As having an interview with a hiring manager can be daunting, interview tips can be a great way to prepare for it and help you ace it. That is why we provide you with the best ones to boost your confidence and your chances of success.
By the end of this article, you’ll know how to best present yourself and highlight your most impressive skills and accomplishments. These interview tips are for students and senior executives alike, and they’ll help you give an outstanding performance, grabbing any hiring manager's attention. Let’s dive in!
Key Takeaways
Before the interview, you should research as much as you can about the company, interviewers, salaries in your field, dress codes, and more.
A mock interview can help you polish your body language and communication.
During the interview, you should be authentic and show genuine enthusiasm for the role while answering questions concisely and with relevant details.
You should send a thank-you email within 24 hours after the interview.
Don’t forget to follow up if you don’t get a response within the established timeframe.
You shouldn't stop sending job applications to other companies while waiting for a response.
9 Interview Tips: What to Do Before the Interview
Preparation is the key to success, so let’s see some interview tips you should keep in mind before the interview to maximize your chances of leaving a good impression.
#1. Research the Company in Depth
When you research the company for an interview, you can obtain invaluable information about its products or services, team, mission, values, goals, and more. The insight you get this way can be extremely valuable in coming up with optimal answers to interview questions.
To do research, you can check out the company’s website, social media pages, LinkedIn profiles of its employees, and more. You can also look up recent publications, industry reports, or news articles to find out fresh information.
You can highlight the skills and experiences needed by the company that are relevant to the role. Moreover, you can tailor your answers to show that you’re a good cultural fit for the company.
Another benefit of displaying in-depth knowledge of the company during the interview is to demonstrate dedication and engagement. You’ll show that you’re truly invested in their work and likely a good fit.
#2. Learn About the Interviewers
In addition to learning about the company, you also want to find out more about your job interviewers. Understanding who you will be talking to during the meeting can give you an advantage.
By knowing about the interviewer’s background, role, expertise, interests, and other aspects, you’ll be able to connect with them better. That will help you understand their perspective and anticipate what they are looking for in candidates.
For instance, addressing the interviewer by their name at the start helps build rapport from the get-go. Moreover, you can reference some of their work to showcase interest and demonstrate that you did research.
#3. Practice Answers in Advance
Practicing answers in advance is crucial to ensuring you’re on top of your game during the actual interview. Even if you know what to say to some of the most common interview questions, you should still take the time to practice giving answers, whether by yourself or with someone else.
You can record yourself talking, practice in front of a mirror, or set up a mock interview with a friend, mentor, or colleague. This will allow you to spot areas for improvement, whether it’s about improving your delivery or memorizing important details.
For instance, you can practice using the STAR method to answer behavioral interview questions. This structured approach can help you convey as much information as concisely as possible without rambling or missing out on some important details.
#4. Prepare a Set of Questions for the Interviewers
One of the typical questions interviewers ask candidates toward the end of the meeting is, “Do you have any questions for us?” It’s vital to have several of them prepared for this occasion, as it demonstrates your genuine interest in the company and the job that you’re applying for.
Even if hiring managers don’t explicitly ask you this question, you can still inquire about their company and its culture, the team, their products or services, any notable challenges they have faced, and more.
When you ask the questions, be sure that the answers aren’t readily available on the company’s website or social media profiles. You want to get deeper insights about the organization to figure out whether they are a good fit for you and simultaneously show that you already know a lot about them.
#5. Know Your Salary
You should go to an interview with salary expectations set in advance. That’s why researching the industry and the role that you’re after is important—to determine the median salary for someone with your level of skill and experience. The insight obtained will help you negotiate a salary and obtain a favorable outcome.
Typically, you want to give hiring managers a range and keep a discussion open. This shows flexibility and ensures negotiations don’t end if your request is outside the budget they have prepared for the role.
On the flip side, knowing the salary range saves you from accepting less than you deserve. You’ll be better prepared to ask for the salary and benefits that match the value you can bring to the company.
#6. Plan an Appropriate Outfit
Having an appropriate outfit is vital for creating a good first impression. Knowing what to wear to an interview shows that you understand the industry and helps you present yourself in a professional manner.
Many companies have a dress code that you should adhere to. For corporate environments, you’ll likely want to wear more formal outfits, such as suits, blazers, and pencil skirts. Conversely, creative industries might have casual dress codes, allowing for trousers, button-down shirts, blouses, and even sports jackets and jeans.
Following a dress code shows that you respect the organization and understand its culture. It will also make you feel more comfortable, helping you focus on giving optimal answers to interview questions. An appropriate outfit can even help alleviate interview anxiety, as you won’t feel fidgety and uneasy.
#7. Plan What You Will Bring to an Interview
You should always bring certain items with you to an interview. For starters, you should always bring a few copies of your resume. You always need one copy to use as a reference, and if there is more than one interviewer, you might need to give them copies, too. Make sure to use high-quality resume paper for a professional look.
You should also bring a notebook and a pen to write down key points from the interview, which you’ll need for future meetings and follow-up emails. Finally, you can bring a list of references if you haven’t submitted it already.
All of this should be neatly packed in an organized folder or briefcase. Avoid bringing large bags that can clutter up the space.
#8. Review Your Resume
While you should have a copy of your resume with you during the interview, it’s much better if you know all the information by heart. That’s why you should carefully go through the document before the interview to refresh your memory and ensure you remember every detail about your skills, experience, and education.
That will help you maintain an uninterrupted conversation while giving answers in a fluid and confident manner. You’ll also maintain consistency between your answers and the information in your resume, which will further reinforce the idea that you’re a competent candidate.
Finally, you might even be able to anticipate potential questions if you see hiring managers going gradually through your resume. That will give you a few additional moments to prepare a better answer.
#9. Conduct a Mock Interview
Having a mock interview as a rehearsal before the main event is one of the best ways to prepare. You can have a mock interview with anyone, from your friends and family members to colleagues and mentors.
To get the most out of your mock interview, you should approach it as if it were the real one. That includes everything from putting on your interview outfit to giving answers with the same gravity and professionalism as if you were in front of a hiring manager.
This way, you can figure out whether there’s something you need to change or improve. Also, the person conducting your mock interview can give you constructive criticism regarding some aspects of your performance that you may not have been aware of.
5 Interview Tips to Keep in Mind While Having the Interview
Now that we’ve given you the key interview tips to help you prepare for the meeting, let’s see what you should keep in mind during it.
#1. Be Mindful of Your Body Language
Body language plays a significant role during a job interview, as it’s one of the most important aspects of non-verbal communication. The way you carry yourself and present yourself should convey confidence and professionalism. This includes giving a firm handshake, maintaining eye contact with the interviewer, staying calm and composed, and so on.
You can show that you’re actively listening to the hiring manager through body language. Simply smiling and nodding when appropriate demonstrates that you’re engaged in the conversation and paying close attention to the other party. Conversely, fidgeting, crossing your arms, or looking away frequently can be interpreted as signs of nervousness or even disinterest.
#2. Show Enthusiasm but Remain Balanced
Genuine enthusiasm is a powerful indicator of a dedicated professional. Hiring managers and employers always look for candidates who are driven and passionate about their jobs, as they are likely to be efficient and deliver high-quality work.
However, you don’t want to overdo it and demonstrate excitement to the point of over-exaggeration. An overly enthusiastic approach can be interpreted as unprofessional, desperate, disingenuous, and overall off-putting.
Instead, you want to maintain a calm demeanor while still displaying keen interest through your questions, answers, and body language. For example, you can talk about specific aspects of the job, the company and its culture, the potential for your career’s progress within the organization, and more.
#3. Prepare for Small Talk
Small talk is vital in interpersonal interactions. It can be a crucial first step in developing long-term relationships in a business environment. Small talk at the beginning of an interview can establish a friendly and positive tone, connect you with the interviewer on a more personal level, and help ease the tension.
Remember to keep the conversation light and avoid any controversial topics. You can talk about some recent news relevant to the industry, shared interests, or even the weather. A brief small talk can help you appear more friendly and approachable. Plus, it’s a strong indicator of verbal communication skills, which are highly valuable in most workplaces.
#4. Be Authentic
Authenticity is another quality that can help you genuinely connect with the interviewer. Being honest and straightforward about your skills, experiences, drive, and motivation builds trust and demonstrates dependability.
If you’re adjusting your answers too much to give interviewers what they want to hear, you might end up creating a false image. This can lead to inconsistencies in your answers, which can have a negative impact on your chances of reaching further stages of the interview process.
By giving honest answers and sharing authentic examples from your professional history, you can present your case in a more relatable and impressive manner. Ultimately, transparency from both parties can help figure out whether you’re a good mutual fit.
#5. Be Concise and Relevant
Conciseness and relevance are crucial in giving the best possible answers to interview questions. You want to give interviewers all the relevant information without meandering or going too far away from the main point.
For instance, the STAR method we mentioned previously offers a methodical framework: first, describe the situation, then follow up with your tasks, actions, and, finally, results. While you can’t use this method to answer questions like “Tell me about yourself,” this interview tip helps you stay on track and not weaken your answer with irrelevant details.
Conversely, responding clearly and succinctly demonstrates strong communication skills and shows respect for the interviewer’s time.
3 Interview Tips: What to Do After the Interview
Here are some interview tips and tricks on what you should do after the meeting to maximize your chances of success.
#1. Send a Thank You Email
Sending a thank-you email after the interview is a great way to stay on top of the hiring manager’s mind. You should send the email within 24 hours after the meeting. That way, you’ll make your performance more memorable. While the email should be brief, you can use it to do more than just thank the interviewer. For an even bigger impact and display of enthusiasm, you can mention a specific topic from your discussion that you found genuinely interesting.
Finally, you can include a call to action at the end, suggesting that you’re excited for your next interview or the next stage in the hiring process and looking forward to their call.
#2. Follow Up
If you haven’t heard back from the hiring manager within the timeframe they gave you, you should send a follow-up email to check your status and restate your enthusiasm. This email should be brief and polite, professionally asking whether there are any updates regarding your job interview.
The key here is to strike a balance between being respectful of the hiring manager’s time and expressing your ongoing interest in the role. By doing that, you’ll get back on their radar and likely increase your chances of getting a response.
Moreover, you can send several follow-up emails. You can send one within the first week and then one every following week to try to get an answer. Of course, if you haven’t heard from them for more than a month, it’s likely time to move on.
#3. Don’t Stop Sending Job Applications
Even if you feel that your job interview was a success, you shouldn’t stop sending job applications to other companies. Hiring processes are unpredictable, and you can never be certain of an outcome. It’s not uncommon for job seekers to have interviews with multiple companies before finally landing the role that they are after.
Not only that, but you may end up receiving several offers, which you can then use as leverage to increase your chances or negotiate a better salary and benefits. Plus, it’s easier to stay focused and motivated when you’re working on finding your next job instead of waiting for a response, sometimes for weeks.
Ultimately, if you get rejected in the end, it’s much easier to handle it with grace when you know you have other options. You can thank the hiring manager one last time and suggest they keep you in mind should there be another opening fit for your skills and qualifications in the future.
Final Thoughts
Preparing for a job interview is a complex endeavor that involves careful consideration of many different aspects. That’s why some of these interview tips help with questions, while others tell you what to do long after the meeting is finished.
By following them, you’ll ensure solid preparation for the meeting, optimal performance during the conversation, and a proper follow-up. Remember to take every interview as a learning experience and understand that you’re getting better even if you don’t succeed immediately.
These interview tips will help you get a competitive edge, so don’t hesitate to apply them to your efforts. Best of luck!
