6 Tips to Ace the Interview: It’s just like dating…
Donna Shannon, MCD, NCOPE
Career Coach ? Resume & LinkedIn Expert ?Master Career Director (MCD) | Award-Winning Job Search Advisor ? Helping professionals land jobs they love ?? Stand-up Comic ? Because finding a great job is no laughing matter
Job interviews are a lot like dating. You want to make a good impression, but you also need to find out about the other party.
And just like dating, here are some top tips to help you get that second “date”—or maybe even a job offer!
1.??????? Tell them they are pretty.
No, not the interviewer… the COMPANY. (Hitting on the interviewer is a bad idea, BTW.) You need to show interest in the company and WHY you want to work for them. This should reflect your research and key facts that have genuinely sparked your attention.
2.??????? Make sure you look good.
Dress professionally, especially in a Zoom interview. You don’t want to come across as too casual or inappropriate for the job. Along those lines, pay attention to your surroundings as they appear on camera.
3.??????? Don’t bad mouth your Ex.
Don’t fall into the rabbit hole of slamming your past employers. I don’t care if you worked for the devil incarnate. Anytime you speak negatively about another person or company, it just makes YOU look bad.
4.??????? Tell compelling stories.
Behavioral interviews require you to describe your experience in detail, specifically tied to exact incidences and their outcomes. Write out your answers to the most common situations, and be sure to practice them so that you don’t ramble on and on.
5.??????? Reduce distractions.
Yes, your cat or dog is cute. No, nobody wants to see or hear them on the Zoom interview. Similarly, don’t peek at your phone or get distracted by automatic notices popping up on your screen. The interviewer can see when your attention wavers, which makes you look disinterested or bored.
6.??????? No Kilroys.
Specifically for Zoom interviews, make sure that you are CENTERED in the camera. Not with your nose peaking over the edge, in the classic “Kilroy” position. Also, I HATE it when people don’t have their computer, phone, or tablet in a stable position. No, it is NOT ok to balance your laptop on your knees while you lounge around on the couch.
?
Bottom line:
If you want a remote or hybrid job, you need to prove that you can handle yourself professionally in your work-from-home space.
After all, in this match-making process, your “date” – your potential future company – will judge how you act during this crucial 30-60 minutes. If you act weird, disinterested, nervous, or even overly arrogant, you likely won’t get the callback.
Want more tips like this? Check out our Membership program - PLUS use the code MEMBERSHIP50 to get 50% off!
Terrific recommendations, Donna. Thank you.