How to Determine Your Career Path (Pt. 7 How to Prepare for an lnterview)

So you got an interview? Congratulations on that wonderful feat! The insane job market has made it pretty dang hard to even get interviews these days. I know of some of my friends who have sent out over twenty applications without a single interview opportunity. It’s tough right now. But at least it’s been trending upwards these days and not downward.

Obviously, as you know, the interview is no guarantee that you are going to get the job. It’s only the first step, the first sign of “life” that the possibility exists. Different companies have different interviewing procedures, and you may even have to interview multiple times with multiple people. Thoroughness is a quality that companies possess to weed out the unqualified from the qualified.

Therefore, it is absolutely imperative that you prepare yourself for these interviews, to make the best possible first impression that you could possibly make. Here are some ways you can greatly improve your interview skills before you have to actually take your interview.

1. Look up questions beforehand, and think about what you will say. The reality is, most interviewers ask very similar questions. If you study a list of questions like the one provided here, then you should be pretty prepared for whatever questions they may ask you. I know it sounds ridiculous to “prepare” for questions, but some of the questions can be tough to answer well “on the spot”. For instance, the question about “what are some of your weaknesses” can be pretty tough to answer well unless you know how you’re going to answer it beforehand.

2. Practice selling yourself. Look. We all have our insecurities. Furthermore, I realize full well that it feels awkward at times “selling ourselves” because we live in a culture that values humility. Humility is definitely important, but false humility is not. There are things that you KNOW you can do well, and feeling embarrassed to say so is false humility. True humility is knowing who you are and what you can do well, but treating others as equals. Never believing you are a better person just because you are talented.

With that being said. YOU HAVE TO SELL YOURSELF CONFIDENTLY, and cannot be embarrassed to do so! Don’t be arrogant, of course. Arrogance is much different from confidence. Arrogance is an attitude of superiority. Confidence is an attitude of trust. You trust in yourself, and you know that you will be able to get the job done well.

Different jobs require different roles and responsibilities. For instance, if you are applying to an administrative position, you HAVE to make sure that people understand you have experience and a natural talent for administrative duties. Wow the interviewers, show them why you deserve this job!

3. Prepare/buy proper dress attire. You’re going to need to be wearing the right stuff. That’s the bottom line. Your clothes makes a huge impression on your employers. Generally speaking, suit and tie for guys and a two piece matching suit set for girls is a necessity. Unless you’re applying to some trendy skateboard company, and even then, I would consider at least a shirt and tie. The reality is, it’s easier to take people seriously when they come in dressed professionally.

4. Practice interviewing with a friend. This may be one of those ridiculous things, once again. But practicing the interview beforehand will help you a lot with things like: making good eye contact, using appropriate hand gestures, pronouncing words correctly, speaking up so your interviewers can hear you, and preparing your answers for interview questions vocally. It will also give you a place for some critical feedback that your friend who is interviewing you can provide. You should try to find someone who has already gone through the interview process, and can help make you a better interviewer.

5. Believe in yourself. That’s one of the best interview preparation tools anyone can offer you. If you believe in yourself, and know that YOU DO have something valuable to offer to the company, you will have a much easier time carrying yourself with confidence. That confidence will shine through and leave a good lasting first impression on the people who are thinking to employ you.