10 Interview tips that will help you get hired

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Imagine the scenario: you've finally decided on a career to pursue and you've found a suitable job. After deliberating a short while, you've finally applied to it and sent your CV and cover letter. And you got accepted! But not yet. There is still one more task waiting for you to overcome it, and that is the job interview.

If you're having trouble in your job search though, take a look at these helpful guides:

• How do I make the right career choice?
• Top 10 tips for finding jobs in 2021
• How to start your career in special education?

But what does a job interview entail and how can you best prepare? Below are some proven tips and advice on what to do and what not to do at a job interview.

Before the interview

Your performance at an interview is paramount. To maximise your chances of success, you will have to do some preliminary preparations before even arriving on site.

1. Research the company

One of the key points to focus on is researching the company. Interviewers like to see that your genuine interest in the position. Google them, check out their reviews, current projects and anything else you can think of. Then, think about how you can integrate the things you've learned in your conversation with the hiring manager.

2. Prepare for potential questions

Grab a pen and notebook to take notes while you're getting interviewed. Think about some common interview questions, such as:

• Can you tell me a bit about yourself?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• Can you give an example of a time when you had to cope with a difficult situation?

Many more examples and tips on answering the questions can be found here.

Bring copies of your resume if any interviewers might need them so you can refer to them as well. It is a good call to bring at least five copies just in case.

3. Prepare stories and relevant experiences to tell

When applying for part-time jobs, employers prioritise experience over academia. However, even when applying for full-time roles, it would be wise to prepare some short examples of when you've tackled tasks related to the role you're applying for. Make sure these are short and to the point though, talking too much might intrude on your interviewer's questions and allotted time, and make you come off as unprofessional!

4. Prepare your own questions

This might sound strange, but returning to the point of appearing motivated, you should definitely prepare some questions of your own to ask during the interview. I've heard from people who have impressed their interviewers by asking job-related questions such as: Where do you want me to be in a year's time? In this way, they had demonstrated their will to work towards the goals set by the company and their interest to start preparing right away. It also helped ease the gap between them and the interviewer.

5. Dress for the role

You absolutely must appear professional during your interview. As you've already researched the company, you should be somewhat familiarised with their company culture as well. If you're confused on what that means, refer to the Senploy blog How to Make the Right Career Choice in 2021. In short, you should be aware of the appropriate way to dress for your interview. Colour is important in making a good impression as soon as the interview starts. Generally, employers want to see someone who can dress professionally.

During the interview

Now that you've gotten a hold of your bearings and done all you could to be as ready as you can for your big interview, it's time to just do it. Below are some tips on how to best handle yourself during a job interview.

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6. Make a memorable first impact

We've already mentioned dressing the part, but there are also other ways to make a solid first impression. You should always arrive on time, and by ‘on time', I mean at least 5 minutes early. If you plan ahead, you will not have to rush which will, in turn, prevent you from accidentally sweating and getting disheveled before even arriving on site.

Be polite to everyone at the site as well. Acting high and mighty may appear confident, but how confident is too confident? If you ace the interview, the people you meet on that day will be your eventual coworkers and you need to demonstrate proper teamwork skills.

7. Listen and show interest

Active listening is just as important as asking questions and participating in the conversation with your interviewer. In fact, active listening as a communication skill is your best tool at achieving the latter. It involves listening with all your senses to be able to best respond to the other's words (https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/active-listening.html). Learn to pay attention to the others' non-verbal language and verbal language. You will immediately be showing them you care about the role and the job's prospect.

8. Watch your own body language

It is easy to lose track of one's body language during a conversation. When was the last time you were acutely aware of your own eyes veering nervously to the side out of nervousness? There are many available tools and services online to help you with practicing just that before the interview. Some general tips are to keep your posture confident and open, don't cross your hands or legs and keep the eye contact going.

9. Be yourself, but also be the company

While it is important to, quote-on-quote, sell yourself at an interview, it is equally important that you stay true to yourself and your own interests. It is a good way to show your confidence in yourself and your abilities if you can show real parts of your personality that will be beneficial at the job. I've heard of people pointing out errors at the company's website when they've realised the interviewer would likely react openly to such suggestions. This act displayed that they've performed research, were attentive to detail and could likely benefit the company in further ways than initially anticipated. And, most importantly, it was a part of who they were as well.

10. Follow-up after the interview

Ok, this one isn't technically something you do during the interview, but it is still a very important step. You should send your interviewer thanks and any questions regarding additional information after the interview. Only a small handful of applicants send personalised follow-up emails or letters to their potential employers, so it is a simple way to further set yourself apart from the rest.

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