Job Interview 101

By Elizabeth Exline

There’s a reason why job interviews are the stuff of nightmares. The idea of being caught off guard when you’re trying to impress someone is enough to give even the most confident person pause. But interviewing is an essential part of any successful job search. The key to doing it well is to prepare, practice and perhaps reframe your perspective a little. An interview, after all, is more than just an opportunity to prove you’re a good candidate for a role. It’s also a chance to see if the role is something you really want.

Change your lens

For anyone anxious about going into an interview, it can boost your confidence to remember that you’ve already passed the first test. If a hiring manager wants to meet you, it’s because he or she agrees that your skills and experience line up with those required by the role.

Consider a job interview a way to learn more about both a position and a company. Just as you are more than your resumé, the work experience at a company is more than a job listing.

In the end, a job interview is a two-way street. You’re not there to perform or impress. You’re there to share and to learn.

Preparation is key

It’s important to prepare to make the most of a job interview. And this begins with due diligence. Research the company where you’re applying to learn about its history, mission and achievement.

Similarly, check out the LinkedIn profiles of anyone interviewing you. It helps to know how you can relate to the person, and if you have contacts or experience in common, so much the better.

Next, pull together everything you’ll need for the interview. Try on your outfit ahead of time to make sure it fits well, looks professional and is clean and ready for your big day. Make sure you bring several copies of your resumé, a list of professional references and a notepad and pen to take notes during your interview.

Much of this applies to virtual interviews as well. It’s important to dress appropriately, make eye contact and practice professional body language. (No slouching!) But instead of making copies of your resumé, you should test your technology ahead of time to ensure it’s in working order. Also, find a quiet, distraction-free space where you can take the interview.

Finally, it’s a good idea to use all the research you’ve done to come up with a list of thoughtful and relevant questions for your interviewer. Questions about job responsibilities, company culture and expectations help pull back the curtain on what working in that position would be like on a day-to-day basis.

Tips for extroverts

When it comes to presenting yourself in an honest and positive light, there are some universal tips out there. It’s a good idea, for example, to master the STAR method of answering questions. But it’s also wise to consider your personality’s strengths and weaknesses in the context of an interview.

Introverts and extroverts handle social situations very differently and accordingly bring their own assets and challenges to the table.

If you feel energized after social interactions, if you are what’s commonly known as a “people person,” you can put that rapport-building talent to work for you. Being enthusiastic and a good storyteller can burnish your image, for example. But take those qualities too far, and you can appear disingenuous or sales-like, which might hinder you.

Keep in mind the importance of being yourself but not selling yourself, asking questions about the company and interviewer, and responding to the social cues the person you’re talking with is giving you.

Tips for introverts

For people who identify as introverted, interviews present a unique challenge: Feeling comfortable with someone takes time for an introvert — and time is one thing you don’t usually have in an interview.

Still, there are ways to hack this structural disadvantage. For starters, you’ll need to practice reviewing your experience and answers to common interview questions.

Doing this with a friend is best, but you can also do it alone. The goal is to become fluent in talking about yourself, your experiences and your challenges and successes. Do it frequently enough, and you don’t have to overthink it in an interview. It may even help you relax to be on familiar territory.

It can also help to write out responses to standard interview questions. This process not only solidifies your responses, but also can help clarify your message and allow you to deliver it succinctly and efficiently.

When time is against you

While the ideal interview situation might include a few days of lead time, the real world doesn’t always allow for that. So, what do you do when you’re invited to interview … that afternoon?

There are a couple of ways to set yourself up for success in a situation like this. First, ask for a detailed job description, do basic research on the company and then figure out where you need to be and how much time you need to get there. (Or, for virtual interviews, download the requisite platform and identify a quiet place to take the meeting.) Even having a top line understanding of the company’s history, mission, size and partners will help you develop relevant responses to interview questions.

Next, think about some situations that underscore your skills and achievements and get ready to talk about them during your job interview. You won’t be able to rehearse this extensively, but identifying a few key experiences that you can reference during your interview will help you get your point across.

The good news? If you don’t have a lot of time to prepare, your interviewer may give you a little more latitude during the conversation.

The end is just the beginning

After your interview, be sure to follow up with everyone you talked to. Whether it’s an email or an official thank-you note, express appreciation for their time and let them know how much you’d like to work with them in the future.

If you’ve been informed of when a decision will be made, or if further interviews are required, mark your calendar to follow up at the right time. Being proactive with this step, after all, is just one more way to demonstrate you have the skills and the drive to take on the job.

Want more interviewing tips? Download this free guide for easy-to-follow advice and examples! Get your job search on track. Learn the dos and don’ts of writing a professional and effective resumé.

Originally published at https://www.phoenix.edu on May 25, 2021.