3 Tips To Succeed At Interviews
Ugh. Interviews. These most nerve-racking moments that determine the outcome of your future for years to come. While a quick search on the internet yields results that tell candidates to arrive 10-15 minutes early, be well-dressed and well-groomed, to research the company etc., there is also a really important and often understated tip. That is: be likable.
This guide is here to help you do just that. We’ll walk through practical, human-centered ways to prepare, so you don’t just survive the interview. You shine!
Here’s how to prepare for an interview (without overthinking it)
Even if you haven’t job hunted in years, you’ve got this. The first step? Shift your mindset. This isn’t just about them picking you; it’s about you deciding if they’re the right fit, too. Approaching interviews as conversations instead of interrogations can ease those nerves.
Before we get into the specifics, here’s what most hiring managers are assessing during interviews:
- Can you do the job? (Skills and experience)
- Will you do the job? (Motivation and enthusiasm)
- Will you fit in with the team and culture? (Personality and values alignment)
Employers will be assessing your potential to do the job typically based on your responses to behavior-based questions. Learn From My Interview Mistakes: Here’s Why The STAR Method is Crucial to show your ability to obtain results.
Displaying enthusiasm and motivation during a job interview is crucial because it demonstrates to employers that you are genuinely interested in the role and will bring energy, commitment, and a positive attitude to the workplace.
The third piece is often underestimated but crucial. People hire people they like. The team wants to feel as if your presence makes being at (and doing the) work more enjoyable.
So how do you become that likable, memorable candidate?
It’s simple! Build rapport.
Simple ways to prepare for an interview
Your body language, tone, and overall presence play a huge role.
Here’s how to impress an interviewer (beyond your answers)
1. Smile naturally
A well-known saying about communication is that 93% of it is nonverbal, and this is very applicable to the interview. Smiling when you meet the interviewer, during the interview, as well as shaking hands at the end of the interview are big steps in the right direction. Not only does a smile exude a certain level of confidence, but it opens up the comfort level to both sides of the table immediately. In fact, you should start smiling with the receptionist and everyone you pass by in the building. This will get you into the right state of mind for when you meet with the actual evaluator.
2. Find common ground
Speaking confidently and showing passion for the specific industry not only displays a strong level of competency and drive, it also plays a role in how much hiring managers like the candidate as a person. It’s helpful to remember that they are drawn to the same industry, and oftentimes there are similarities for why they chose that particular field for a career.
Hopefully, you have also conducted some LinkedIn research or Googled their name to see if you can subtly bring up some commonalities or common interests. For example, you can state:
“I noticed from your LinkedIn profile you used to work at a horse rescue. How did you like that? I volunteered at a ranch once while traveling in Peru and it was an amazing experience to be so close to the animals.”
3. Use the interviewer’s name (sparingly)
There is no sweeter word to a man or woman other than his or her name. When possible, see if you can personalize the interview by using the interviewer’s name.
“Thank you so much, Bill, for your time today.” Or, when asking questions, “Can you tell me what attracted you to this company, Bill?”
Just don’t overdo it. I would say once in the beginning when greeting them is great. Another one or two times during the middle of the interview. And finally in closing once as you thank them for their time!
Prepare for an Interview: How to Tell If the Hiring Manager Was Impressed
While one may never truly know until the decision has been made, always remember to put yourself in the other person’s shoes. If you remain professional, kind, and treat others how you would like to be treated then you have a great shot of being liked by the hiring manager and the team.
For an extra dose of that likability factor, be sure to follow these steps on how to follow up after an interview.
Be yourself and put your best foot forward. Remember, the goal isn’t to get dozens of offer letters, you just need one that is aligned for you. I truly believe alignment is about a mutually beneficial relationship and that starts with bringing forth your best self in an interview.
FAQ’s
What are 5 things you should do to prepare for an interview?
Interview prep starts with understanding the interviewer’s goal. The goal of an interviewer is to find the best candidate for the open position.
As an interviewer, recruiter, or hiring manager, we want to know:
Is this candidate passionate or excited about the position and company? Does this candidate understand the position and will they be able to hit the ground running or be able to learn quickly? Is this candidate reliable? Will this candidate fit in with the organization and work well with the team? What is this candidate’s career goal? Will this candidate stay long or will I have to hire and train again?
Learn how to best answer these questions in my top 5 interview prep tips.
How will I introduce myself in an interview?
“So… tell me about yourself.” Do you stutter or freeze when answering this question? It’s a loaded one! A lot of jobseeking clients tell me this is the most nerve-racking question and they are not sure if they are oversharing or under sharing.
This is really your opportunity to showcase what you’ve done, what you’re doing and what you’re looking for. So in other words, you’re going to go over your past, your present, and your future, which is my simple 3-step formula for how to answer “Tell me about yourself” interview question.
How do you prepare for a Zoom interview?
Video interviews, and sometimes pre recorded video interviews, have begun to replace phone interviews because you can tell so much more about a person when you can see them. It provides far more insight into a person compared to just hearing their voice over the phone. There’s so much that goes into body language, being able to read somebody’s face and just seeing how they present themselves. It’s as good as it gets compared to being in person. You will most likely experience at least one video during your job search, so I want to help you prepare with my 8 best tips to ace a video interview so you crush it in your next interview.
What’s next?
Feeling overwhelmed with your job search or wondering how to prepare for an interview that truly reflects your strengths? I’ve got just the thing to help! Take this quick, insightful quiz to discover your job search personality and get tailored strategies to land the right opportunity with confidence. Take my FREE 60-second Career Clarity Quiz Here for a personalized job search strategy roadmap.
