No matter how talented and educated you are, no matter how polished your resume is, interviews can be nerve wracking. But with a little bit of confidence and a lot of preparation, you can make a great impression.
Do Your Research
Learn everything you can about the company. Familiarize yourself with their website, talk to people in your network, check out social media and review sites. The more you know about the company going in, the better prepared you will be. If you have the full name of your interviewer, Google them as well. Take a look at their LinkedIn profile. See if they have been published or have a professional blog and read what they have written.
Plan for Commonly Asked Questions
Many interviewers ask the same questions, often just to break the ice and get the conversation going. Interviews often begin with “tell me about yourself.” This is a question you should have a polished answer prepared for. Don’t ramble or “um.” If you have done your research, you should be able to formulate a response that accurately reflects your experience, but is targeted to the position and company that you are interested in.
Ask Questions
When the interviewer asks, “Do you have any questions for me?” don’t say no. This is your chance to address anything that has not come up in the interview. Find out if this is a place that you would like to work. The interview should a two-way street.
Sweat the Small Stuff
Double-check that your interview suit is clean and pressed, your shoes in good shape. Check directions and travel time. Take a test drive to the location if you can to see how long the commute really is and if there is any road construction or variables that must be accounted for. Print out copies of your resume and have references ready should they be requested.
Send a Thank You
Follow up immediately after the interview with an email to the interviewer. This advice has been offered for decades, but you would be surprised how few follow it. Thank the interviewer for his time. Touch on why you are suitable for the position and once again express interest in the job.
At Synerfac, we can connect you with top local employers and offer strategies that to help you shine in your interviews. To find the right job for you in IT, engineering, and more, contact us today.