The best way to keep those palms dry and those nerves in check is to be as over-prepared as possible. When you finally land that dream job interview, don’t be caught off guard by tricky questions and curveballs. With your foot already in the door, it’s time to seal the deal and blow away your interviewer so you can start negotiating your starting salary.
Expect the standard interviewing questions
No two companies are going use the same interviewing process, but almost every company will ask you these standard questions in some form or another:
- How do you keep your knowledge current in your field or position?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?
- What can you bring to the team?
- Tell us about yourself. What do you like to do for fun?
These are just a few common interview questions that may come up. Try doing some mock interviews with a current colleague or someone in the field. Practising answering these questions can be a great way to make sure your interview goes as smoothly as possible. Note of caution: Don’t over practice, as you don’t want your answers to come off as too polished or rehearsed. You want to appear confident but original and organic when you respond.
Background Check
It doesn’t matter if you are applying for a job at a school or a top financial firm, your future employer is likely going to do some form of a background check. If you have any DUIs or prior criminal convictions, be prepared for them to come up at some point during or after your interview. If you’re taking on a position that handles money or deals with company financials, expect your future employer to complete a credit check.
Why do employers check credit? It’s a way to gather information on your financial history and determine your ability to handle money in a safe and strategic way. A credit check is not the same as a credit score. A credit check can tell an employer whether or not you are paying your bills on time and how much debt you have. It won’t give your exact credit score—the number that determines the amount lenders may be willing to give you.
Be sure to check your credit history before an interview so that if you have any red flags that might come up you can address and fix them beforehand.
Bring Relevant Work and Documents
Even though the company you are interviewing with already has a copy of your resume it’s a good idea to bring a couple extra copies. You never know when someone in your interview won’t have already looked at your credentials, and you want the people interviewing you to know as much as they can in the moment.
If you aren’t fresh out of school and this is your second or third job, bring along a portfolio or documentation of relevant work. If you’re a programmer, bring in some projects you’ve worked on and samples of your code. Having something tangible for your interviewers to inspect and dissect can really separate you from other applicants.
Interviewers Aren’t Always Experts
Your prospective company may not involve HR in the interviewing process, or they might have a mix of HR and members of the department you wish to join. HR is going to know exactly how to interview you and will more than likely look at your resume beforehand.
However, you might be interviewing with a fellow engineer or writer with deadlines and projects on their plate preventing them from being prepared for the interview as well as they would like. This can be a great opportunity to pull out your materials and walk your interviewer through the reasons why you would be a great asset to their team. Feel free to talk shop and impress them with your knowledge.
Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of almost every interview, you will be asked if you have any questions. Don’t shy away from vocalizing any queries or concerns, as it can show initiative and genuine interest in joining a company. Here are some examples of questions that can help you do well in an interview:
- How will my success be measured?
- What will my goals be for the first three months? The first year?
- What are the biggest challenges this company is facing right now and what can I do to help with them if I was hired?
- What skills will I need to succeed?
Asking these kinds of questions will impress your interviewers and convey genuine interest in joining the company.
When the interview finally arrives, just relax and remain calm. It won’t be difficult as long as you prepare and show up with confidence and the right knowledge.
Amazing article Madisyn!