8 TIPS TO HELP YOU MASTER INTERVIEWS
Do you freeze at the idea of doing an interview? If you are anything like me, the thought of an interview can be a source of stress since there is normally a lot at stake; a job I’ve always wanted, career advancement, or simply wanting to make the right first impression. Most of us experience this because we spend hours working on our resumes and cover letters but unfortunately do not put in the same effort when it comes to preparing. The key to confidence when at an interview is being well prepared.
Our performance at interviews can be a pivotal factor that decides whether we land our dream job or not. It is critical to learning how to master interviews. Practising beforehand can help and make the whole process immensely smoother. We only have one chance to make a great first impression.
Here are 8 tips to help you master interviews.
- Gather as much information as possible about the interviewer beforehand: name of the company, company’s vision and goals, information on their website, social media, and news articles about the company and especially the HR department.
- When it comes to preparing answers, a great method is to use GOS, where you outline a Goal, Obstacles, and Solution. “We had a problem with serving customers on time (Goal), customers were leaving (Obstacles). To overcome the problem, I… (Solution).”
- The 50-50: You need to know when to listen and when to speak. Both are equally important.
- The 30-2: Get to the point. Answer questions between 30 seconds and two minutes at a time.
- Prepare a list of questions to help keep you focused and on time.
- After you provide a two-minute summary of what you know about the company, as well as your background, ask the questions that you prepared.
- Bring a copy of your resume with you to the meeting.
- Be honest and be yourself. Trying to give answers you think the interviewer wants to hear instead of what you truly think or who you really are will get you in trouble down the road.