15 Interview Tips, No Tricks
These are some tips to help make the whole interview process easier and will increase your chances of landing a job sooner.
NOTE: Just because something is marked as "Low" impact does not mean it cannot have a big effect on your interview. It just means that it will depend on who is interviewing you and what they are looking for.
1) Don't Be Fake
Don't try and be something you're not. If your interviewer at any point feels like you are not being genuine with them or like you have a tendency to lie, you aren't going to get the job. It just throws your whole interview into question.
Additionally, even if you manage to "fake your way" into a position, you either wont have it for very long or you will be miserable within a few months.
Impact: High
2) Apply to Multiple Places at Once
You should be applying to at least 3-5 places each week. Even after you have a really good interview, you should treat it as if you're not going to get that job.
The only time you should stop applying is when you have a signed contract, because until then there are exactly 0 guarantees. Also, be sure to apply to those places that you think you will, "never get." The only way to guarantee that you will never get a job is to never try.
Impact: High
3) An Interview is a 2-Way Conversation
Make sure that while they are interviewing you that you are interviewing them as a company. Ask them questions about their company history, how things are achieved, what exactly you will be doing, etc. This will not only make you look engaged and interested in their company, but give you a chance to find any red flags they may have as a company.
Impact: Medium
4) Be Open and Personable
It is SO MUCH EASIER to spend a little time training someone who's not quite as skilled than deal with someone who acted like know-it-all or had some other major personality flaw. Also, someone with a little skill and is open and willing to learn is much more valuable in the long-term than someone who knows a lot but is closed-minded.
Impact: Medium
5) Don't Be Afraid To Not Know Something
I have yet to meet a candidate that knew absolutely everything about our specific available position, and the ones who acted like they did know everything when they didn't were written off as insincere. In most cases, if a candidate has potential and just needs some training, then they are worth hiring.
Impact: Medium
6) Focus on Positives
Try to stick to talking about things that you can do or that you are good at. If you are asked about something that you can't do or aren't good at, answer honestly and don't beat around the bush, then try to mention something that is related to it that you are good at.
Impact: Low
7) It's OK To Be Nervous
Interviews are stressful, but it rarely makes things better to play it off as if you're totally fine when you're not. If asked just say, "I am a little nervous but I'm OK" and move on, and try not to use your nervousness as an excuse.
Impact: Low
8) Show Any Eagerness or Passion
Faking this will really hurt your chances, but a candidate who is eager or passionate about something related to the job can be a huge bonus.
Impact: Medium
9) Communicate
If your interview has any type of written portion, or you are asked to think creatively with them in the room, then try to think out loud. This will help them understand where you are mentally, while making sure you don't look like you are having trouble when you are not.
Impact: Medium
10) Have Very Wordy Resume
There is no doubt that resumes suck to make, but just having one shows some discipline and commitment. There are actually a lot of reasons for having a wordy resume, but put simply they are just a cut above the rest. Have complete paragraphs about each previous employer and at least 1 about your skills but don't ever define what anything is. (If they want to know what something is they can ask that in the interview) Talk about what you're good at, any personal achievements/awards, your responsibilities, skills you learned, and possibly 1 thing you are passionate about.
Impact: High
11) Research The Company
Spend 10 minutes reading the "about us" section of the company website and you will be golden. This will help indicate that you have a genuine interest in the company.
Impact: Low
12) Dress Appropriately
You don't need to spend $100+ on new clothes. Anything business-casual will do just fine in all but high-end jobs, and you can get them from anywhere, including thrift stores, yard sales, the clearance section, etc.
If you don't have any business-casual clothes and you can't afford to buy any clothes at the moment, then apologize and explain that at the beginning of your interview. The vast majority of the time your interviewer won't let that alone prevent you from getting a job, but only if you communicate it.
Impact: High
13) Good Hygiene
This one should go without saying but take a shower, brush your hair, brush your teeth, and wear deodorant. The interviewer is likely going to trapped in a room with you for about an hour or so, if you smell bad they will end the interview sooner just so they can get out of that room.
Impact: High
14) Take Notes
Bring a small notepad and a writing utensil to the interview and (privately) take notes. DO NOT take notes on your phone, it will be seen as unprofessional and/or rude. These notes can be about anything related to the interview, such as: company history, any red flags you find, what you like/dislike, areas you feel you messed up on or need to improve, etc.
This will help you improve as time goes on and show the interviewer how serious you are about the job. If asked what you taking notes about, be completely honest with what you are doing but avoid sharing your notes. Simply state they are for your personal improvement and nothing else.
Impact: High (over time)
15) Ask How You Can Improve
At the end of the interview, ask politely if they would mind telling you how well you did and if there is any one thing you can improve. There are a lot little things that can go wrong without you realizing, and this way you have a chance at fixing those things before your next interview. Most interviewers will answer this question without issue, and some may even be impressed by it.
Impact: High (over time)