Professionals Share Their Strategies for a Successful Interview

 

Professionals Share Their Strategies for a Successful Interview

Perfecting an interview takes practice! I had my first interview at 16 years old. I wore a sweater and leggings and had no idea what to expect. I’ve learned a lot since that interview (such as leggings are not considered professional dress, but we’ll save that for later). Today, I want to share tips that I have gathered from my professional network to help you achieve success during an interview. My professional network’s advice is based on presentation, performance, and post interview.

 

Presentation

Professional Dress: A graduate student suggested the importance of wearing minimal jewelry and refraining from wearing perfume or cologne. A strong scented perfume or cologne could cause a headache for the interviewer if they are sensitive to smell. Some tend to play with their jewelry which could be a distraction in an interview. For specific examples of professional dress, Glassdoor has a great guide (notice leggings is not on the list of appropriate wear. Whoops!).

 

Performance

Prepare: Ways to prepare are research the company, review the job description, have questions prepared, and practice sample questions. Pro tip: Most websites will have an “About” page that pictures members of the company. Read the blurbs about the individuals and get to know them. You may find similarities with them that you can touch on in the interview.

Sell Yourself: A police service aide said, “Remember to sell yourself!” She recommended being proud of your accomplishments and to not be afraid to (respectfully) brag about the successful moments in your career.

Be Honest: My colleague advised everyone to be honest with themselves and interviewers. Be honest about your weaknesses but remember to inform the interviewer that you are making an effort to improve and explain how.

Avoid Fillers: An admission advisor recommended avoiding words such as um or like. This may be difficult but repeating fillers can be distracting and appear unprofessional. 

Questions: Ask questions! Many emphasized the importance of asking questions because it shows your commitment. A great sample question is, “If I receive an offer to this position, what would you expect from me?” Questions that you should be prepared to answer are, “Describe yourself,” “Why should we hire you?” and, “Tell me a time you made a mistake” (check out Cass Thompson’s YouTube video on how to answer this question). Always remember when answering questions to give facts, specific examples, and the results you received in your role.

 

Post Interview

Send a Thank You Letter: The director of cooperative education at a university stressed the importance of sending a thank you letter! If you send a thank you letter after an interview, it emphasizes your interest in the position and shows your gratitude for the interviewer taking the time to meet with you. Most people forget this step. If you send a thank you letter, this could help you stick out from the other candidates.

 

Including some of these tips in your next interview will bring you one step closer to success. Good luck!