Congratulations on being selected for an interview! You are ready to take on a new job, but first you have to ace your next interview. Don't worry, our team at MVP is here to show you the best way to secure that new job by impressing the hiring manager during the interview process.
Before we start sharing the five essential interview tips, it’s first important to note the ever-changing interview landscape. Virtual interviews were unheard of nearly twenty years ago, but a recent Indeed survey of 1,100 US employers shows that 82% of respondents currently conduct virtual interviews with 93% expecting to continue to use them in the future. Our tips take online interviews, in-person interviews, phone interviews and other virtual interviews into account so you are able to succeed no matter the environment.
Let's get started!
1. Research The Company & Position
You applied to the job because you thought that you would be a good fit. Now, it is time to really dive deep into the role and the company in order to stand out as the best candidate. An initial phone interview usually consists of answering a few behavioral interview questions as well as explaining what drew you to apply to this position in the first place. Take some time to really think about why you want to work at this company and what skills you can specifically bring to this job. Here are some steps you can take during the research portion.
- Re-read the job description and see how it aligns to your long-term career goals.
- Scan multiple pages of the company's website, read the company's mission statement and search for recent news articles about the company. Use your research to generate three questions about the company ranging from cursory questions to hyper-specific questions. An introductory online interview is typically more relaxed, but it is still a good idea to ask about the company (ex. What is the company culture like here?). However, at the final interview in the interview process, it is smart to ask a more specific question (ex. How will the upcoming merger between Slack and Salesforce affect the long-term growth of this position?).
2. Practice Answering Interview Questions
Practicing answering interview questions requires more than simply having stellar answers. Body language, intonation, expression, eye contact, what you wear--these things can go a long way in making a great first impression.
Answering Questions: Use our list of 21 Common Interview Questions to practice what you will say during the interview. We recommend using the STAR method to share concrete examples while you are answering your interview questions.
Body Language: If you have multiple rounds of video interviews, we recommend recording yourself while you practice answering the questions to see what you will look like. Then, you can watch the recording of yourself to see if you have good posture, hear what intonation you use and better understand your facial expressions. If you have an in-person interview, we recommend doing a mock interview with a family member or friend.
Location: You want everything to run smoothly on the day of the interview, which is why you should always find a fantastic location for both video and phone interviews. For video interviews, you want to make sure that you have good lighting and that your equipment is capable of having a full screen interview. Both video and phone interviews should be conducted in a quiet place with minimal outside noise.
3. Take a Deep Breath Before the Interview
It's finally the big day! You are ready to interview for your dream job and are completely prepared. Taking a moment to feel confident in yourself before the actual interview is important for your goal of creating a great impression. Remember to take a deep breath! Go into online and in-person interviews with positive energy and a confident, calm demeanor. You got this!
4. How to Keep Calm During The Interview
You are prepared to show the best version of yourself during the interview process, but nerves can get the best of everyone. The good news is that we have a few tricks so you can stay calm in front of your prospective employer.
"False" Eye Contact: If you have difficulty maintaining eye contact with the hiring manager, look at their forehead or at the top of your computer screen.
Show Your Passion: Employers love to see a potential employee's passion for the position. If you are feeling nervous, try translating that into excitement. Simply saying, "I'm really excited about the position because of x,y and z," is a great way to subtly encourage the interviewer to interpret your nervousness as positive, excited energy.
Take Notes: Taking concise notes while being interviewed is a great way to get in an extra breath while also showing your interest in the position.
5. Send A Thank You Note
You aced the interview! Now it's time for one of the most important things in the interview process: the thank you note. If it's a phone interview or the first interview in the hiring process, an emailed thank you note will suffice. However, if you are in the final stages of the interview process, you can stand out as an ideal candidate by mailing a handwritten note. See How to Write a Stellar Thank You Note After Your Interview here.
Good luck on your job application process and we hope that our tips help land you a fantastic job offer.