Interview Skills That Will Get You Hired: Tips For A Successful Interview

Depending on your career path, job interviews may be something you experience frequently. No matter how often you interview for a new role, it can still be nerve-wracking and challenging.

Interviews offer an opportunity to sell yourself as the right candidate for the position, but they can also reveal any weak spots in your resume. Unexpected questions and difficult tasks are all part of a job interview.

And can make even the most confident candidate stumble. The very best candidates know exactly how to sell themselves in an interview and leave their interviewer with no doubt that they’re the perfect person.

Knowing what is coming during an interview is half the battle when it comes to landing your dream job. Job interviews are not one size fits all, each company has its own unique set of interview questions.

Once you understand what type of questions you will be asked, and practice possible answers beforehand, you’ll have a much better chance at nailing that next interview.

Plan Your First Impression

Successful job interviews are all about making a good first impression. This is the first time you meet your interviewer(s), so you want to come across as positive and confident.

The best way to do this is to prepare your interview strategy in advance so that you arrive at the interview having thought through what you want to say and the best way of saying it.

Think about the type of person interviewing you and how you can make them feel comfortable from the very first moment. This may include your choice of clothing or even the route you take to the interview location.

You might also want to consider practising your interview answers with a friend or colleague beforehand to make sure that you come across as relaxed and confident.

Remember, the interviewer is on your side, so they want to see the best in you. By planning your first impression, you can make sure that you come across as the best possible version of yourself.

Sell Your Strengths

Job interviews often begin with a conversation about your strengths and weaknesses. It’s likely that you’ll be asked to rate your strengths and weaknesses, or to discuss a time when your strengths were put to good use.

You may also be asked to compare yourself to other employees in your current team. This may seem like an annoying question to answer, but it’s a great opportunity to highlight your strengths.

You may have listed great communication skills as one of your strengths, but your interviewer may not have seen this demonstrated in your CV or cover letter.

Now is your chance to demonstrate your key strengths as they relate to the job that you want. You’ll also want to make sure that you balance out your strengths with a discussion of any weaknesses that you want to address. You don’t want to seem too perfect, and a discussion of your weaknesses can help to humanise you.

Show Enthusiasm For The Role

Finding a job that you’re truly excited about can be a challenge. The best interviewers will have done their research on the company and the role that you’re applying for. They’ll know what makes the company tick and what type of person would be great for the position. Now’s your chance to show them.

When asked about your career goals, why you want to work for this company or what you hope to gain from the role, you should speak passionately about the position and what you can contribute.

You may find yourself discussing your future goals, so be sure to ground your answers in your current role and what you want to achieve in the near future. Talk about what excites you about the company and, if possible, mention something specific that you discovered during your research.

If you’re applying for a marketing role and you read a great article about the latest marketing trends and how they could benefit this company, be sure to share it with your interviewer.

End On A Positive Note

Interviewers want to hire candidates who are self-aware and confident, but they don’t want to hire someone who is arrogant or too full of themselves. The best interviewers will likely have you complete an ice-breaker or challenge that tests your ability to work well in a team environment.

We’ve all heard about the dreaded situation when you’re asked to break a brick with your hand or explain why you would be a good fit for the job. These questions may seem ridiculous but they give your interviewer a better idea of how you handle yourself under pressure and stress.

And come across as positive individuals who care about their colleagues. A funny ice-breaker or team challenge may help your interviewer to get to know you better and see the real you.

You’ll have a chance to share a funny moment and maybe even put a smile on your interviewer’s face. This can break any remaining tension and help you to feel more relaxed.

Storytelling

If you’ve landed an interview for a marketing role, it’s likely that you’ll be asked to tell a story. This is a common interview question for many different industries and various job roles.

You may be asked to tell a story about a marketing campaign that you have been involved with in the past. Or you may be asked to talk about a problem that a company has and how you would go about solving it. Whatever the question, you can think of this as an excuse to use storytelling to sell yourself.

Stories are powerful tools that we use every day. By telling a story, you’ll have a chance to clarify your ideas, make your points come alive, and show how you solve problems in a creative and unique way.

Communicate Your Value

Your interviewer will likely ask you a few questions related to your past experience and the skills that you have. Now is your chance to demonstrate that you are the perfect person for the job.

By discussing a past project, you have an opportunity to show your interviewer how valuable you are. You can explain how you solved the problem, what the outcome was and what you would do differently next time.

By focusing your answer on how you contributed to the company and not just the project, you are directly addressing any concerns your interviewer may have about your transferable skills.

You can also use this opportunity to ask questions about the company. The interviewer may be impressed that you have done your research and want to know more about your potential new employer.

Non-Verbal Communication

The best interviewers will also observe your non-verbal communication skills during the interview. They’ll take into account your posture, eye contact, the way that you sit and your general demeanor.

To make the best impression on your interviewer, you’ll want to make sure that you keep good eye contact and have a firm but relaxed posture. This will help you to feel comfortable during the interview, but it will also help you to come across as confident and trustworthy.

You’ll also want to be mindful of your general demeanor. Be sure to smile and use positive body language such as nodding your head while your interviewer is speaking.

Summing Up

Interviewers are looking to hire someone who is the right fit for the company as well as the right person for the job. By following these proven interview skills and strategies.

you can be sure that you are the candidate that gets the job offer. The best interviewers will have prepared a list of questions that they want to ask during the interview. Be sure to do your research on the company and know what the interviewers will be interested in hearing.