Prep and Practice Interview Skills

#1 Research the company and the industry they work in

The interviewer might ask you some general questions about how familiar you are with their company or the industry. Those who know these answers have a higher chance of securing an interview. Make sure to research and prepare yourself for these kinds of questions.

#2 Have some selling points

You need to have 3 to 5 key selling points and the reason why you want this job since that question is almost certain to be in the interview. Make sure to prepare for the “What makes you the best candidate for the position” question and be clear and honest about your selling points.

#3 Prepare for common interview questions

Take some time to search the internet for some common interview questions or watch a quick video on the topic. Prepare for those questions by picking a list and thinking about which questions you are most likely to encounter. After that, practice your answers so when the time comes to do the interview you don't stumble around.

#4 Create your own questions to ask the person interviewing you

Come to the interview with some good, intelligent questions. By doing so, you are showing your knowledge of the company as well as your interest in the position. Interviewers always ask if you have any questions, and we cannot stress enough how important it is for you to always have a question or two. Ask your questions and take your shots. The more you ask the more you seem interested in the position and the more information you know. Information gives you leverage so you can decide if this is the company for you. Examples could be; “What do you think is the best thing about working here?" or "If you could design the ideal candidate for this position from the ground up, what would they look like?

#5 Maintain your boundary

Interviews can be nerve racking and tough. Sometimes interviewers will push the boundary and ask you “illegal” questions about your religion, background, marital status, or do you plan on having kids in the near future. Those kinds of questions are illegal, but you should prepare for one or two of those questions nevertheless. Your answer should always be that you are not sure how it is relevant to your job application.

#6 Bring a copy of your resume

Always bring a copy of your resume whenever you are going for an interview. Sometimes the interviewer might not be prepared or they simply lost your copy. If you are participating in an online interview, ask the interviewer what's their email so you can email them your CV Resume. This will show them you are interested and prepared.

#7 Make the most of the "Tell me about yourself" question

This is most likely the first question you will hear in an interview and is a great opportunity to highlight three good selling points about yourself. Give examples of those selling points such as your previous experience and what you did well at that job, etc. This question is a great opportunity to helps focus the first 10 to 15 minutes of the interview on you and your selling points.

#8 Have good body language

Make sure to make eye contact, give a firm handshake, have a good posture, dress appropriately, and speak clearly. You want to come off as a confident candidate, so make sure to sit appropriately and correctly. Try your best to remain calm and practice deep breathing so you are not feeling overwhelmed by the new surroundings.

#9 Practice!

Consider rehearsing the whole interview before you even get to the interview itself. Ask a friend or a family member to act as an interviewer and record yourself so you can review what went well and what things need some work. Make sure you practice speaking out loud and clear. Practice in front of the mirror to check your posture and body language as you speak. Practice makes perfect and you should definitely rehearse before every interview. Finally, after each interview write down what could have gone better so you can better prepare for future interviews.

#10 Be positive

This is your best opportunity to impress the candidate and bringing up past issues or negativity could flag the interviewer. If you had a bad experience before, try your best to avoid bringing it up or rephrase it into a positive statement. For example, if the interviewer asks "Which classes or courses did you dislike the most in your education program?". Reply back with "although I found that class to be very difficult, I liked the fact that [positive point about the class]"

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