Practical Steps to Never Bomb a Job Interview
Have you ever been on an interview where you started out strong and the next thing you know you are drawing a complete blank to a question? You begin sweating or rambling to the point where you didn’t even answer the question that was originally asked. Don’t worry, we have all been there at one point or another. My journey and expertise have helped me master the art and skill which we call Interviewing.
As a Career and Leadership Coach, I have had the opportunity to conduct many practice interviews with clients from various industries. I have also been on countless interviews myself throughout my professional career. As I reflect on my personal interview experiences, I can only recall the feelings and behaviors I had during each interview. I remember feeling the most confident when I was adequately prepared and being able to anticipate the questions I would be asked while sharing my knowledge and experience related to the position. As an interviewer, I have observed outstanding interviews and I have witnessed interviews that were painful to watch. Being both the interviewer and interviewee allowed me to understand both sides to dissect and uncover the best strategies to help individuals stand out in an interview every time.
Preparation before an interview is extremely important
Sometimes you may not spend enough time planning before an interview. I used to be a person who relied solely on my personality and enthusiasm to land a job and I wouldn’t bother conducting any research on the organization or company to prepare beforehand. This habit is what lead me to bomb a lot of interviews when I first started in my professional career. Below are some strategies that were game changers for me.
RESEARCH
Be sure to research the company or organization—You hear this all the time, but what exactly do you need to research?
o Know what the company or organization is about
Well for starters, I encourage my clients to always start with an organization’s mission, vision and values. Including words and phrases from the organization’s mission and values will guarantee you stand out. Reviewing relevant data, industry trends or related information to the organizations goals is also essential to answering questions effectively
o Identify and provide examples of what you are passionate about
Avoid sounding like a parrot by just mimicking a line or two. Truly pick phrases that align with your own personal values and experience. Doing so will help you be able to better tie the organizations overall mission to your own work experience or career goals with relevant examples.
o Review and understand the job description
The job description is a leading indicator of the types of questions you may be asked. Spend at least 30 minutes reviewing the job description and coming up with potential questions that they may be asked of you based on what you read. The more potential questions you can pull out, the more prepared you will be during an interview.
o Develop quality questions to ask at the end of an interview
It is essential to have questions ready to ask an employer at the end of your interview. An important question you should always ask is “When can I expect to hear back from you regarding this position” but is also necessary to research the organization to create other thoughtful questions. For example:
§ I was reviewing your company’s mission and vision and I wanted to know what are the department’s short- and long-term goals and how I could support with achieving these goals.
PRACTICE
o Practice with friend, mentor or career coach. I noticed when I began mastering my interviews, it was around the time I began to practice out loud with my mentor. Practicing with a trusted friend or mentor can provide you with critical feedback and support needed to increase your confidence during an interview. You will notice a difference with practicing silently in your mind by yourself, versus with a partner.
o If you don’t have someone to practice with you can use a recorder to practice. Pay close attention to the pace, tone, and content of your responses.
Don’t rely on your notes alone
After completing your research, many people might want to use those same notes while conducting the actual interview. Many companies are operating in remote spaces, it is not uncommon these days to have an interview through zoom or other virtual platforms. For many, virtual interviews have created less pressure and more room to prepared notes in advance for assisting with answering questions. This can serve as a great tool or crutch depending on how you use it. Recently, I was on an interview panel and one of the candidates read a presentation they had written out word for word. It didn’t allow for us to see their personality, knowledge or understanding of what was being asked. It left the committee having to fill in the pieces of what could have been a more robust and energetic presentation.
The goal of notes is to sound prepared, not rehearsed. Be cautious when using notes. While practicing, consider using themes or ideas rather than scripted lines or phrases. It is better to memorize the content or know it well enough to not have to rely on notes. The interview is designed for an employer to get to know you beyond your resume or application. If you find your notes are getting in the way of you making eye contact and engaging with your interviewer(s) it may be time for more practice.
Arrive 20 -30 minutes early
It is always best to arrive early so that you can test and screen for any hiccups such as parking woes or internet malfunctions.
If you are meeting in person, you may even consider arriving a day before to identify the exact location, building and floor or room your interview will take place. This will assure that you are not rushed or flustered when it is time for your interview to begin. This will decrease the likelihood of stress causing you to blunder through those precious first impressions.
For virtual or online interviews, it is crucial to arrive early to ensure your internet is functioning properly, your settings on zoom have been adjusted and that you have a quiet place to conduct your interview. Be sure to check for internet connectivity, sound, lighting, other equipment needed, and background visuals that may become a distraction during your interview. The worst thing you want is to have broken internet with choppy sound while you are being ask to explain why you are the best candidate for the position.
Finally remember the two “C” words: Confidence and Calm
One of my favorite quotes is by Marcus Garvey which states, “With confidence, you have won before you got started.” Demonstrating confidence in an interview begins before you even walk through the door. It starts with your mind and perception. If you start off with having thoughts that you are going to fail an interview, well chances are you will.
I found a great article called Seven ways to Boost Confidence during a Job Interview by Charlette Seager which provides important strategies:
1. Don’t forget to breathe- breathing is one of the simplest ways to calm our minds and gain focus
2. Remind yourself you prepared for this- If you were following my guide you have already done your research
3. Take your time- ask for time to review the question if needed and take the time to answer all parts. Do not rush yourself or the answers.
4. Visualize yourself succeeding- Take time to imagine what it would be like for you to own this role
5. Smile- forced or genuine smiling sends a message to our brain that we are okay while also making ourselves approachable to others.
Good luck with acing your first interview! We would love to hear from you on how it went. If you would like to hear more tips and practice with a Career & Leadership Coach feel free to contact SDW Consulting & Training at sdwconsulting.training@gmail.com.
