How To Prepare For Interviews

The job market is on the up and up, and companies are doing well and hiring. Standing out in interview is of utmost importance, especially with tough competition. With an influx of information on the internet and elsewhere, there is a definite influx of sometimes confusing and contradictory info.  You might be wondering what is good career advice, and what advice you should downright ignore.  There are a number of common misconceptions related to interview best practices. Below are tips that can help you stand out from other candidates and avoid frequent mistakes so you get hired.

Be prepared with a list of questions to ask at the close of the interview: You should always be prepared, and that usually includes developing questions related to the job. Think of an interview as a sales call. You are the product and you are selling yourself to the employer. You can’t be passive in a sales call or you aren’t going to sell your product. Asking a follow-up question at the tail end of your responses will do you good.

Do not show weakness in an interview: The reality is that it is OK to have flaws. In fact, almost every interviewer will ask you to name one. Typically job seekers are told to either avoid this question by providing a “good flaw.” One such “good flaw” which is often recommends is: “I am too committed to my work.” But, these kinds of responses will only hurt you. Recruiters conduct interviews all day, every day. They’ve seen it all and can see through candidates who dodge questions. They prefer to hire someone who is honest than someone who is obviously lying. And for those of you who claim to be flaw-free, think again. Everybody has weaknesses but one is enough. Provide your interviewer with one genuine flaw, explain how you are working to correct it, and then move on to a new question.

Be sure to point out all of your strengths and skills to the employer: Of course, you want the interviewer to know why you are a valuable candidate, but a laundry list of your skills isn’t going to win you any points. Inevitably, in an interview, you will be asked about your skills. You don’t want to list a litany of strengths. Sample responses are as follows: ‘I’m a good communicator,’ ‘I have excellent interpersonal skills,’ ‘I am responsible.’  You have to give accomplishments. The interviewer needs to know what you accomplished when using these skills. Experts recommend doing a little groundwork before your interview so that you are best equipped to answer this question. Find out what the prospective job role consists of. What makes an interview powerful is to give an example related to your particular needs or challenges that you have demonstrated in the past. Provide three strengths, with examples. You will get much further with a handful of real strengths than with an unconvincing list of traits.

Are you currently job hunting and not sure what to do or where to start? Let APEX Career Services help you! Our Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC) and Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) is always happy to help you put your best foot forward.  Contact us today at www.ApexCareerServices.com/Services to get started!