Mar
So, you sent your resume to as many companies as possible and you’ve landed yourself a few job interviews. That is great news but sending in your resume was the easy bit. Now comes the hard part; the dreaded job interview.
The thing is, job interviews don’t have to be as hard as we make them out to be. We just have to make sure we follow a few rules.
Here are 15 surefire ways to make sure you ace that job interview.
1. Research the company
One of the best ways to ace your job interview is to research the company beforehand.
Find out what their short term and long term growth strategy is, their recent acquisitions, their core products and services, their major competitors etc. Knowing and stating this information in the interview is a sure way to impress your interviewer. You can easily find all this information for free on the internet just by Googling the name of the company.
Researching the company will show the interviewer that you are enthusiastic about the role and that you have a genuine interest in the company.
2. Turn it around
Most people feel nervous during a job interview because they feel as if they are being interrogated. It’s question after question. This is why you must turn it around- start to be the one who asks the questions. This will also give you a chance to see if the company is right for you.
Remember the interviewer is not out to get you. The person is just doing their job like anyone else.
3. Research the position
Study the job description as soon as you find out that you are scheduled for an interview. This will ensure that you know which skills the job requires. Use examples from your working and personal life to prove that you are the right person for the job.
4. Eye contact
You can tell a lot about a person by the way they hold eye contact. Confident people look others directly in the eye and maintain eye contact.
If you struggle to look people in the eye then change your focus to between the eyebrows, no one will know the difference. Staring your interviewer down or never looking away is just as bad as not holding eye contact so make sure you don’t do this.
5. Body language
Body language makes up 55% of our communication so it is crucial that we get it right.
Sit up straight and don’t slouch. Doing this shows that you are alert and interested in what the interviewer has to say and demonstrates that your are a confident person.
Make sure you offer a firm handshake, maintain eye contact and smile to get your interview started on the right track.
6. Practice, Practice, Practice
As the old saying goes, “practice makes perfect.” Practice in front of the mirror, in front of friends, in front of family, in front of your dog. It doesn’t matter, just make sure you practice. Perfect your body language, eye contact, tone of voice, handshake, everything!
7. Prepare answers
Although you can’t predict every single question that you will be asked in a job interview there are certain questions that always seem to come up. Make sure you prepare answers to some of the most common job interview questions. This is the best resource I have found.
8. Show up early
It is always a good idea to arrive to your job interview early. There is no need to show up too early though such as 20-30 minutes beforehand. Instead, aim to arrive 5-10 minutes early. This way you won’t have to sit and wait nervously in the reception area.
It is wise to visit the place a couple of days before your interview so you don’t get lost on the day.
9. Positivity
If you had to choose between two people to hire; both with exactly the same resume but one was positive and the other was negative, who would you choose? It’s a no brainer; you would choose the positive person.
A positive person is a great asset to any team and company so make sure you demonstrate positivity. It is a good idea to never say anything negative about former employers and colleagues, however tempting it might be.
10. Get your personality across
Your resume might have gotten you the job interview but that is as far as it will take you. The rest is down to your personality.
Be yourself as interviewers can spot fakeness. If you are not displaying your real personality then it will soon become apparent. The person interviewing you may have conducted hundreds of interviews over the years so they can easily spot a person who is not being true to themselves.
Let your true personality shine through and never try to be what you think they want. If you have to fake it then you are probably not a good match for the job. Look at this as a positive. It means that you won’t have to work at a place where you won’t be happy.
11. Enthusiasm not desperation
You must show enthusiasm not desperation even if you are really desperate for the job. Make it sound as if you have a genuine interest in the role and that you are clearly the best candidate.
Good enthusiasm: “I feel as if I am the perfect candidate for this role as I am determined to excel not only in the industry but also at ABC. As a self motivated, hard working and extremely ambitious person, I am confident that I can lead a long and successful career at ABC. ”
Bad enthusiasm: “Thanks for giving me the chance to interview for such a great company. I would really like to work for a big respected firm like this.”
12. Dress to impress
Your appearance will be the first thing the interviewer will see. Make sure you look the part. Polish your shoes, iron your shirt, shave and make sure your clothes fit correctly. Not only will you look the part but you will feel confident if you look your best.
13. Don’t sit until told to
This one is easy to forget but you must wait until you are told to be seated otherwise you will come across as a rude person. Waiting until you have been told to be seated shows that you are comfortable in taking direction – a vital trait for any job.
14. Follow up
A day or two after the interview, make sure you send a handwritten thank you note. If this is not possible then at least send an email. An interviewer is much more likely to remember and prefer a well mannered candidate who expressed their gratitude.
15. Close strongly
Your first and last impressions are likely to stick in the mind of an interviewer the most. Make sure you leave the interview with how you would like the interviewer to remember you by.






