Put yourself in the hiring manager’s shoes and ponder over this question – Would you hire yourself? Interviewers ask this question all the time to their candidates, as it is one of the most important and common interview questions. In fact, thinking deeply about the interview question ‘Why should we hire you?’ can help you with your interview preparation. It can help you highlight your strengths, professional skills and experiences in a better and positive manner in front of the interviewer.
Are you looking for help with your upcoming job interview? If yes, here are some basic interview preparation tips you can follow before, during, and after the job interview to leave a great impression on the hiring managers.
1. Get a good night’s sleep the night before the job interview so that you look and feel better the next day. Be sure to have a good breakfast so that you stay focused during the job interview.
2. Dressing appropriately for interviews properly plays a huge role in making a good first impression. Avoid these mistakes while dressing for an interview. Choose an outfit that is professionally appropriate to the position you will be interviewing for. You can find more tips here.
3. Research the company that you are going to interview. This will help you answer the hiring manager’s questions confidently and more aptly. Being thoroughly prepared also shows that you are genuinely interested in the company.
4. In addition to researching the company, prepare well the common interview questions in advance. While you are at it, prepare some behavioral interview questions and some industry-specific questions as well.
5. Go through your resume once more to see if it needs some tweaking and ensure you have enough copies. Keep your resume and other official documents ready in one place so that you do not forget taking them on the day of the interview.
6. Reach the interview venue at least 15 minutes early so that you have enough time to relax and check yourself in the mirror before meeting with the interviewer.
1. Turn your mobile on the silent setting before entering the interview room.
2. While waiting for your turn or even when sitting across the interviewer, sit properly and exhibit a positive body language. Be polite to the staff members you meet at the venue and smile when greeting anybody.
3. Answer questions confidently, firmly, yet politely. If you do not know an answer to a question, tell the interviewer honestly and move on to the next question. Ensure that you do not drag your answers instead keep them short and crisp.
4. Maintain eye contact with the interviewer while answering the questions. Listen to the interviewer intently and do not interrupt him/her while speaking. Listening is also one of the most important non-verbal communication skills.
5. When hiring managers have quite a lot of candidates to consider when closing a particular job position, they will naturally not choose an average candidate. They will select a candidate with outstanding skills and qualifications. Ensure to highlight your skills and experiences confidently while answering the interview questions. This will help you seal the deal.
6. When the interviewer asks you ‘Do You Have Any Questions for Us?’ make sure that you ask intelligent questions. Not only will this help you impress the interviewer, but also gain a deeper understanding of the company/job role you are looking at.
1. Send a thank you letter to each person who interviewed you ideally within 24 hours after the interview. Write a brief and friendly note restating your interest in the job. You can also add any specific qualifications or skills that you missed to highlight during the interview.
2. If you do not hear from the hiring manager after some days, do not hesitate to send a follow-up email. Remember that sometimes hiring decisions can take a while to settle, especially if the decision makers have a lot on their plate. When done right, checking-in after a couple of weeks will not make you seem annoying, or desperate.
3. Keep in touch with the hiring manager to build a strong professional relationship regardless of whether you get the job or not. If you get the job, you will plenty of chances to meet and greet with the hiring manager if s/he is not a consultant and works with the same company. However, if you do not get the job or the person taking care of recruitments is a recruitment consultant, add him/her to your professional social network and keep in touch by sharing relevant industry updates with them.
Following these interview preparation tips before, during and after the job interview will certainly help you leave a positive impression on the hiring managers. All the best.
