Author: Rushit Shah, Managing Director APAC and North America, Alcott Global
When it comes to nailing your job interview, preparation is vital. Here are six tips to help you ace your next interview:
1. Research the company
You may have heard this before, but do you know what information you should read before your interview?
- Product and Service provided by the company.
- Who are their customers/clients
- Where is the company HQ and approximately when was it founded?
- Company’s revenue and determine if they are profitable or experiencing losses, if possible.
- To stay informed, search the company name on Google and click on the news tab to see if there are any recent updates worth knowing.
Before your interview, it’s essential to research the above information about the company. Hiring managers often report that they want to avoid proceeding with candidates unfamiliar with the company or do not invest time in knowing the company before meeting the interview.
2. Practice your responses
Prepare for common interview questions, such as
- “Tell me about yourself.”
- “Why do you want to work for this company?”
- “What are your functional and personal forte/ strengths?”
Practice your answers with a friend or family member to help you feel confident and articulate during the interview.
3. Be specific
Most hiring managers will lose interest in candidates while interviewing them. The question asked by the hiring panel is not answered in the first 15 seconds of your response. This means if you are trying to tell a story and if the story does not start with the answer, you will lose the interview. Always start with answering first before giving the background information on the answer.
It is always better to admit when you do not know the answer. Trust me, you will get more credibility for being authentic and honest.
4. Show enthusiasm
Show your enthusiasm for the job and the company. This can be conveyed through your tone of voice, body language, and the questions you ask during the interview. This brings us to the most important point.
5. Ask Questions
It’s important to keep in mind that asking these questions serves two purposes: to gain insight into the hiring manager’s management style and to demonstrate your enthusiasm for the position. By asking thoughtful questions, you can show that you are evaluating the role while still being open to being evaluated yourself.
Here are some questions:
- Could you walk me through your management style and how do you like to be informed with work status/challenges/results?
- How do you measure success for this role?
- Can you describe the typical career progression for someone in this role?
- How would you describe the company culture and how does it support the success of the team?
- How do you prioritize tasks and delegate responsibilities within your team?
- Can you tell me more about the team I would be working with?
- What are the immediate priorities for the organization, and how does this role contribute to achieving those priorities?
6. Follow up
After the interview, send a thank-you email to the interviewer to express your appreciation for the opportunity and reiterate your interest in the position.
By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to nailing your job interview. Good luck!
