5 Ways to Ace Your Next Job Interview

“Believe in yourself. Have faith in your abilities. Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers, you cannot be successful or happy.”

These are the words of Norman Vincent Peale, the renowned author of The Power of Positive Thinking.

And it epitomizes what a job interview is all about. So as you prepare for your next one, use these five tips to optimize your levels of confidence and have the most positive possible mindset:

1. Be on time.

This means 10 to 15 minutes before your scheduled interview time. Leave yourself ample time to get to the right place, park, and make your way to the appointed office or room. Unless you’re absolutely certain of all these details, make a practice run in advance.

• No matter how qualified or suitable you are for a role, arriving late conveys a lack of preparedness, organization, and respect for others and their time.

2. Have some questions of your own ready.

Remember, an interview is a two-way process. You’re assessing a potential employer just as they’re evaluating you. There are other benefits to asking insightful questions at the opportune time, as well:

• It helps demonstrate your knowledge of the company and the position.
• It shows your sincere interest in being hired.
• It can help further illustrate how well you would fit into an organization and its culture.

3. Tell the truth.

Lying or fabricating the truth during an interview is a huge risk. If an interviewer gets the feeling they can’t trust you, for all intents and purposes, it’s over.

• Honesty, authenticity and openness are highly sought traits in job candidates. Never lie about your past performance, experience, qualifications, availability, preferred working conditions, or other issues critical to your success. Be equally truthful if you don’t know an answer. This shows you’re not only trustworthy, but also humble and willing to learn.

4. Listen carefully and actively.

It’s natural during an interview to be focused on providing effective answers. But doing so actually depends on actively listening. When you engage in active listening, an interview becomes a true, natural and fruitful conversation.

• When you actively listen, you will know when you need additional information or need the question rephrased. It also demonstrates that you’ve understood what you heard and that you’re actively engaged in the conversation.

5. Close on a high note.

Leave your interviewers with the impression that you’re capable, thoughtful and interested; in other words, exactly the right person for the job. Thank them for their time and leave courteously with a handshake and a smile. Also:

• Ask if any further information is required at this point.
• Politely inquire about the next step in the hiring process.
• Follow up with personalized thank-you notes within a day or two.

For additional guidance on preparing for your next interview – or any and all aspects of your successful job search – contact PrideStaff Northern Kentucky today.