So you’ve landed an interview — congratulations! Just getting to this point in your job hunt is a huge step. Whether this is your very first interview or your 50th, there’s always room to improve your skills and make the best first impression possible. The purpose of the interview is for the interviewer to assess your fit with the role (skills/experience) and the organization (culture). The following steps are important to help the interviewer clearly answer the question: Will you help them succeed and add to the workplace culture?
So, before the nerves take over, take a deep breath, and follow these tips to ace your interview.
BEFORE
Do your research
Spend time learning about the company and who you’ll be meeting with ahead of your interview. What’s the history of the organization? What parts of the company’s mission resonate with you? What has the team accomplished in the past year, five years, or 10 years? Go through their website, check out their social media, and read over any press releases or media coverage they’ve received. You’ll most definitely be asked what you know about the company, so make sure you can shine when the moment comes.
Take time to reflect
Instead of Googling “most commonly asked interview questions,” use the time before your interview to do some reflection on how your past skills could translate to the new gig. Take a blank piece of paper, and on one side, write the bullet points from the job listing. On the other side, write down a specific example of how you’ve done/achieved that in a previous position. Writing out a clear comparison list will help you be prepared with plenty of great examples of why you’re the best fit for the job.
Be prepared for certain questions (and come with your own)
There are certain interview questions that tend to always appear, no matter the type of job you’re pursuing. Chances are, you’ll face one of these: “Tell me about yourself,” “Why do you want to work for us?” “Why should we hire you?” “How do you deal with conflict?” “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” or “Where do you see yourself in five years?” Be sure you can answer those basics before walking through the door.
The interview is also an important time for you to determine if this job is right for you. So, come prepared with your own questions to ask at the end of the interview, especially if you’re curious about what the day-to-day responsibilities might be, or looking for insight into what success looks like in the position.
Download Altogethr’s free interview prep worksheet.
Get names
Be sure to get names of people you’re meeting with. If you have a pad of paper with you, write them down, or ask for a business card after you wrap up. This will be important when you want to follow-up.
Be detailed (but not long-winded)
Prone to rambling when you’re nervous? Try using the STAR method to deliver impactful answers to questions, especially ones that begin with “Tell me about a time you…” STAR stands for describing the situation you were in, the task you had to complete, the action steps you took to get there, and the result that occurred. Following those four simple steps will make sure your story about a past accomplishment will land every time.
Be mindful of body language
Good body language can go a long way. Sit up straight with your shoulders back, showing openness to anyone else around the table. If there’s more than one person in the room, be sure to make eye contact with each of them as you answer a question. It’s normal to be nervous before a big interview, but if you find yourself getting worked up, take a breath and remind yourself that it’s just a conversation to learn more about each other.
AFTER
Send a thank you
Writing a solid thank you note is an essential part of the interview process. Be sure to send a thank you email to everyone in the room either the evening or day after your interview, and drop a handwritten card in the mail the next day to really stand out. Include specifics about your conversation. “I was so thrilled to hear about your upcoming social media fundraising campaign. I helped develop a similar campaign for my previous company, and already have some ideas! Don’t wait too long to click send — they’ll likely be interviewing other candidates, so you want to make sure you stay fresh in their mind. Need a little reminder? Set an alert in the Altogethr dashboard, and you’ll never forget a thank you again.
Follow up
Radio silence post interview? After one week passes, it’s fair game to follow up. Send an email to the hiring manager reiterating your enthusiasm about the job, ask if there’s any more information you can provide to help with the process, and politely inquire about next steps. If the hiring process is a drawn-out one (we’ve all been there), set follow-up alerts at appropriately-timed intervals via Altogethr.
Don’t forget these tips for effective follow-up after an interview.
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