Feel More Confident in Job Interviews
Interview Preparation Resources
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Your resume gets you in the door, but the interview seals the deal. A job interview can be a nerve-wracking experience for even the most extroverted, confident of applicants. But if you go into it prepared and looking and feeling great, you have no reason to worry. If you know why you want the job and why you’re the right person for the job, your interviewer will see that. Here are some tips to ensure you nail your interview.
Run a background check — on yourself
Thanks to the wonders of our digital age, it seems that most of recorded history is available through an online search — and that includes your history. Most potential employers search the web for potential candidates using search engines and social media, so beat them to the punch so you know what’s out there. If you learn from your research that there is anything libelous floating around on the internet about you, you may want to consider working with a reputation management firm. This is a team of legal and analytical specialists who can track down the identity of whoever is publishing false and damaging information about you, and take action accordingly. Ideally, this would be done before you start sending out your resume, but if there is anything potentially harmful about you posted online, be sure to address it before agreeing to an interview.
Even if that search comes back clear, you still have some work to do. Polish up your LinkedIn profile so you can dazzle HR teams before you even walk through the door, and set social accounts like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to private mode. Most of us have at least one regrettable photo or posting we wouldn’t want anyone in our professional circles to see, so avoid the issue by kicking up your privacy settings.
Do your research
Part of being a successful job applicant is being able to articulate why you’re the right fit for a particular job at a particular company, not just why you’d be good for the job. Being able to mesh with the vision and workplace culture of the specific company is vital. That’s why you must start any interview by thoroughly researching to company. The Balance suggests checking employer review sites, including Glassdoor and the company’s own website.
Practice the typical questions
It’s not worth preparing for off-the-wall interview questions. You can’t possibly predict them. You can, however, prepare for the classics. These include, but are not limited to, questions about your strengths and weaknesses, times you solved a problem, your last job, and where you see yourself in the future. You can’t prepare for everything, but you can get a handle on how you plan to answer basic inquiries.
Dress (and style) to impress
It’s hard to overcome a bad first impression, and a good first impression can help carry you over any minor mistakes. Grooming and personal hygiene play a huge role in that. It’s not that the majority of interviewers only want to hire pretty people dressed in fancy clothing. The main reasons you’re focusing on looking great are that it will boost your confidence and help you perform better, and it shows that you’re serious about the process.
Don’t be afraid to answer technical questions
If you’re interviewing for a job that requires specific expertise (and you probably are), you may field some technical questions — your interviewer trying to test you a little bit. Don’t shy away from answering these, even if you don’t 100 percent know the answer. Most of the time, they are testing the process, not the answer. As one top recruiter says, “Try to work your way through the question as much as you can. Your thought process is often more important than answering correctly, so tell them what you’re thinking.”
Ask your own questions
Asking your own questions — whether about salary range, work environment, long-term goals, company mobility, etc. — shows that you are engaged. It’s important to come across as genuinely interested in more than just landing a job and getting paid.
Follow up
Don’t just go home and wait for a phone call. Sure, the interviewer probably said, “We’ll let you know,” or something to that effect, but what they really meant was, “I want to see if you truly want this job.” A call is nice, but an email will suffice. Thank them for their time, the opportunity to interview, and ask if there’s anything more you can do to show them you are the best person for the job.
Ultimately, you should remember this about all stages of the process: before the interview, research and practice; during the interview, be honest, forthcoming and highly engaged; and after the interview, follow up. That dream job is within your grasp. Ace your interview, and it’s yours!
Interview Preparation Resources
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Social media has long since proven itself to have a bigger utility than posting pictures of dogs and following celebrities, and also a bigger influence in our ‘’offline’’ lives if such a distinction still even exists in our day and age. Few things can be more powerful of a self-promotional tool than social media, as recruiters are turning to websites such as Facebook and Instagram to seek fresh blood for their companies.
According to an article published by Career Builder, 37 % of companies have made hires using social media websites, a number high enough to make any sensible person whip out their phones and delete all video and photo evidence of their drunken shenanigans. Speaking of which, at this point in our conversation, you are probably wondering if and how you should curate your social media profiles to make a good impression on potential employers. Fortunately for everybody involved, we have a few suggestions in this sense.
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You can book an interview coaching session and/or a Mock Interview with an interview coach by e-mailing employmentking@gmail.com
Have A Complete and Relevant Profile
As ambiguous as this might sound, having a complete and relevant profile is ideal if you want companies to turn to your social media portals for recruitments. If you are using Linkedin, for example, make sure your profile is filled with all the relevant information necessary to attract legitimate employers – complete employment history, education, and any skills related to your job, and do not forget to include a pretty headshot for good measure. Try to think through the eyes of a recruiter and the fact that they go through literally hundreds of resumes each year. Plus, there is nothing more frustrating than eyeing a resume and finding out that it is a half-written mess filled with irrelevant information.
Upload A Quality Photo of Yourself
If you are like everybody else, you might be tempted to upload a decent selfie of yourself on your Linkedin profile and call it a day. As subjective as this concept might be (the concept of a decent photo), as long as it looks slightly professional (and no, a background featuring Disneyland rides does not count), recruiters will appreciate the effort that you have put into the creation of your profile and take it into account. Nobody is saying you should dress like those people in 1850’s family photographs – sporting a business casual attire should suffice.
Keep Your Social Media Profiles Professional
Remember the drunken shenanigans we have mentioned during the introduction? Truth be told, nothing is truly private on the internet in our day and age. No matter how careful you are, some personal information (damning or not) will slip through the cracks. While there is nothing much you can do about this, what you can do is curate the personal information as much as possible.
What we mean here is you should strike a balance between pictures of you taking shots with your friends from four years ago when you were still in college, and photos of yourself in less-damning (in the eyes of recruiters, at least) situations. Or, at the very least, try to keep said photos under intense scrutiny, in friend-only security settings.
Highlight the Skills That You Know Will Attract Employers
When it comes to your career history, you should be very wary about what to include in your profiles and what to highlight. Recruiters do not need to know about how your organized the office fantasy football competition (or maybe they do, maybe they have watched The League and are big fans). Instead of adding skills and accomplishments that are unrelated to your career, try putting an emphasis on the goals that you have met, and prove them with real examples. For examples, ‘’I have delivered x deadline in y ahead of schedule’’, or ‘’By doing x task, I have eliminated y micromanagement issue for the company and improved efficiency’’.
Keep your Connections Focused on Your Career
Getting requests from your old roommate from college or buddies from high school is to be expected on every social media portal, but when it comes to Linkedin, you want to make sure that the majority of your connections are either in your career cohort, or at least professionals from a wide variety of fields. This will give potential employers the impression that you have your ‘’ear to the ground’’ and that you are constantly connected to your niche, and will become very helpful if you are applying for a job that requires you have an extensive network of contacts or is focused on good old–fashioned networking (as much as we dread it).
Make sure To Update Your Profile Frequently
If you have already made the effort of signing up to multiple social media platform, do not just let them collect dust. Staying active and engaged on all the social media sites you have joined is key if you want to attract the attention of employers. Nailed a new job? Update the profile. Got a promotion? Upload the new title. Finished a Master’s Degree in Arts and Crafts? Post that update as well. If you hold an important role in a particular company, you do not want a profile that says you still work at that shady McDonald’s near your college campus. Plus, updating your profile when ‘’required’’ will show recruiters that you care about your reputation and online presence.
Join Career-Specific Groups
As obnoxious and annoying as it might be, social media is virtually brimming of great groups that can connect you with job seekers and offer industry-specific information. If you work in marketing, for example, join groups catered specifically toward this niche. If you work in a more creative field (graphic design, content writing and so on and so forth), join online groups created for these jobs.
Remember that the groups that you have joined are visible somewhere on your Facebook profile, so try to keep communities dedicated to cat videos and dogs in unusual situations to a minimum. Nobody is saying you should keep your social media profiles focused solely on your career (we are not robots, after all), but it is still a factor worth considering. The last thing you want is recruiters judging your skills and value based on you frequenting groups dedicated to edgy and nihilistic memes.
Conclusion
If you are wondering whether or not you should keep your social media profiles open while looking for a job, the short answer is yes. The long answer, on the other hand, is more complicated than that. You should keep it open, but take great care on which personality quirks and interests slip through the cracks, and maintain them as professional looking as possible. Nobody is saying you should inhibit every facet of your personality, but keep in mind that the recruiter will see only what is on the surface and may not have the opportunity to get to know the real you.
Interview Preparation Resources
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Interviewing for your dream job can be intimidating. To get the best outcomes, there are some steps you must follow. Being you is all that matters, but you cannot walk in with a braggy attitude and except to be nominated for the position; and you cannot keep your head down and avoid conflict either. There are some lines that should not be crossed and some tips to be aware of when interviewing.
Introverts have a hard time making a long-lasting impression. Overthinking might become unbearable and for some, even intolerable. Some people might get lost during the interview and blackout. Being nervous and stressed out about God knows what reason does not help either. If you are an introvert, here are some techniques that might help you focus.
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You can book an interview coaching session and/or a Mock Interview with an interview coach by e-mailing employmentking@gmail.com
1. Map Out a Plan Beforehand
Before the day of the interview, map out a well-designed plan. Being in control of what happens will make everything easier for you. Focusing on a strategy is a good method to get rid of unwanted stress. Here is an example (of course, you can plan your days as you want, but that’s how I’d do it!):
• For at least one week before the interview, practice speaking. I know that this sounds terrifying for an introvert, but trust me – the more you practice, the better you become. When shopping, talk to a random person at the supermarket; when a colleague asks you something, ask them out for lunch and conversate; become inherently interested in what other people have to say.
• Two days before the interview, research the company well and come up with specific questions – make phone calls, stalk them on social media, ask a friend, do whatever you find necessary to have as much info about them as you can (nothing must surprise you when interviewing!).
• One day before the interview, try to relax. Even if you have work to do in the morning, take 20 minutes right after you wake up to meditate. Then work! In the afternoon, leave some time for yourself again to do what you like – go for a run, bike, or have a chat with a close friend.
• One night before the interview, read the questions you’ve prepared again. Meditate again if it fits you. Then sleep tight and wake up smiling!
• The day of the interview: BE CONFIDENT. You are prepared. You’re going to nail it!
2. Be Opened to Small Talk
Us, introverts, hate small talk – why would people talk randomly about random stuff? I totally understand your concern. But we must accept society as it is, and most of the times, do what’s required. A little bit of small talk won’t kill you. Here are some tips on how to survive it:
• Remember that the anxiety you’re feeling is not a threat, it’s an experience!
• Don’t force yourself to be in the spotlight – if you are an introvert, you are an introvert, full stop. Accept it, embrace it, love yourself!
• Try to answer questions integrally – when someone asks, “how are you?” tell them! Don’t say “good, how are you?” Tell them about your day, about your night, about your lifestyle – anything that pops up into your mind.
• Ask questions in return – after you’ve opened up to one person, ask them about their life. How are they doing? How was their day? How was their night? Be interested in others! You got the point?
• After ending a conversation, take mental notes of what could’ve gone better and improve your small talk skills with every dialogue you have!
3. The First and Last Impressions Matter
Clara Johnson, writer at a professional assignment writing service and life coach, shares her opinion. “Studies have shown that people who look confident become confident! If you have a strong hand shake and a straight posture as soon as you walk into the room, the recruiter will definitely notice your self-assured attitude.”
Another thing to remember is that you want to end the interview in a pleasant way. Show them you are made for the job until the end! Leave the room keeping the same straight posture, smile, and let them know you are truly interested. Shake hands again, be formal, but keep it natural.
4. Keep a Casual Tone
Your tone should match your recruiter’s. If you have a high-pitched tone, you’ll seem exhaustingly nervous. If you have a low-pitched tone, you’ll seem bored and unenthusiastic. Try to keep it somewhere between! I must highlight again: if you cannot figure that out on your own, match your interviewer’s voice.
5. Tell Them the Truth
I know you might not consider this the best choice right now but trust me: admitting that you are an introvert will make them like you more. Not everyone has the courage to own up to their weaknesses. Many people brag about their qualities when interviewed, yet when they’re asked, “what’s your biggest weak spot?” they freeze and have no answer.
And think about it: we are all anxious about being interview! That means we are all introverts in a way or another. Some people prefer to put on a mask and pretend they are completely unaffected by the situation, while others have the nerve to confess their uneasiness.
A complex employee knows his or her qualities and weaknesses and can always admit his or her mistakes. That makes them trustworthy, honorable, and reliable in any situation.
Wrapping Up
Map out a plan before the interview, be opened to small talk, make a good first and last impression, keep a casual tone, and be honest – these are the rules to getting your dream job!
AUTHOR BIO
Looking for an article full of depth, yet easy to comprehend? Barbara Mitchell has been involved in writing for a good amount of time. Being a part of media marketing on the net has also impacted on her life.
Interview Preparation Resources
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Working in a creative industry, footwear designer interviewers will ask job interview questions on innovation, idea formation and how to take an idea to market.
The footwear industry is massive, with footwear designers working for high street brands; Nike, Adidas, Ecco or specialising in, as an example mountain footwear working for companies like Northface or Alpkit.
Some designers also work designing trainers and shoes for catwalks, the sports profession or for the Army.
Depending on the sub-sector footwear industry, the job interview will have specific questions related to the field the job is advertised in.
All footwear designer interveiw, do, however, ask questions relating to:
Does your personality type have an impact of your happiness at work?
What makes you anxious, stressed or bored?
What environments get you excited, motivated and focus?
Your personality type can be match to a career/job sector to give you the best chance of success and career happiness
Below is a list of the myers briggs personality types and the types of careers that, in most cases, will naturally suit each personality type
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ENFP
INFP
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ESFP
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ISFP
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There is a psychology to job interviews that many people are unaware of.
By accessing the interviewer’s subconscious mind you can influence the job interview outcome. One key psychology of persuasion that is always in play is the psychology of authority – people are more likely to be persuaded by someone they see as an authoritarian
In the job interview, the interviewer has the power. This is because you, the interviewee, want something from them – the job offer!
Actually this is untrue, it is you the interviewee with the power because the interviewer wants something from you – your skills and experience. Remember you have been asked to interview from, on average, 300 applicants. They like you, they want you.
You have the power and you can exploit this to increase the number of job offers you receive.
In the job interview, you need to be the master of the industry or at least be seen as the master.
Quote industry regulations, industry policies, industry advancements and new technology and state industry declines and barriers.
Build on what the employer states. As an example if they discuss a new piece of industry technology or a development idea, explain where this idea has come from or where the technology has advance from. Also give the pro’s and con’s to key statements.
This will help you create an identity as an industry expert. Once a powerful identity has been established, whatever you state next will be taken as the truth – because we believe what experts say. This includes when you explain how you will be best suited for the role.
Basically, we employ new staff members because there is too much work.
To build on your authority, explain how you will be able to complete the task, project, company objective without needing to create more work for the employer.
When the employer is discussing the role and/or job duties, reference how you have worked successfully on a similar task and what you will do to make this new task a success.
You can also reference previous mistakes, explaining the lessons learned (this creates the task objective to be harder than they may have previously believed which creates a subconscious desire to hire an expert – you!)
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Throughout the job interview, you need to act as if you already have the job.
When giving an interview answer, the mind creates images of that answer – the interviewer will imagine you doing whatever it is you say you are doing.
By tweaking they way you word your answers you can create stronger emotional images of you working collaborative with the employer in a success manner.
Change “I would do…” to “I will” – this creates images of you working for the organisation.
Change “I” to “we” to create the thought of collaboration – this works great when talking about future successes “…by doing X we will be successful”
Explain what you will add to the team “by using my knowledge of X I will achieve Y within 2-3 months”
Employment King offer;
A waste plant manager is often referred to as an environmental services manager or waste contracts manager.
In a waste plant manager job interview you need to discuss your experiences and skills relating to managing environmental staff, your ability and knowledge of waste management production and knowledge of waste management legislation.
Waste Plant Manager Job Interview Question 1
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Good questions to ask interviewers at the end of the job interview include questions on the company growth or expansion, questions on personal development and training and questions on company values, staff retention and company achievements.
In the job interview the job interviewer is looking for reasons why you compared to your competitors, shouldn’t be employed.
The key element when it comes to missing out on a job offer is mistrust. If the employer mistrusts you, you will never be in the running for a job offer. One situation that leads to mistrust is gaps in your employment history. If can’t give a confident answer when asked “tell me about the gaps in your employment history?” then game over.
It is better to fill these gaps and hers 3 ways how to deal with employment gaps
We are living in the age of the startup. These start up organisations often need help.
Offer your skills to new start-ups and record this on your application as a job. In the interview you can frame your answers, explaining your job role, duties and skill set.
You can also go down the traditional route and volunteer. By having a job (voluntary or not) the employer will see you in a different light compared to an unemployed version of yourself.
Another alternative is to create a part time self employed business. This doesn’t have to be successful, rather use this to fill in the gaps in your employment history.
When asked about employment gaps, many applicants stumble nervously around this subject. This only creates a weak perspective.
Instead, turn around the tables. Don’t focus on your employment gap, rather discuss what you can offer. When answering these questions start by saying “during this time I learned (add a skill) which I will use to (explain how this skill will add value to their organisation)
By flipping this answer on its head you get the employer to focus on your prospects.
The reason you are asked about your employment gaps is that you added these gaps to your CV.
Rather then adding months and years under your employment history, just add the years as this will delete any small periods of unemployment.
Success often starts with failure, and most people have experienced at least one particularly bad job interview: the kind of job interview that makes them shiver with embarrassment and question their decision to ever interview for another job again. However, if you harness it correctly, it is that one bad job interview that can teach you how to succeed the next time.
Landing the interview for your dream job can be one of the most simultaneously exhilarating and daunting experiences, particularly if the memory of a recent rejection is resonating in your mind. Here are a few top tips on how to overcome those feelings of rejection and harness them to turn your next job interview into a success:
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Criticism, even if it’s valuable and constructive, can be difficult to hear. However, the very best thing you can do is ask your interviewing panel for feedback after you receive a job rejection.
Candid feedback is essential for your career development, enabling you to hone your interview technique and make positive changes that will lead to your next success.
By letting an interviewer know that you are keen to receive their feedback, you are showing that you are committed to your self-development and that you want to be the best you can be: often this determination to self-improve can impress recruiters who look for candidates with great attitude, as well as those with great ability.
Listen to feedback, make changes where necessary, and approach your next interview with confidence.
Many people are resistant to change, and it is natural to be apprehensive and nervous about interviewing for a new role and leaving the comfort zone of your existing career.
This is especially true if you’ve recently taken a career break in order to start or raise a family, after a period of ill health, or any other set back that employers may, rightly or wrongly, consider to be a risk factor.
Because of this resistance to change, many people view a single failure as a sign that they shouldn’t stretch themselves or interview for any more new positions.
If you’re in this situation then the best advice is to be brave, and to have confidence in your own abilities: reach for your next goal, strive for that next big success.
Failure is a natural part of success, and very few journeys are without it, so keep striving and keep applying for jobs and attending interviews until you get to where you want to be.
No matter what your career, an important mantra to remember is “it’s just business”.
When you have a bad interview and receive a job rejection, the company are not rejecting you: this isn’t about your personal attributes or how the interviewer felt about you.
Your skillset, the skillsets of the other individuals competing for the role, the specific goals and targets of the company at the time of your application and even their financial position will all help define whether you receive a job offer.
You’ll find it much easier to move on and approach your next interview with confidence if you don’t take each rejection personally and recognise that a job rejection is merely a decision that your skillset isn’t a good fit for their specific company goals, rather than an outright rejection of you.
Move on and find another company that is the right fit for your skills.
Just exited a terrible interview where you felt that every aspect of the process went wrong?
It’s natural to be angry, frustrated, and to dwell on your failure for a little while, however holding on to rejection isn’t healthy and very rarely leads to success.
Take a day or two to contemplate what went wrong and then shake it off, leaving that particular failure behind you.
Don’t blow your rejections out of proportion or let them define who you are. Even the very worst interviews will teach you something about your interview technique (and what not to do next time!) so take the positives on board from each interview, and then leave it behind so that you can move on to the next one.
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