Once you get to the phase of interviewing for a job, you have a reasonable shot at getting an offer. They have already narrowed a large applicant pool down to a few people who are being called in for a discussion and now all you need to do is know how to impress in an interview.
Many of the things you need to do to ace the interview are not the same things you needed to get through the screening process that got you there. In particular, you have impressed the hiring committee with your credentials, so now it is time
to address the concerns that will be top of mind for recruiters. As I have written in the past, recruiters want to know three things about you:
- What will it be like to work with you?
- Can you learn?
- Do you take initiative?
How to Impress in an Interview??
Here are five things you can do to ensure you address these questions well at the interview.
Study Up
Find out as much as you can about the firm that is interviewing you. That includes checking out the company’s website to know what new strategic projects they are highlighting and looking at news reports about it. It is also useful to check out job websites to see reviews from other people who have worked there in the past. If you know anyone who has worked there (or currently works there), talk with them as well.
You want to enter the room as someone who is knowledgeable about the company and can ask good questions about your job and the role it will play inside the organization.So, google interview questions and use them during the interview. In addition, it is a great way of demonstrating your initiative. You are letting them know that you will be completely prepared for whatever comes at you after you’re hired.
Be Willing to Listen
Undoubtedly, at some point during the interview, you will be asked a question where you get some feedback from the interviewer that they are not completely satisfied with your answer. There is a strong urge to double down on your answer and to continue to explain yourself.
A better alternative is to listen to the criticism and to take a different approach based on what other people say. Better yet, ask some questions. For example, if the interviewer gave you a hypothetical situation, ask the interviewer how they would approach it. The aim is to demonstrate that you don’t believe that you already know everything you need to know in order to succeed at the job, but instead are willing to learn from your colleagues.
Try to remember some questions to ask after an interview. It will help you appear more interested in the recruiter and the company
Converse, Don’t Monologue!!!
Another great strategy on how to impress in an interview is that at a job interview, you’re the center of attention, so it is tempting to let that take over and do all of the talking. But, you’d like to get to know your now-prospective colleagues a bit more. Plus, you’d like them to see that you’re able to learn from them as much as they learn about you. So, you want to make sure to create a conversation rather than just your own standup routine.
One way to make that happen is to ask a lot of questions and a way to do it is google interview questions. After being asked a question about how you might handle a particular work situation, end with a question of your own, like, “How is that normally handled here?” or, “Tell me more about how decisions like this typically get made?” or, “What go-to strategies do you have for situations like this?” where you are also soliciting input from the interviewers.
The more that it becomes a conversation, the more insight that the interviewers get into what it will be like to work with you. The rapport you create through conversation will have a positive impact on the overall evaluation you get from your recruiter.
Ask informed questions
Any good interviewer will ask, “What questions do you have?” Through this, the hiring manager can gain a better sense of how well you know the company, understand the role, and have an interest in working there. Keep at least five questions in your back pocket or you can always google interview questions. Here are a few questions to ask after an interview.
- What is the company culture like?
- What are some of the biggest challenges facing the company currently?
- What would you say has been the company’s biggest success so far this year?
- What is your favorite part about working here?
- What opportunities are there for professional development?
Not only will these questions help you learn about the company and your potential role, but it will also show the hiring manager that you have a genuine interest in the job and your chances of hiring escalate.
Be Yourself (Mostly)
There is a tendency to want to project a version of yourself that is the one that you think your employer wants to hire. It is important for you to bring yourself to the interview. You want to give people a sense of who you are likely to be as a colleague. If they hire a version of you that is not really you, it is possible that you’re not going to be that happy when you actually start the job.
That said, you do need to remember that it is a formal situation with people you probably don’t know that well. If you have an effective sense of humor, you can be funny, but you shouldn’t lean into it and you should avoid any risqué jokes. If you typically introduce yourself using your pronouns, you should do that in the interview. You want to be aware of issues of importance to you in the organization.
Remember, you already impressed the committee enough to want to talk to you. Now, you need to give them a sense that they want to have you around.
Show Don’t Tell
A core part of your strategy is to give people to get a sense of what it is like to work with you from the way you act, rather than what you tell them. You could say you’re a self-starter, but if you take the initiative to learn about the company before the interview, you’re demonstrating it. You could say that you’re ready to learn, but if you take comments said to heart, you’re showing the way you engage.
You can highlight some of the things that demonstrate your capabilities and you will definitely get hired for the job. The goal is not to refrain from telling your recruiter anything about yourself. But the more that you demonstrate the truth of those assertions with your actions, the more successful it is going to be.
Conclusion
Preparing to meet hiring managers for in-person interviews can feel intimidating, especially if you’re being hired for a position that aligns with your personal and professional goals. Fortunately, taking a bit of time to brush up on your skills and prepare yourself for the meeting can help you feel more confident and position you to make a winning first impression and these Strategies on how to impress in an interview will surely get you that new job.
Also Read: 15 Best Passive Income Investment Ideas That Will Make You A Millionaire