Nail Your Next Job Interview With These Four Fun Tips

If you have a job interview coming up (or want to have one coming up), it pays to get ready and not "wing it." Interviewers can tell, and it doesn't typically end up with great results.?

So if you are someone who wants to stand out and showcase what you can do for a potential employer, let's do this!

I present to you, the Four P's of Job Interviews:

1 - Prepare

This first tip is likely the most important, and there is a lot that goes into preparation for a job interview. Spend the time necessary to be ready to present yourself well.

Here are some of the top ways I recommend to prepare:

• Research the company: Learn about what new initiatives they are doing. If it's a huge company, learn about the specific division and team. Figure out what their values are and what their culture looks like. Make sure this fits well with what you want, and identify ways that your values align with theirs.
• Get to know the job description: What are they looking for? What skills, both technical and otherwise, did they highlight? What are they asking the new hire to do? Look for the PROBLEM they are trying to solve, and figure out how you can be the solution to the problem.
• Practice Telling Your Story: Almost all interviews will use some form of behavioral interviewing. Get to know the STAR framework to tell meaningful and relevant stories that showcase your skills, abilities, and impact.
• Identify Your Relevant Personal Brand: An interview is an opportunity to be memorable for the best parts about you. So find ways to highlight your top skills beyond just burying them in your stories. State them explicitly, then back them up with a story. This will make it more memorable for those you talk with.

2 - Pee

Literally, go to the bathroom. You don't want a distraction like this.?

If you're anything like me, you'll probably need to go ahead of time because it's just a bit of a nervous situation.

Take care of it, and remove one potential stressor off the list.

3 - (Do Something) Physical

It's nice to get the blood pumping somehow, especially for a virtual interview. You want your body and mind prepped for a great experience.

Some people like to go for a walk and get out in nature to refresh themselves and get some fresh air.

If I'm crunched for time, I like doing a few pushups that break the mold of sitting in a chair. Don't do them to exhaustion, but a few can increase your heart rate a bit and engage your body in a healthy way without wearing you out.

Just find something that works for you to prime yourself for a great interview.

4 - Power Pose!

This sounds silly, but do it.

Get in your best superhero or Rocky Balboa pose. Get big, look strong, and smile.

This comes from research from Amy Cuddy and other researchers (check out this very popular TED Talk) that shows that striking a power pose for even just two minutes can reduce the stress hormone and increase confidence.

That sounds like exactly what you need going into a job interview!

Take Intentional Action

This part is easy to write - use the Four P's to get ready for your next interview!

That's all!

Accelerate Your Career

If you're ready to accelerate your career and leadership further and want some help doing it, here are a few ways I can help when you're ready:

1. Get a FREE Engineering Leadership Guide - the Accelerate Your Leadership 90 Day Plan, specifically built for engineers and technology leaders (and those aspiring to become leaders in the future).
2. Enroll in the Engineering Career Accelerator - the exact system that dozens of engineers have used to go from confused to thriving in their careers.
3. Schedule a free call with me to talk about getting personalized 1:1 and group support on your goals.

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