First Interview Tips that will Help You Nail It
If you just snagged your very first interview you’re probably both excited and nervous. Don’t worry, here are some first interview tips to help you nail it.
Do you have a really important interview coming up?
It’s OK to be nervous; in fact, most people struggle with anxiety when it comes to interviews. They can be especially scary when the job is a higher position or a really good career move.
Learning to nail an interview is a skill that’s necessary for any career. If you’re not careful, your nerves can botch the whole operation.
Fortunately, we are here to help. The best way to combat anxiety is with knowledge, so we’ve put together a list of first interview tips that, when followed correctly, will help you nail any interview.
Let’s get started.
Use Body Language to Your Advantage
Your first tip for an interview is to take advantage of your body language. This is especially important in the first five minutes of any interview, as this is going to give the potential employer the first impression.
Sit comfortably in an untensed position with your hands resting in your lap or by your side. Remember to make eye contact with the person conducting the interview and smile.
Know Your Resume
Always make sure you know what you put on your resume.
Since resumes are supposed to be short, single-page papers, it’s likely that you’ve tailored your resume to the job that you’re applying for. This is all fine and dandy, just make sure you don’t forget what you wrote on the resume.
If this is a concern of yours, you might consider creating a curriculum vitae, or CV for short. While a resume is short into the point, a CV will have every reward, accomplishment, and job that you’ve ever had. Print this out and bring it to the interview.
Research the Company BEFORE the Interview
Most of the time, the first few minutes of an interview will be of the interviewer telling you a little bit about the company. However, in some situations, the interviewer will ask you what you know about the company already.
You never want to be in a situation where you’ve just been asked this question, and you don’t know anything about the company.
An easy way to do a little bit of digging before the interview is to go onto the companies website
and read the about us page. 9 times out of 10, this will tell you everything you need to know.
Ask Questions
And finally, always ask questions. There is a reason interviewers ask you at the end of an interview if you have questions for them.
Asking questions shows the interviewer that you actually have an interest in the company and aren’t looking for just any job. You can ask questions about company values, clientele, and advancement opportunities.
Try to avoid questions about scheduling time or salaries, as these can give a bad impression. These questions are better saved for after you’ve passed the interview. Remember that you can always turn down the position once it’s yours!
Use These First Interview Tips
As obvious as it sounds, this is the most important tip. Don’t forget everything you’ve learned here today.
When your anxiety is high, and your nerves are fried, it’s easy to forget everything and find yourself with a blank slate.
If you diligently apply these first interview tips, your chances of getting hired will soar. Nevertheless, it’s always a good idea to lineup several interviews so that you can choose a career that best suits your lifestyle.
Search through hundreds of careers now and start lining up those interviews today.
