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3 Tips On How To Ace Your Next Interview
July 28, 2022
The past few years disrupted our lives and the workplace experienced a shift – opportunities suddenly decreased, competition became more intense, and there was time for reflection on your career path.
This year, the workforce is slowly improving and many companies are posting job openings and beginning to recruit new people.
If you are pursuing a new job opportunity, how will you ace the job interview?
In preparation for your next job interview, check out these 3 interview techniques that are sure to position you as the right candidate for the job!
By Emma Seckinger
1. ZOOM INTERVIEW TIPS
As virtual interviews become more and more common, there are many more aspects that you need to consider for making a good first impression:
- Test your lighting in advance – You don’t want to be overexposed or too dark. Get natural light on your face not behind you. If not natural light, get a cheap lamp and shine it on your face where the lamp doesn’t show on camera.
- Adjust the camera angle – you don’t want the interviewer to see your double chin or your increasingly receding hairline. The camera angle should just barely cut off the very top of your head.
- Pay attention to your background and try to keep it simple
- Whether you are interviewing in-person or virtually, pay attention to your clothing and dress for the position you want!
Your visual first impression is good to go – how can you also leave a deep first impression about your mindset?
Therefore, you need to convey the right mindset at the beginning of the interview, so that the interviewer will immediately know who you are (young, ambitious, or ready to face challenges?).
For example, if you are interviewing for a job that develops business partners, you need to show ambition and determination. If the position is hiring someone to optimize the processes, you will want to emphasize meticulous thinking and attention to detail.
2. SKILLS MAPPING
You now know that you need to deliver a relevant mindset at the beginning of your interview, but how do you know what mindsets are required for the job?
You need to do a skills mapping before the interview.
Imagine you are going to interview for a job selling ice cream on the street. How do you tell the interviewer that you are the perfect candidate for this job?
You can analyze this position using the 3R method. First, understand the job description and the company:
- Responsibilities (client-facing, make ice cream)
- Requirements/Experience (previous experience selling ice cream)
- Research (this ice cream brand is low-cal and not too sweet)
Then, identify your skills:
- Soft skills (good at communication & sales)
- Hard skills (experienced at selling a product)
- Motivation (passion for health and low-calorie snacks that taste good)
Then, map your skills to the three R’s. After this process, you will know what the position needs, if you have what they need, and how you can make the connection in your interview.
3. THINK.EDIT.SPEAK
If you have interviewed in the past, you probably have encountered some tough or unexpected questions. Add on some nerves and it can be easy to word vomit.
When asked a question, don’t rush to answer. First, think about what information the other person really wants to gain. Then, edit what you want to say in your brain as quickly as possible. Finally, speak it out.
For example, do you when an interviewer asks you “what do you think of the former boss”, he/she really wants to know the ups and downs between you and your former boss? No, he/she may want to know what kind of person you are through your evaluation of others, so think first.
Bonus Tip
The benefit of this three-step habit is not only to make your answers more organized and concise (and less weak language!), but this half-minute silence before you actually answer will also make the interviewer feel that you are not a person who will blurt out casually, but a person who will think seriously and thoughtfully before giving a response.
