How well do you usually interview? Are you nervous? Are you dominating? Or, are you somewhere in between?
What's important to know is that interviews begin long before you arrive onsite (or virtually) to the interview room. From the moment your resume is submitted and reviewed, your interview has begun. Following your resume submission, interested hiring managers will begin corresponding with you. They are noting your tone, your language, and your enthusiasm. And most likely, they've taken a peek at your social media accounts too!
Here are your quick tips to ace your entire interview process.
Ensure a polished and professionally resume has been submitted
There are several options to ensure your resume is on point. You can opt to complete your own resume and cover letter or you can hire a professional. Either way, ensure that your work experience has been highlighted in a professional and intriguing manner.
2. When Corresponding: Write. Read. Edit. Repeat.
After reviewing your resume and/or cover letter, you will receive an email or phone call informing you that you have been selected for the official interviewing process. When hiring managers begin contacting you, be sure to check your tone, your nerves, and your grammar. Communicate in a way that shows who you are and what you are capable. Review your responses for accuracy, but let your personality reflect as well.
3. Know Your Audience
Knowing the company you are interviewing for is a big step in the right direction. Be aware of who they are, what they stand for, and what they have to offer their employees. The perks of being familiar with your potential employer are unexplained. It shows your dedication, your eagerness, and your commitment.
4. Prepping & Practicing (eating, dressing, rehearsing)
Before your official interview, it is important to do some work. Use a friend (or a mirror) to practice responses to your potential interviewer. You also need to ensure that you have selected a wardrobe that speaks personality and professionalism! Lastly, you need to eat and rest properly.
5. Arrive Early
There's a saying- "If you're on time, you're late. And if you're early, you're on time." OMG, this statement still holds true today! Make the right first impression. Be prepared, arrive early, and make the right impression.
6. Verbal + Nonverbal Interviewing
This one can be fun, but tricky. Mastering nonverbal cues can be tough if you've never really paid much attention to this before. Don't worry, because now is the perfect time to increase your awareness. Be cognizant of your tone, but more than that, be cognizant of your facial features, your hand gestures, and your body language. Don't let your nerves take over the interview. Instead, let your experiences speak through your words and through your body language.
7. Closing the Interview
Once the interview is concluding, be sure to leave the company with some lingering questions so they will want to learn more about you. Also, firm hand shakes are an age old way to allow others to explore your personality. After closing the interview, firmly shake hands with your interviewers. Offer a hand-written token of appreciation.
These seven tips are sure to help you ace your interview. If you've recently graduated college and are ready to break into your professional field, I'd love to work with you. And, if you are ready to level up in your career, I would love to work with you too! Contact me and mention the Power Up Special to get your career moving!