8 Tips to Ace an Interview

When looking for a new job – a lot of time is spent working on the resume, getting it just right, tailoring it to the position you are applying to, making sure to cover all your bases and highlight all your achievements, BUT is it the most important thing? A resume will get you in the door – the interview will get you the job. Don’t neglect to prepare dutifully for the interview. Preparation is where most people fall short. An interview can be a very stressful time. Here are my top tips for acing an interview.

1. Research. You must spend time researching the role, company, and interviewers. Search their website, google the company, read articles and talk to people. LinkedIn will share a lot of information, not only about the company but also about the people that work for the company. Study it like it’s a test. All this research will help you develop great questions (see #2).
2. Prepare questions. You are interviewing the company as much as they are interviewing you. If you have found something in your research that you are curious about – take time to jot down the question and ask it during the interview. This is your opportunity to see if you want to work for them. A lot of people get so wrapped up answering all of the company’s questions, that they fail to get answers to their own questions. Craft questions ahead of time and take them with you to the interview.
3. Practice. This really seems silly, you’ve gone over the answers to standard questions in your mind, you know how you will answer them. WRONG! Things sound different in your mind than when you say them out loud. Get a partner and have them ask you standard interview questions. If you don’t want to work with someone, then sit in front of a mirror and practice your questions OUT LOUD. You’d be surprised how your answers sound.
4. Dress appropriately. Some companies will tell you prior to the interview they are a causal workplace so no need to ‘dress up’. I disagree with this mindset. I tell candidates to dress up for an interview (this includes in-person and virtually). You never have another opportunity to make a first impression. You can dress casually when you have the position.
5. Everyone is interviewing you. From the minute you drive into the parking lot (did you park in the right space?!) to the second you drive away, you are being watched and evaluated on how you interact with people. I’ve had hiring managers ask the receptionist about their interaction with candidates. It matters.
6. Be upbeat and personable. People want to work with people that are engaging and interactive and personable. Let your personality shine.
7. Let them know you want the job. If you want the position, let them know, before you leave the interview. As you are wrapping up, let them know that you are interested in the role and/or company.
8. Say “Thank you”. I’m from the old, new school – and what I mean: send a thank you note to the interviewers, it can be an email. Sometimes, this small gesture is what sets you apart from the other candidates.

Practice does make perfect. The more interviews you go on, the more familiar you will become with how the process works. Practice ahead of time so that you can move from interview to offer in just a few applications. Yet, when you have interviews that don’t turn out as planned, look at them as good practice. Working with a career coach to sharpen your interview skills will pay for itself. Don’t be afraid to seek help with such a critical life step.