Interviewing for a job can be stressful. It make sense; it’s your big moment to make a great first impression, tell your story and shine.
Many introverts would rather get their teeth pulled than go in for an interview. And while the extroverts of the world may think interviewing is easy because of their ability to make small talk and connect quickly, they may not realize their gift of gab can be a killer. No matter what your personality is, here are three ways to crush your next interview and land the job of your dreams.
1. Get the basics right
First impressions are made within 30 seconds of meeting someone. So make sure you start off on the right foot by nailing these essentials:
Be early. This will avoid the unnecessary stress of cutting it close and give you time to mentally prepare.
Have good social etiquette. Make eye contact with every person you meet, have a strong (not too strong) handshake, smile and stand whenever anyone walks in the room.
Use good diction. Speak in full sentences. Do not use slang words or bad language and manage any local accents.
Dress appropriately. Always look clean and well pressed. Make sure all of your clothes fit – not too tight, not too loose. And dress for the job. If the company is conservative, look that way; if they are trendy, go with that. In general, play to the middle of the road to be safe. And don’t be afraid to ask what the dress code is before you come in. You don’t need to wear a suit to a company with a casual policy.
Be well groomed. Make sure your hair is neat, your nails are clean and filed, your makeup is suitable and you don’t smell. People notice bad breath and sweat … so don’t be that person!
Do your homework. Research the company and the individuals you are meeting so that you are fully versed on the business, the market and the people. Google everything!
Google yourself. Make sure you know what comes up as they will be searching you too. If you need to clean anything up, get it done.
Ask good questions. Know in advance the questions you will ask and add more in as you go along. Make sure you figure out what they are looking for in a candidate and learn about the company culture. Fit isn’t just about whether your experience matches up; it’s about whether you will fit within the company’s culture.
2. Tell your story
You have a great story to tell that makes you intelligent, interesting and perfect for this job – so tell it. Your resume is the visual outline of that story. Practice talking through it and crafting the story of your life and career.
Talk about where you started, why your interests led you in certain directions and the skills you developed along the way both intellectually and interpersonally. Go over your wins without bragging and fill in the gaps creatively wherever needed. Also come up with smart, fun and interesting anecdotes that highlight your expertise and personality throughout.
Lastly, have three things that represent the essence of who you are that you want your interviewer to know about as key takeaways. They can be characteristics like resilience, optimism, adaptability, curiosity, etc. and skills like being adept at problem solving, analytical with concepts or numbers, quick to problem solve, strong in writing, etc. The best way to do this is to pick three adjectives that best describe you and then back into the answers with sentences and stories. Make sure they are adjectives that makes sense for the job. For example, you may love nature but if you’re interviewing for a banking job, that is not relevant here.









