When you interview for a job, it's your chance to stand out in the middle of a crowded applicant pool. Maybe you didn't go to Harvard, or don't have years of experience, but with strong interviewing skills, you can level the playing field. A successful interview is largely a matter of preparation: knowing which questions the interviewer is likely to ask, and how you'll respond. And, the more prepared you are, the more confident and relaxed you'll be, allowing your best self to come through.
Successful job interviewing requires:
- Planning responses to the employer's questions
- Preparing your own questions for the job interview
- Knowing what an employer can and cannot ask
- Being polite and using basic manners
- Communicating through body language
- Dressing appropriately
Know which interview questions the employer might ask
You can't anticipate every question the interviewer will ask, but you can research the most common interview job questions and determine what kind of responses most employers are looking for.
Know which interview questions to ask
Many employers place as much importance on what kinds of questions you ask as on how you answer their questions. The standard, "So, do you have any questions?" section at the end of the interview isn't solely for your benefit; it's also a way for the employer to evaluate how prepared you are, how inquisitive you are, and what you're looking for in a job.
Career Services site, find sample questions and tips on asking interview questions. Read the questions most commonly asked by job applicants at GradView.
Research the law about job interview questions
Some interview questions are illegal, and you have the right to tell an employer that information is off-limits. If an employer asks an illegal question, that could be an indicator that's not the kind of place you'd want to work. Even if you are asking this person for a job, you still have a right to your privacy.
Master the art of answering interview questions over the phone
Phone interviews are gaining popularity, and require a different set of skills than in-person interviews. You can't see the interviewer's body language or facial expressions, making it difficult to gauge their reaction, and you can't use body language to make a good impression--all you have is your voice.
Find interviewing tips just for recent grads
Someone just out of college will need to prepare much differently than a C-level executive with years of experience. You may not have much on-the-job experience to demonstrate why you're a good fit for the position, so you need to know how to translate your academic performance, internships and even volunteer experience into skills that apply to the position you're seeking.
- Job interview skills extend far beyond knowing how to answer an employer's questions; they also include knowing how to negotiate salary and benefits, dressing appropriately and understanding how and when to follow-up.
- Send a thank-you card to the interviewers after you meet with them. This keeps you at the front of their minds while they're making their final decision, and suggests to them that you'll show equal consideration to co-workers, customers and clients if you're hired.
