A few years ago, I found myself in a situation similar to that of many young people. I graduated from university full of expectations, but the job market didn't seem to have a place for me. I sent out countless CVs and became obsessed with job hunting. The result? I learned that, even though I lacked experience, I could always learn something new to help me achieve my goal.
Today, I want to share some practical tips for facing a job interview, based on my experience and what I've learned over the years.
- Research the Company: Find out what you have in common with the company, such as hobbies, values or interests, and use this to connect more genuinely with the brand. It's also important to memorise or learn their mission, vision and services, as mentioning these during the interview, even in a simple phrase, will be seen positively by the recruiter.
- Prepare Questions: Think of questions to understand how they work, their goals and how you can contribute to them (let them tell you what they have in mind for you). I used this approach because if I was rejected, I could at least use that information to improve as a professional and ask better questions in future interviews (building on each experience).
- Dress Appropriately: Opt for "business casual" attire. If you're unsure what this means, a quick Google search will give you plenty of options.
- Positive Attitude: Go in with an open and learning mindset. Although it sounds easy to say, my greatest successes came when I approached the interview as a practice session and an opportunity to learn about a position, sector or company.
- Professional Language: Remember, you're not in the schoolyard or having beers with friends. Use appropriate language and be clear in what you say; if they have to think about what you've said or lose attention, you're on the wrong track.
- Active Listening: Pay close attention to what the interviewer says, as you can use everything to your advantage. Also, never interrupt; if you want to ask about something they've mentioned, wait until they ask you a question and then say something like, "Yes, before answering your question, I'd like to ask about [concept the recruiter mentioned] to better respond." This shows respect and makes it clear that you're interested in understanding their perspective.
- Clear and Concise Answers: As mentioned before, your message should be memorised; know your story well and summarise it in a direct and concise message. To highlight your strengths, connect them with comments made by the recruiter (for example, if they mention having issues with a particular tool and you know how to solve it, make a brief comment on how you usually handle that problem and acknowledge that it's a common issue).
- Body Language: Simply maintain eye contact, smile and sit up straight.
- Ask Questions: Inquire about the company and the team you'll be working with; after all, they will be your colleagues for many years (or so we hope), so ask about them and how you can help.
- Closing the Conversation: NEVER, under any circumstances, end the interview yourself; let the recruiter be the one to conclude the conversation.
- Stay in Touch: Keep the recruiter's contact information and when they contact you, make sure to remember their name.
- Reflect: After interviews, we often dwell on our mistakes, but we neither note them down nor think about what we did well. So, don't leave empty-handed.
- Patience: Don't chase the recruiter for a response. What recruiters hate most is a candidate constantly messaging or calling to check the status of their application.
What helped me survive the job search was being patient and learning from my mistakes. It's true that the job market isn't fair and seems governed by luck, but if you continuously plan your strategies and tailor your message to those who want to hear it, you'll get the job you want (even if it doesn't seem like it).
?? If you liked my tips, feel free to give a "like", and if you think they could help someone you know, share them without hesitation.
