*The Job Application and The Interview
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10 Best Job Interview Tips for Job
When you have successfully mastered cover letters, resumes, and job applications and are receiving requests for interviews, it’s time to understand how to succeed in the job interview so that you are ever closer to your goal of obtaining one or more job offers.
This article focuses on the 10 most important — the 10 best — job-interviewing tips for job-seekers.
Best Job Interviewing Tips for Job-Seekers
1. Conduct Research on the Employer, Hiring Manager, Job Opportunity. Success in a job interview starts with a solid foundation of knowledge on the job-seeker’s part. You should understand the employer, the requirements of the job, and the background of the person (or people) interviewing you. The more research you conduct, the more you’ll understand the employer, and the better you’ll be able to answer interview questions (as well as ask insightful questions — see #8).
Information sources include the organization’s Website and other published materials, search engines, research tools, and your network of contacts. Learn more about job-search job-interview researching here.
2. Review Common Interview Questions and Prepare Responses. Another key to interview success is preparing responses to expected interview questions. First, inquire as to the type of interview to expect (which you can do by asking your contact person at the organization). Your goal is composing detailed yet concise responses, focusing on specific examples and accomplishments. A good tool for remembering your responses is to put them into story form that you can tell in the interview. No need to memorize responses (in fact, it’s best not to), but at least develop talking points.
QuintCareers has a number of excellent tools to help you with interview questions and responses. Consider using one or more of these tools:
Job Interview Questions Database
Sample Behavioral Interview Questions
Sample Traditional Interview Questions
STAR Interviewing Technique
Composing Written Responses to Interview Questions
3. Dress for Success. Plan out a wardrobe that fits the organization and its culture, striving for the most professional appearance you can accomplish. Remember that it’s always better to be overdressed than under — and to wear clothing that fits and is clean and pressed. Keep accessories and jewelry to a minimum. Try not to smoke or eat right before the interview — and if possible, brush your teeth or use mouthwash.
Find more detailed advice — including specifics for men and women job-seekers — in our article, When Job-Hunting, Dress for Success.
4. Arrive on Time for the Interview — and Prepared for Success. There is no excuse for ever arriving late for an interview — other than some sort of disaster. Strive to arrive about 15 minutes before your scheduled interview to complete additional paperwork and allow yourself time to get settled. Arriving a bit early is also a chance to observe the dynamics of the workplace.
The day before the interview, pack up extra copies of your resume or CV and reference list. If you have a portfolio or samples of your work, bring those along too. Finally, remember to pack several pens and a pad of paper to jot notes.
Finally, as you get to the offices, shut off your cell phone. (And if you were chewing gum, get rid of it.)
For additional tips and advice, read our article, 24-Hour Countdown to the Job Interview.
5. Make Good First Impressions — to Everyone You Encounter. A cardinal rule of interviewing: Be polite and offer warm greetings to everyone you meet — from parking attendant or receptionist to the hiring manager. Employers often are curious how job applicants treat staff members — and your job offer could easily be derailed if you’re rude or arrogant to any of the staff.
When it’s time for the interview, keep in mind that first impressions — the ones interviewers make in the first few seconds of greeting you — can make or break an interview. Make a strong first impression by dressing well (see #3), arriving early (see #4), and when greeting your interviewer, stand, smile, make eye contact, and offer a firm (neither limp and nor bone-crushing) handshake.
Remember that having a positive attitude and expressing enthusiasm for the job and employer are vital in the initial stages of the interview; studies show that hiring managers make critical decisions about job applicants in the first 20 minutes of the interview.
6. Be Authentic, Upbeat, Focused, Confident, Candid, and Concise. Once the interview starts, the key to success is the quality and delivery of your responses. Your goal should always be authenticity, responding truthfully to interview questions. At the same time, your goal is to get to the next step, so you’ll want to provide focused responses that showcase your skills, experience, and fit — with the job and the employer. Provide solid examples of solutions and accomplishments — but keep your responses short and to the point.
By preparing responses to common interview questions (see #2), you’ll ideally avoid long, rambling responses that bore interviewers. Always attempt to keep your interview responses short and to the point.
Finally, no matter how much an interviewer might bait you, never badmouth a previous employer, boss, or co-worker. The interview is about you — and making your case that you are the ideal candidate for the job. Read about more interview mistakes in our article, Avoid These 10 Interview Bloopers — Critical Job-Seeker Mistakes.
7. Remember Body Language, Avoiding Bad Habits. While the content of your interview responses is paramount, poor body language can be a distraction at best — or a reason not to hire you at worst.
Effective forms of body language: smiling, eye contact, solid posture, active listening, nodding.
Detrimental forms of body language: slouching, looking off in the distance, playing with pen, fidgeting in chair, brushing back hair, touching face, chewing gum, mumbling.
Read more in our article, The Unspoken Secrets of Job Interviewing: How Your Nonverbal Presentation and Behaviors Impact the Impression You Make.
8. Ask Insightful Questions. Studies continually show that employers make a judgment about an applicant’s interest in the job by whether or not the interviewee asks questions. Thus, even if the hiring manager was thorough in his or her discussions about the job opening and what is expected, you must ask a few questions.
The smart job-seeker prepares questions to ask days before the interview, adding any additional queries that might arise from the interview.
For an idea of questions you could ask at the interview, see our Questions You Can Ask at the Job Interview, as well as our article, Make a Lasting Impression at Job Interviews Using Questions.
9. Sell Yourself Throughout and then Close the Deal. An adage in interviewing says the most qualified applicant is not always the one who is hired — which means the hired candidate is often the job-seeker who does the best job in responding to interview questions and showcasing his or her fit with the job, department, and organization.
Some liken the job interview to a sales call. You are the salesperson — and the product you are selling to the employer is your ability to fill the organization’s needs, solve its problems, propel its success.
Finally, as the interview winds down, ask about the next steps in the process and the timetable the employer expects to use to make a decision about the position. If you are applying for a sales job — or a position requiring equivalent aggressiveness — consider asking for the job at the end of the interview.
See our article, Closing the Sale and Overcoming Objections in Job Interview.
10. Thank Interviewer(s) in Person, by Email, and Postal Mail. As you have already seen from previous tips, common courtesy and politeness go far in interviewing; thus, the importance of thanking each person who interviews you should come as no surprise. Start the process while at the interview, thanking each person who interviewed you. Writing thank-you emails and notes shortly after the interview will not get you the job offer, but doing so will certainly give you an edge over any of the other finalists who did not bother to send thank-you’s.
For more tips on writing thank-you notes, read this article: 10 Tips for Writing a Job-Search Interview Thank-You Letter. You can also check out these job interview thank-you letter samples.
Final Thoughts on Job Interview Success
Succeeding in job interviews takes research, practice, and persistence. The more effort you put into your interview preparation, the more success you’ll see in obtaining job offers — especially if you remember and follow these 10 job interviewing tips.
Finally, if you are still searching for even more information, resources, tools, and samples related to interviewing, here are a few more key Quintessential Careers tools:
The Quintessential Guide to Interview Preparation (free e-book)
Frequently Asked Questions About Interviews: Comprehensive Job Interviewing FAQ
Quintessential Careers Job Interviewing Quiz for Job-Seekers
Job Interview Tutorial
Interviewing Prep: Job Interview Checklist
Job Interviewing Do’s and Don’ts
Questions about some of the terminology used in this article? Get more information (definitions and links) on key college, career, and job-search terms by going to our Job-Seeker’s Glossary of Job-Hunting Terms.
*****DAILY ASSIGNMENT******
1) Read the information in the post above on the 10 Interviewing Tips.
2) Answer the interview questions below in the comment section of this post. (26 questions to answer)
Typical Interview Questions and Answers
- (1)Why do you want to work for this company? Why are you interested in this job?
The interviewer is trying to determine what you know and like about the company, whether you will be willing to make a commitment to the job, and if your skills match the job requirements. Your research will be a big help in formulating your answer to this question. Say as many positive things about the company as possible, show your interest in whatever products/services they sell and explain why the position fits with your career goals.
- (2)Have you done this kind of work before?
The interviewer wants to know if you can learn to do the job in a reasonable time and how much training you will need. Never say “no” to this question. Instead, stress the experience you do have that will assist you in learning the new job quickly and efficiently. No two jobs are alike and you never do exactly the same work. In all jobs, new skills, rules and details have to be learned. Be sure to mention the following:
- Your past work experience.
- Your education and training related to the job.
- Volunteer work that might relate to the job.
- Any transferable skills – e.g. organizational skills, people skills.
- Your ability to learn quickly and how quickly you learned that type of work in the past.
- (3)What kind of training or qualifications do you have?
The interviewer is trying to find out what school credentials you have. If you have no formal school qualifications but have a lot of experience, you might say:
- I didn’t get formal school training for this job but I have (number) of years of experience in the field. I’m willing to learn new skills or go to school to get further training if I am offered the job. I learn quickly and I like to keep upgrading my skills.
If you have just completed a training course but have little work experience, you mightsay:
- I took a one year training program in (name of program) at (name of school) which is related to the job I’m applying for. I look forward to working in the field and putting into practice what I learned. I don’t have a lot of work experience in this area but I learn quickly. I know you will be happy with my work.
- (4) Tell me about yourself. Why should we hire you?
The interviewer is trying to find out about you, your job skills and how well you express yourself. Do not dwell on personal issues. State your best qualifications for the job. Be specific and include examples to support your statements. Try to show that you meet the employer’s expectations. For example:
- I am punctual, dependable and can be counted upon to finish what I start. I get a great deal of satisfaction from knowing that I have done something well and on time. For example, at my present job, I was given different work orders every day. It was my responsibility to finish the orders and make sure they all met quality and safety standards within a specific deadline. On occasion, I had to familiarize myself with the product and the production process. I was always able to learn quickly and carry out my job responsibilities. Our company was known for making excellent processed food products. In 1990, it received an award for being on of Canada’s top companies in the field. I feel I can use the same skills and hard work to do well on this job too.
- (5) What do you do in your spare time?
Interviewers ask this question to see if your activities and hobbies might help the company and to get an idea of what kind of person you are outside your work life. Describe any volunteer work you do and any hobbies or interests that might relate to the job in some way. Stick to active hobbies, such as playing sports, carpentry,gardening, etc. Avoid mentioning inactive and non-creative activities such as watching television.
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- (6) What do you think of working in a group?
The interviewer is trying to find out about your ability to get along with others.Focus on the following:
- The advantages of working in a group. Explain how the various individuals in a group complement one another in carrying out certain tasks.
- Give specific examples of your personal experience in a group
- (7) How do you react to instruction and criticism?
The interviewer is trying to find out how you get along with Supervisors and how you feel about authority. You might say:
- I appreciate getting instruction and criticism when it is done fairly and constructively.
- (8) With the kind of work experience you have had, do you think this job would bore you?
The interviewer may think you are over-qualified and want this job only until something better comes along. Stress that no job is ever boring because you always learn new skills. Mention how you would benefit by working for the company and vice versa.
- (9) Why did you choose this line of work?
The interviewer is trying to find out about your commitment to your career choice. In other words do you do it because you love the work or just take any job you can get for the money. If you did this work for many years and stopped due to a layoff,you might say:
- I have done this for (number) of years. I like my work. The only reason I left my last workplace was because I was laid off.
- (10) How well do you work under pressure or tight deadlines?
This question indicates that the job you’re applying for will involve working under pressure. Give examples of volunteer and paid work that involved pressure and deadlines. You could mention that we are always faced with pressure and deadlines in our lives and you do not mind the stress. Stressful situations are a learning and challenging experience. You might mention the following:
- How you handled large rush orders at your last workplace.
- How you prepared for exams and homework assignments while working full-time and attending school part-time.
- How you managed a crisis situation. (For example: a car accident)
- (11) How often were you absent from work in your last job? Have you every had any serious illness or injuries? Do you have any health problems?
The interviewer is trying to find out if you have any health issues which will cause you to take a lot of sick days. You do not have to go into your health history for the interviewer. If you have health problems that do not interfere with your work performance, do not give the interviewer details about them. If you had a previous health problem that interfered with your work in the past, but is no longer a problem, do not volunteer this information. It no longer affects your work, therefore the employer does not have to know.
If you have a health problem that will affect your work performance, explain your situation briefly and stress the positive points. I will be helpful to have a positive reference letter from your previous employer. This letter should explain the type of duties you did and stress that you are a steady worker who is responsible, hardworking and punctual.
- (12) Are you bondable?
This question indicates that the job involves working with money or valuable merchandise. Very likely the employer’s insurance company requires that only bondable people be hired as a condition of their insurance policy.As long as you do not have a criminal record, and you have not previously been denied a bond, you should answer “yes” to this question. Caution: If you answer yes when you are not legally bondable it is very likely that the employer will discover this.
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- (13) Have you ever been fired or quit a job?
The interviewer is looking for clues to any problems you have had in previous jobs and if you may have the same problems in a new job. Try to:
- Avoid saying anything negative about yourself or your previous employer. If you had problems, explain them without being negative.
- Be careful not the use the word “fired” or “quit”. Instead use words such as: “I changed jobs”, “I was laid off”, or “I needed a more challenging job”.
- If you were fired and are not on good terms with your previous employer, explain the reason why you were fired. Stress that you learned something from the previous situation.
- (14) Why haven’t you worked recently?
The interviewer is looking for clues to serious problems or job difficulties that could carry over to a new job. You might say:
- Since I was laid off from my previous employer, I have been actively looking for a job. However, as you know, there are many people looking for work and applying for the same jobs. I have always worked steadily but I haven’t been able to find a job in the present job market.
- After I got laid off from my previous employer, I decided to go back to school to upgrade my skills so I can get a better, more secure job.
- (15) What are your long-term goals or career plans?
The interviewer may want to know if you are ambitious, plan ahead, or if you set goals for yourself. The interviewer may also want to know what expectation you have of the company. You might say:
- I hope to become very good at my job and perhaps take some schooling to become more skilled in my field of work.
- I intend to learn (name of area or skills) very well so that I can be promoted to a higher position in (name skill or department).
- (16) What do you feel are your greatest strengths?
This is your opportunity to brag a little bit. It is important that you have done your research about the type of work that you are applying for. For example if you are applying as a production labourer and from your research you understand that this type of work required people that have the ability to meet quotas, work as a team and make improvement suggestions, then it is important for you to incorporate this into your strengths.
- (17) What do you feel are your weaknesses?
You never want to give any indication of any weaknesses that you have. Turn you weaknesses into strengths by working it to the employer’s advantage.
- Example:
I am the type of person or is very hard on myself. I am always expecting myself to do a little bit more. However, I guess this works out well for my employer.
OrI never like to leave work until I have every thing finished completely. Sometimes this bothers me but I feel inside that it is important.
OrI am the type of person who always takes my work home with me. This sometimes interferes with my personal life but I feel that work comes first.
- (18) How would you describe your last employer?
Never run down or say anything negative about anybody or anyone. The employer will feel that you will do it to them. You should state the positive things such as he had high expectations and I really respected him for that. He was down to earth and really knew the job I was doing, if I had any problems he was approachable and would always give me suggestion or he gave the responsibility to do a good job.
- (19) What five words would be describe you?
These should be your transferrable skills such as reliable, punctual, organized,friendly, honest, cooperative, outgoing, easy to get along with, hardworking,energetic, take pride in my work, responsible, respected,dedicated.
- (20) What did you like about your last job?
Say only positive things that you feel could transfer across to the position your are applying for.
- Example:I liked my last job because I got along well with my co-workers and the work was challenging, fast paced and I was given a lot of responsibility to do a good job.
- (21) Why did you leave your last position?
Keep this answer simple. If you were laid off simply say so, If your company downsized, simply say so. Do not go into a lot of detail. If you were terminated you will have to say you were let go but always follow up that as a result you have learned how to overcome this and feel it will not affect you in the future.
- (22) What are your long range goals?The interviewer is trying to figure out whether or not you are going to be a long term employee or whether or not you will be using this job as a stepping stone to another objective. So, you should try to assure him/her that your intention is to stay with the company and to grow in your career within the company. You should respond “I am looking for a position with a company where I can stay and grow with and I feel this position would give me this opportunity.”
- (23)What kind of machines or equipment have you worked with?
This is your opportunity to give some detail of what actual work skills you have. Don’t be vague, supply all of the information that you have to offer.
- (24) What type of salary are you looking for?Do not get into this subject unless you are forced to. Even then you want to leave an impression that you are flexible in this area.
- (25) What do you know about our company?
This is your opportunity to show them that you have taken the time to research their company in particular.
- (26) Do you have any other skills of experiences that we have not discussed?
List any other skills that you have that are related to the position. You can also discuss any hobbies or volunteer experience you have and discuss any interest courses or educational upgrading you have.
