How to Succeed in Job Interviews

Job interviews can seem like high-wire acts. You need to carefully listen to the interviewer so they know you're attentive. Yet, you also need to ready your answer. Fortunately, there are ways to do both with a little practice.

Whether the interview is virtual or in person, several baselines hold true: be on time, be prepared (in both answers and appearance), be engaged, be polite, follow-up.?

How to Prepare

Many interview questions are common. But your answers should not be. A list of common questions to prepare for include:

• Tell me about yourself
• What are your weaknesses?
• Why do you want to work here?
• What sets you apart from other candidates?
• What is the hardest problem you’ve ever worked on?
• Tell me about a missed deadline and how you handled it.
• What type of work environment do you prefer?
• How do you deal with pressure?
• Do you prefer working independently or on a team?

The list goes on.

Create answers to these questions, and others, that combine your history with the needs of the company.?

Research is key. Look into the company and interviewer. Learn the company's products, competitors and challenges.

Also, get your questions ready for the interviewer. Thoughtful questions at the end of the interview show engagement. They also help you learn more about the place you may work at next.

Mock interviews before the real interview help you practice answers and reduce nerves. Find a colleague, friend or even try artificial intelligence to practice with.

What to Focus on During the Interview

Express your excitement and desire at the start of the interview. When the interviewer asks you the first question, take a moment to thank the person for talking with you about the role, tell them how excited you are about the opportunity, and say you really want the job.

Lean on your preparation throughout the interview. Your answers want to sound informed, but not rehearsed.

Despite proper preparation, you could hit a snag during the interview. Have examples of adaptability ready in case an interviewer asks about the experience you lack. If the interview hits a lull, answer the next question with the same energy you answered the first to reignite the conversation.

Nearly every interview ends with: “Do you have any questions?” It can become a little uncomfortable when you don’t have one or can’t think of anything to ask.

Avoid focusing on questions you think will make you look great, career coach Kyle Elliott said .

“Don't ask questions just for the sake of looking good, but instead ask questions you genuinely want to know the answer to,” Elliott said. “What do you want to know about the company? What?

do you wanna know about the culture and the team? What do you want to know about the role? That will result in a really great conversation at the end.

“If you are really curious about how they support work-life balance, ask when the person you are speaking with took their last vacation or ask how their manager supports work-life balance. I [also] like asking people questions that allow them to keep sharing about themselves, remembering that you are still interviewing as a job speaker during that part.”

For example, if you have questions about the company’s stance on mental health, ask how the company is supporting employees’ mental health during the pandemic, Elliott said. If you have experience or expertise in mental health, share that too.

“There are two steps: Sharing about yourself in the question, and then asking the question that you really want to know the answer to,” Elliott said.

What to Do Next

Write an electronic thank-you note the next day for everyone you spoke with.

A thank-you note won't compensate for a candidate's lack of skills or experience.

"It will not get you the job if you are not qualified," writes Joy Soudant, who is a talent and executive search strategist. "It does not take the place of interview preparation or experience."

"It will provide you with an opportunity to offer a sincere thank you to the interview team that met with you if you feel it's warranted," she says. "It is a chance to offer any additional info or follow up thoughts from your conversations. It is a golden opportunity to see if/how the team responds to your communication."

As Soudant and others warn, a thank-you note will not save the day if you can't do the job.

However, it reminds people involved in the hiring process who you are among a sea of applicants. Recruiters, hiring managers, hiring committees, and etc. usually meet several applicants. In some cases, they meet several in one day. A note mentioning something that happened in the interview can resurface you again in their minds.

"When I was hiring, I was a bit more impressed with those who sent me a follow-up/thank you letter," writes Erin Kennedy, who is an executive resume writer. "Plus, it helped me to remember who they were! I can't imagine how hard it must be for HUGE companies when looking for talent. A follow-up helps the interviewer remember you/your conversation."

Kamara Toffolo, who is a LinkedIn Top Voice and job search strategist, agrees that thank-you notes are a helpful reminder for employers. Additionally, you can use the notes to reinforce important points about your candidacy.

"Not only do they serve as a polite gesture, but they open up a new opportunity to reinforce our strengths as they align directly with the role and information you were provided in your interview," she adds.

Additionally, people acknowledged that there is very little risk tied to sending a thank-you note and it takes only about five minutes.

Also, respect timelines provided by the employer. If they say they will get back to you in a week, wait until you follow-up (you can send thank-you notes) the next day.

(This article has been adapted by Todd Dybas from existing reporting appearing on Get Hired by LinkedIn News and Get Hired by Andrew Seaman .)