Top 5 Interview Tips: Impress the Interviewer and Get Hired!

A successful interview depends on how well you prepare prior to the interview. From my own experience being interviewed by several HR Managers, I have listed below my top 5 interview tips that you must consider in order to succeed in any interview with any company.

1) Knowing the Employer

Do your homework a couple of days before the interview. Discover the company you are applying to through their website, social media sites or speaking to friends who know the industry or probably have worked there before. You should look for the most important details such as the company main services, achievements and recent events. At the beginning stage of an interview, HR/Recruitment Managers often ask how well you know their company, so impress them with your full knowledge of the company.

2) Complete Understanding of the Job Description (JD)

It is always smart to ask for the Job Description of the position you are applying for before submitting your application. By fully understanding the duties and responsibilities listed, you clearly know what is expected of you and may even anticipate the interviewer's questions and prepare answers to specific questions in advance. Always be well-prepared and take advantage of available resources.

3) Selling Yourself in the "Tell Me About Yourself" Part

"Tell me about yourself" is a common question asked in the early stage of an interview. You can already convince the interviewer to choose you if you sell yourself well here. In your answer, you should only talk about the most relevant skills, experience and qualifications to the job you are applying for. For example, do not speak about your previous experience as a Receptionist while you are applying for a Sales Executive position. Try to match your answers to the responsibilities in the JD as much as you can.

4) Speaking from Experience, not from Opinion

Interviewers would love to hear your practical experience and real stories, not what you think about a given situation. If you are asked to respond to a scenario, please avoid saying "I think"or "maybe". Try to link the provided scenario to experiences you had in your previous companies. You should start with something like "Well, in my previous experience as an Accountant, I...". Your answers are stronger when you relate them to your past experience. Oftentimes, you are asked to give an example of a problem you faced at work and how you dealt with it. Again, speak from experience, not from opinion.

5) Convincing the Interviewer You are the Right Candidate

Do your homework before going to the interview. Identify your key strengths in relation to the job you are applying for and select the best 3 reasons why you should be hired. At the end of an interview, HR/Recruitment Mangers usually ask why they should hire you among many other candidates. Remember: Always be well-prepared and take advantage of available resources.

Disclaimer: This article is written from my own understanding and research about the subject matter. So, it does not contain any copyrighted materials. I am open to hearing your constructive feedback if any.