is a great way to do this—and it will help make you stand out from the crowd.
In addition to thanking them for their time, mention something specific from the interview that resonated with you. Maybe it was how the company talked about its values or goals; perhaps there was a discussion about how employees were treated; maybe there was more information about what makes this role unique and special within the organization.
If there were things about their organization or culture that interested you, tell them! It shows genuine interest in working at their company—and could give them an opportunity to elaborate on those topics further, which would be useful information for deciding whether this is indeed where you want to work.
Conclusion
The best thing you can do is to practice common interview questionsoften. You will know the questions that are likely to come out of an interview and they will get easier with time. Once you have your answers down pat, it will be much easier for you to feel confident when going into an interview because they won’t catch anyone off-guard.