This article on job interviews tips first appeared on August 20, 2019, and was updated to reflect new information on job interview tips on August 24, 2021.
Getting hired is the result of give and take between a candidate and employer when they reach a decision that they are the right fit for each other.
“You’re hired.” Those are the words you’re hoping to hear at the end of the interview process. You’ve read all the advice from friends and self-help books, but somehow much of that information gets lost when you’re sitting across from the person making the decision.
It’s time to lighten up a little and cut yourself some slack. Don’t worry whether your handshake failed the firmness test. Don’t agonize about whether you said ‘um’ too many times when you were speaking.
Here are some tips that might make your next interview more pleasant and less stressful.
@RevealGlobal says that you may be going to interviews with some common misconceptions. Check out these tips if you want to know what you should really be thinking about before and during an interview:@RevealGlobal
Job Interview Tip #1: HR Personnel Don’t Really Want to Interview You
Does that shock you? Many hiring managers dread formal interviews as much as you do. On average, interviews take up about two-thirds of the hiring manager’s time during the recruitment process. That estimate includes prep, the actual interview, and follow-up for each candidate. It’s an intensive process.
Hiring managers don’t just want the same old same old for each interview. What they really want is to make the experience personal to you. They want a conversation rather than a question-and-answer period.
So take advantage of the situation when the hiring manager asks you about your goals or philosophy and opens up about yourself. This interaction will help to indicate whether you’re likely to enjoy working there.
Job Interview Tip #2: You Should Have Questions Too
The hiring manager wants to hear from you, but you should be engaged beyond simply answering questions about your resume. Before interviewing at different companies, write up some generic questions that you can use with minor adjustments at just about any interview.
You want to ask questions that demonstrate that you’ve actually considered the position. The best questions will indicate to the hiring manager about your interests and concerns, and the answers will help you decide whether you actually want the position.
Job Interview Tip #3: Your Resume Isn’t as Important as Your Online Presence
Your resumé is often a polished picture of you and may not show the depth of your personality. Your online presence, on the other hand, will tell the hiring manager much more about you. Make sure your online presence describes the person you want the hiring manager to see.
Job Interview Tip #4: Let the Hiring Manager See How Passionate You Are about Succeeding
Don’t hold back on how much you need to succeed. The hiring manager will be happy to see a person who is ambitious about succeeding in the job. By the same token, you might ask the hiring manager whether he is ambitious. Does his answer describe the kind of environment you want to spend the next several years in?
Job Interview Tip #5: Hiring Managers Want to Have Fun
The hiring process takes an average of 27 days, and that’s per position. If a company is hiring for multiple positions at once, the process can drag on and on. The hiring manager is definitely going to be feeling the fatigue.
Do your part to make the recruiting process enjoyable. The interviewer wants the process to be enjoyable as you do. Don’t put on a false front – open yourself up. The hiring manager will appreciate the relaxing atmosphere and may look at your candidacy more favorably.
Have you ever considered the interview process from a Hiring Manager's perspective? That may be exactly what you need to do to finally start nailing interviews. Here are @RevealGlobal’s tips:@RevealGlobal
Job Interview Tip #6: The Future Is More Important than the Past
What you’ve accomplished in the past is an indication of your abilities, but the hiring manager is more interested in what you can do for the future of his organization if he hires you. Talk about what you can do for the company – not about your past accomplishments.
Ask questions about the trajectory of the company, and then weave your own plans in. Discuss how you’d like to grow and progress in your career, and then the hiring manager can relate your path with that of the company.
Remember, the interview is a foundation. It’s the beginning of a process you’re embarking on alongside the company. Approach the interview with that perspective, and the hiring manager will see that you’re thinking bigger than the right way to answer a couple of questions.
Job Interview Tip #7: Network, Network, Network
Network with professionals who can vouch for you whenever you have the chance. It’s only natural that the hiring manager will be likely to favor a candidate that has been vouched for by a mutual connection. Keep your networks fresh.
Looking for a new job does not have to be a painful process. Be honest and open during interviews, and you will be likely to end up at the right decision about which offer to take!
Be Yourself and Good Things Will Follow
The biggest factor that differentiates you from everyone else the hiring manager will be interviewing is you. You don't have to be perfect. You've just got to be yourself. It's a conversation between you and another real person. The hiring manager just wants to get to know you and see if you're a good fit. That shouldn't be scary! It should be exciting!
