Interview Like a Pro
/BY: COACH LOUANNE SLEVINSKI
Everyone wants to be selected for their dream job. What's the best way to approach it and how do you make a great impression?
1. Be Prepared:
Research - Before going to an interview, research the company. For example; how long have they been in business? What is the product, what is the company's mission, values, the company history? Know the BRAND.
Practice, practice practice - this is vitally important. An interviewer knows who is prepared for the interview within a couple of minutes. It is very helpful to roleplay with friends and family. Stand in front of a mirror and watch yourself answer questions, pay attention to body language. Another helpful tool is to record yourself and listen to how you sound.
Resumes - Your resume should be limited to one page. Bullet point your skills, experience and accomplishments. If you already have a formatted resume, plan to adjust it to fit the job description. Use power words in your resume to fit the words used in the job description and qualifications.
2. Presentation:
Dress for success! Be sure you present yourself as a respectable professional. Keep accessories to a minimum; you don’t want to distract from the content of your answers.
Introduction - Introduce yourself, shake hands, look them in the eye. This is your opportunity to show a healthy level of confidence and enthusiasm. Be aware of your body language. Be open, be calm, be in control of your movements.
3. The Interview:
Try to establish a rapport with the interviewer immediately. If you don’t already have information on the interviewer, try to find a common interest. This will humanize you and make them feel you are interested in who they are as an individual.
Prepare with the STAR interview process: Situation, Task, Action, Result. What situation have you been through in which you can speak to each of these things? The most important part of STAR is the results...show that you are a person who can find solutions and bring them to life.
In advance, have at least 4 to 5 situations that you can pull from previous work experience. Example: Tell me about a time when you went above and beyond? I can't emphasize enough the importance of being able to retrieve these answers in a timely manner. It is imperative to have taken the time to study and have these answers prepared in advance. Listen carefully to the question being asked. It's fine to ask the interviewer to repeat the question, if necessary. Use power words: Passion, rapport, multitasker, creative thinker, dependable, team player, goal oriented.
4. Closing:
Sell yourself at the end of the interview; this is not the time to be timid. Bring to the table their job description and qualifications and how your experience and knowledge matches all of the requirements. Explain how you can contribute to the company and that you would be a great asset to their team. This is a very important technique that will put you a step above the rest. Most importantly: ask for the job. Show them you want it.
Within 24 hours after your interview, be sure to send a thank you email stating your gratitude for their time and consideration, and reiterating why you’d be a great fit for the team.
If you’re in a career transition and could use coaching to prepare for your interview, contact us today and we’ll get you in touch with Coach Louanne.