Preparing for an interview

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Job interviews are typically your first chance to present your whole self to a company, so you want to put your best foot forward. It's time to impress your future employer with your experience and personality!

In addition to having great responses to the interviewer's questions and dressing to the nines, you need to think about...

1. Your "Likability" Factor

People want to hire people they like and think they could work with, for obvious reasons. So, your likability level is a huge factor in the job interview/hiring process.

Employers want to know you'll fit in with their "tribe" of employees. They don't want to throw off their company culture by hiring someone who's not a good fit.

Take steps to build rapport with your interviewer and meet people within the company. You'll stand out in the hiring process even before you go in for an interview if you've already connected with a few employees on LinkedIn.

2. Your Ability To Communicate Thoughts Effectively

Woman communicates her answers effectively in a job interview

When answering interview questions, it's important to communicate your thoughts clearly and confidently. Otherwise, you risk sounding unprepared or unconfident.

During job interviews, be concise and convey confidence when you speak. This is especially important when answering behavioral interview questions.

Remember, though, you want to come across as self-assured and humble, not overconfident and cocky. The best way to do this is by following the "Experience + Learn = Grow" model. Learning how to answer interview questions with this framework will help you effectively communicate why you're a great fit for the position, both in terms of experience and personality.

3. Your Body Language

Man has negative body language during a job interview

Communication isn't limited to speech. You need to be aware of your body language too. If you're fidgeting, swiveling in your chair, slouching, or not making eye contact with your interviewer, it can make you seem unconfident and even untrustworthy.

Doing a mock interview with a trusted colleague is a good way to practice your answers to interview questions and perfect your body language. Are you sitting up straight? Are you making enough eye contact?

Your mock interviewer can give you feedback on what to work on so your body language doesn't send the wrong message on the big day.

So, be aware! Don't waste this precious opportunity to impress a potential employer. Make sure you go into job interviews knowing what you're doing!

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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3 Things You DON’T Think About During …

Understanding how to prepare for a job interview is critical to your success in the job search process. One of the most important parts of preparing is the 24 hours prior to the actual interview. How you spend the last 24 hours could greatly impact your performance in the interview.

A job interview isn't like taking a test in school because you can't just cram at the last minute and "luck into" success. You should have been preparing for the interview over the course of multiple days or weeks. The 24 hours prior to the interview should be for making the final preparations and relaxing.

With that in mind, here are some tips for how to utilize the day before your job interview:

Take The Day Before The Interview For Yourself (If You Can)

Young professional takes some time to relax the day before her interview

If you have personal time that you can take at your current job and can take it without causing too much disruption, then you should consider taking the day before your job interview off. The benefit of doing this is that it's one way to eliminate potential stress going into the interview. It also frees up time so you can make your final interview preparations and relax, which are two of the most important factors heading into the job interview.

Depending on how an individual's schedule works, some people may work the day before their interview in order to take the day of the interview off. In fact, taking time off may not be an option at all. Having the day off before the interview isn't essential; you just need to make sure you create enough time for your final preparations so you can get into the right state of mind.

But, if you're one of the lucky ones who has the personal time, consider taking it. It will make the lead-up to your interview a lot easier.

Review Everything

Young professional does a mock interview with her friend

All of the heavy research about the opportunity should already be done. The last 24 hours should be for a light review of information. You should also go over common interview questions and behavioral interview questions.

Hopefully, your interview preparation included a mock interview or two. If you have time to fit one in the day before, you should give it a shot. Make one final checklist of the things you should know going into the interview. If you check all the boxes and feel good, call it a day and relax!

Do Something For Yourself

Job seeker listens to music and takes some time to relax in the hours leading up to her job interview

If you're lucky enough to have the day off before your job interview and you've finished your preparations early, you probably have some time to yourself. So, do something you enjoyâjust don't go wild.

Working out at the gym, reading a book, watching a movie, and cooking are some great things that you could do in the hours leading up to an interview because they aren't overly stressful and many people find them relaxing.

Whatever activity you decide to do, make sure it's something you enjoy but isn't anything over strenuous. You want to be in a good place mentally and physically going into the interview.

Get A Good Night's Sleep

Before you call it a day, there are just a few more things that you should check on before going to bed.

Make sure you have an outfit picked out and ironed for the next day and that your alarm clock is set to the correct time. Give yourself some extra time in the morning to get ready, eat breakfast, and arrive at the interview early.

Once you're confident in your morning routine, go to bed! The night before a job interview is not a good time to stay up late. You'll want all eight hours of sleep so you can be rested and focused in the morning. You want to be fully engaged during your interview, not yawning.

Because there are so many factors that go into interviewing, following these steps doesn't guarantee success. However, following them will at least have you in a good state of mind going into the interview, which will allow you to give your best effort. Whether the interview is a success or you fall short, you'll learn something valuable and, ultimately, be a better professional for it.

Need more help with your job search?

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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How To Prepare In The 24 Hours …

Preparing For An Interview: Step-By-Step Guide

So, you received a call back for an in-person interview. Now what? The week leading up to the in-person interview probably deserves more effort and preparation than any other portion of the job search process. Here's a step-by-step guide on preparing for an interview.

The Day You Are Offered The Interview

These are some things you should do immediately after getting an interview:

Respond promptly - Waiting to respond may send a message that you're not interested (bad!) or have poor follow-up (also bad!). Respond promptly, thank the employer for the opportunity, and express your excitement without being over the top.

Ask about logistics - Aside from nailing down the location, it's generally acceptable to ask about the company's dress code and the names of those you'll be interviewing with. Avoid asking questions that you (or Google) can answer yourself (e.g. directions).

Clear your schedule - If you're currently employed or have other commitments, make sure the appropriate people know you will not be available on the day of your interview.

The Week Before The Interview

Man at computer prepares for a job interview

Your interview is a week away! Get prepared by doing the following:

Research the company - Even if you did this before applying for the job (which you should have!), it's time to revisit the company website, its blog and social media accounts, and recent news articles.

Research the hiring managers - If you know who the interviewers are, do a little research. Look for them on the company's team page and on online networks like LinkedIn. Try to get a feel for who the interviewers are and for the type of person the company employs.

Decide what to wear to the interview - Don't wait until the night before. Try on your interview outfit, ask others for their opinion, and make sure you don't need a trip to the dry cleaner or cobbler.

The Day Before The Interview

Woman looks at laptop while preparing for a job interview

In order to be completely prepared for your interview, make sure to do these things the day before:

Review the job posting - It will be far easier to tailor your interview answers if the job description is fresh in your mind.

Practice answering common interview questions - There are certain questions you can expect to be asked during a job interview. Look up the generic ones as well as ones specific to your industry, then rehearse them with a friend, family member, or patient pet.

Prepare questions for the employer - At the end of an interview, you will be given the opportunity to ask questions. It's an important part of the interview and the questions you ask could make or break your chances of landing the job offer, so put some serious thought into them.

Map the directions - One of the last things you want to do is be late for your interview. Find how long it should take you to get there, then give yourself plenty of extra time in case you get lost, stuck in traffic, or detoured.

Gather your day-of materials - Even if the hiring manager doesn't ask, it's common practice to bring enough copies of your resume for yourself and for each of the interviewers. You should also bring a pen and paper to take notes, as well as anything else specifically requested by the employer. Other things to consider include mints, grooming materials, money for parking, and a backup interview outfit (just in case you spill your Starbucks all over your lap).

Do the obvious things - Go to bed at a reasonable hour and set at least one alarm.

Think positively - Visualizing a positive outcome has a surprising impact on real-life performance. Think about past successes and envision, in detail, a stellar interview in your mind.

What steps do you take when preparing for an interview?

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

Acquiring Job Advance Your Career Career Changing Careers and Employment Education Internship