
There’s
no need to panic; Community Financial is here to help! Here’s how to prepare
for an interview that will have you presenting yourself as polished,
professional and capable to any potential employer.
Research the Company
Before
you step through that door, you’ll want to learn all you can about your
potential new workplace. Speak to current employees and study the
organization’s website to get a sense of the company culture, goals and
services. You can look up company reviews on sites like Glassdoor and Vault to
see what it’s like to work for this business.
Highlight What You Can Bring
to the Company
At
this point, your interviewer doesn’t care much about your personal salary
needs. All they want to know is what you can bring to the table. Prepare a
mental list of your strengths and talents and explain how you can use them to
help the company grow. At the same time, avoid talking about salary and days
off during your first meeting. If you land the position, there will be plenty
of time to talk about that later.
Anticipate and Rehearse for
Challenging Questions
Spend
some time researching common interview questions and prepare your answers.
Indeed.com compiled a list of 125 Common Interview Questions with tips for
answering here: Top Interview Questions and
Answers (Indeed). If possible, grab a friend and role-play these questions in advance.
This exercise can go far in reducing your anxiety at the interview.
Look and Feel Your Best
You
want to show up looking sharp and focused. The best way to achieve this is to
get a good night’s sleep before the interview and eat a nutritious breakfast.
You’ll also want to prepare your interview clothing the night before, taking
care to present yourself as neat, professional, and polished. Appearances
matter, so make sure to dress for the job you want. Check for stains, snags,
wrinkles, and wear something you feel confident in. Researching the company’s
dress code can also show care and initiative.
Act Confident
You
may be quaking inside, but it’s crucial that you put on a show and appear
confident for the interview. Shake the interviewer’s hand at the beginning and
end of the interview. Sit up straight in your chair, look your interviewer in
the eye and speak in a clear, confident tone. Here, too, you may want to
practice a bit to get this right. Some people may find it easier to act
confidently by using psychological tricks such as imagining you already have
the job or that the interviewer is actually a family member or friend, therefore
taking away some of the pressure.
Bring Questions
Don’t
get stuck in the muck when you reach the end of the interview and are asked “do
you have any questions for me?” Many companies and interviewers have expressed
that when interviewees don’t have a question to ask, it makes even the best
candidates seem ill-prepared. Just like practicing challenging interview
questions, be sure to come up with a list of questions you could ask. Many of
your questions may be answered throughout the interview itself, such as “what
is the salary” or “who will I be working most closely with?” But atypical
questions such as “what is it about this company that makes you stay,” “what advice do you have to
make my transition into this position smooth,” or “what’s one thing you wish
you knew when you started this job,” can make you stand out from the crowd.
Follow Up Afterward
After
the interview, always be sure to follow up with a brief email to the
interviewer. Thank them for their time, let them know what a pleasure it was to
meet them and reiterate any important points from your conversation. This shows
your interest in the position and leaves the interviewer with a positive
impression of your personality and people skills.
Your Turn: Have you recently landed a
job? Share your best interview tips in the comments.
No comments:
Post a Comment