Acing the Job Interview Ten Pointers for Landing Your Dream Job - Hallie Crawford

Acing the Job Interview Ten Pointers for Landing Your Dream Job So you’ve landed a job interview. Congratulations! Now, are you ready? Whether you’ve been on a dozen interviews (or none!), your key to success is preparedness knowing yourself, knowing the company, knowing whether the job is truly a fit for you and vice versa. When it is a fit, you’ll know it, and you’ll ace it. To make an impression that will have them saying, “You’re hired!”. And work towards finding the right fit for you as well (critically important!), here are ten interview tips from our years of career counseling. 1. Relax, you’ll be more authentic and confident if you do. The first suggestion is to relax. Think of all the ways you have provided value to your past employers. Did you land a huge account? Go above and beyond on a certain project? Take a deep breath, recall your accomplishments, and let go of the tension. Breathe deeply during the course of the interview to remain grounded and centered. Keep your feet flat on the floor if that helps. And resist the urge to talk too much. When you get nervous you might say too much and can lose sight of what you were saying or dig yourself into a hole. Answer the question, give them an example, read their body language to determine if they got it, then pause and be ready to move on. When you are relaxed you can better follow the natural cadence of the conversation and get into a groove with your interviewer. When you’re in your head being nervous, it’s much harder to read the energy of the room and gauge how things are going. 2. Remember, you’re interviewing them, too. So many people view the job interview as a test â€" and they’d better pass with flying colors or they’re in trouble. Yes, you’re being tested â€" to see if you’re a good match for the company. But remember it works the other way too. This is your chance to see if theirs is the kind of corporate culture that fits your personality type, career values and your work style. It’s possible that you’ll get there and find out you don’t even want the job. Or, you may decide that it’s only worth it if they meet you at a certain salary amount. Ask lots of direct, specific questions… know what you’re getting into, and then weigh your options carefully. 3. Be prepared, know the company. Organizations have a “personality”and a brand, and it’s important to understand what that is inside out before you step into the interview. Read their press room page on their website. Find out if they’ve been in the news in the past year. Visit their social media pages to find out not only recent news but what their culture might be like based on their online personae and presence. Scan online reviews on Glassdoor.com. You may or may not like what you find, again it’s all about finding the right fit for you as well. 4. Take the pressure off … avoid becoming too attached Think of the job interview as an opportunity to cast seeds and check things out. This is a “get to know you” or feeling out phase, not a contest or do-or-die situation. Try to avoid becoming too attached to any one job. That old saying, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” could not be more true than for the career search. Sometimes things take an unexpected twist or turn. You could be “90% sure” that you’ll be on Company X’s payroll next month… and suddenly the phone rings with an even better offer. Put your best foot forward in every interviewer, but always intend that the right thing will come along whether it’s this job or another one down the line. This will prevent you from becoming too attached and coming across as desperate or, if you don’t get the job, too disappointed. 5. If they ask about your weaknesses, answer honestly. Each person excels in some areas more than they do in others. If you are honest, you stand a better chance of being placed in the best possible career for you. So when the question about weaknesses comes up, tell the truth. Just be sure to spin it in a solution-oriented way that tells the interviewer you know how to overcome and manage such challenges. For example, if you’re not detail-oriented, you could say so â€" but also add that you always give yourself extra time on projects that involve lots of detail. Or, you could say that you make a great “big picture partner and strategist” when paired with someone for whom little details are their strong suit. And ensure of course, that the weakness you’ve chosen to discuss is not one that is a make or break for that specific position. If it is, think twice about whether this job is really the right fit for you. 6. Write a list of five key points you want to express in your interview. You’ll feel more confident and at-ease if you prepare for your interview in advance, we know this. One way to do this is to make a list of your 5 best qualities and accomplishments â€" what you bring to the table. Consider soft skills as well as hard skills. And your greatest accomplishments in your career to date. On the day of the interview, two things can happen. One, the interviewer will ask you specific questions where you can work your responses around the 5 points you want to mention. Or, two, you’ll end up talking about other things â€" but when the time comes that they ask for your questions or thoughts, you can use that opportunity to make your points. Either way, write them down so at the end of the interview you are confident you have referenced everything you wanted to mention. 7. Write a list of questions, and don’t be shy. Asking good questions is a great way to find out if this new company meets the requirements of your dream job â€" and if they’ll fill the gaps where your old company fell short. Don’t be shy. Ask them about the culture, the management style, the company values and how they live by them. Ask them who best succeeds in this position and at their organization. What the expectations and goals are for the position in the first 30-60-90 days. At the end, ask them if they have any hesitations about moving you to the next round. And address those hesitations if they do. 8. Find out who you are interviewing with. If you know that you will be speaking to the head of Human Resources, keep in mind that you’ll be asked more general questions. In this case, be prepared to talk about your career history and background as well as your personality, work style and unique qualities. If you have certain items that you’d like addressed, such as day-to-day responsibilities and what the positions demands of you, know that these questions are better left for your potential boss or the head of the department where you’ll be working. Being clear about who you’ll be meeting with will help you understand the expectations of the time you’ll have together. And it will help you tailor your questions and responses as well to what they would be looking to determine from you. 9. Do a quick mini-visualization beforehand. Professional athletes do it â€" you can, too. Picture how you want the interview to go and the ideal outcome. Set your intentions. “I am going to show these people exactly why I’m more qualified than any of the other candidates who apply. I will do this by pointing out my accomplishments and core strengths, which are: X, Y, Z.” Imagine that at the close of the interview, you’re smiling, shaking hands with the hiring manager, and feeling on top of the world â€" like you really nailed it. Envision getting a callback from them that clearly indicates how impressed they were with your professionalism and capabilities. Whatever image or scenario works for you to feel confident and tap into what you want to happen ideally from this interview, consider that. Keep it short and sweet and notice how you feel when you visualize. The goal is to feel confident, energized, and at ease. 10. Dress for the job you want. Look professional, wear something that shows your personality as well, and dress for the job you want, not the job you have. Consider the environment and the industry but err on the side of looking more professional than less so. And choose something to wear that makes you feel confident and like you are the person who is best suited for the position. Don’t lose the momentum â€" go grab a pen and paper right now and begin to formulate your strategy for youe next interview. Go into it feeling proud of your accomplishments. Know that even if it doesn’t turn out to be the job of your dreams, that’s okay. The career search is an ongoing process and learning experience. Intend that you are one step closer to landing the job you’ve always wished for. All the best for a rewarding and fulfilling career doing what you love! Discover the Essential Components to a Satisfying Career Today Want free tips, tools and expert advice on finding a career youre passionate about? Visit the certified career coaches at HallieCrawford.com, and sign up for their monthly career newsletter, right now. Bookmark their career blog for recommendations on resume writers, online career tests and more career resources. Schedule a free consult with HallieCrawford.com today Acing the Job Interview Ten Pointers for Landing Your Dream Job So youve landed a job interview. Congratulations! Now, are you ready? Whether youve been on a dozen interviews (or none!), your key to success is preparedness. See how to put focus on your strong points and downplay your weak ones, and make an impression that will have them saying, Youre hired! Read on for ten great tips from my years of career counseling. 1: Relax, youll be more authentic and confident if you do. The best suggestion I can give before an interview is to just relax. Easier said than done, right? It helps to remember that you have education, training, and experience working in your favor. Think of all the ways you provided value to your past employer. Did you land a huge account? Go above and beyond on a certain project? Take a deep breath, recall your accomplishments, and let go of the tension. Know that youre worthy and who knows. Maybe youre even overqualified for the position! 2: Remember, youre interviewing them, too. So many people view the job interview as a test and theyd better pass with flying colors or theyre in trouble! On some level, yes, youre being tested but the test is simply to see if youre a good match for the company. It works the other way, too. This is your chance to see if theirs is the kind of corporate culture that fits your style. Its possible that youll get there and find out you dont even want the job! Or, you might figure out that its only worth it if they meet you at a certain salary amount. Ask lots of questions know what youre getting into, and then weigh your options carefully. 3: Be prepared, know the company. Youll notice that many companies not only have a specific personality, but theyre mighty proud of the little perks and quirks that make them unique. Do they have their own brand of soda, like Microsoft? Do they offer Flex Time for working parents? Find out if theyre noteworthy in the news. Visit their company website and do your online research. Were they part of a recent merger? There is no better way to show your sincere interest than actually being interested. You might learn something really cool about this company that tells you, Go for it! Or, you could uncover some hidden dirt that makes you think twice before working there. 4: Take the pressure off you have options! Think of the job interview as an opportunity to cast seeds and check things out. This is a get to know you or feeling out phase, not a contest or do-or-die situation. Try to avoid becoming too attached to any one job. That old saying, Dont put all your eggs in one basket could not be more true than for the career search. Sometimes things take an unexpected twist or turn. You could be 90% sure that youll be on Company Xs payroll next month and suddenly the phone rings with an even better offer. 5: If they ask about your weaknesses, answer honestly. Each person excels in some areas more than they do in others. If you are honest, you stand a better chance of being placed in the best possible career for you. So when the question about weaknesses comes up, tell the truth. Just be sure to spin it in a solution-oriented way that tells the interviewer you know how to overcome and manage such challenges. For example, if youre not detail-oriented, you could say so but also add that you always give yourself extra time on projects that involve lots of detail. Or, you could say that you make a great big picture partner and strategist when paired with someone for whom little details are their strong suit. 6: Write a list of five key points you plan to express in your interview. Youre almost certain to feel more confident and at-ease if you prepare for your interview in advance. One way to do this is to make a list of your best qualities and accomplishments what you bring to the table. On the day of the interview, two things can potentially happen. One, the interviewer will ask you specific questions where you can simply slant your responses around the points you planned to mention. Or, two, youll end up talking about other things but when the time comes that they ask for your questions or thoughts, use this opportunity to make your points. 7: Write a list of questions, things you need to know. Sometimes when the pressures on, its hard to know what to ask. But do take some time to consider whats most important to you in your career and the company where youll be spending the majority of your time. A good way to remember what you want to know, is to flash back to the last job you had. Lets say you didnt care for the way you had four different managers to report to. On interview day, you can ask: Who will I be reporting to and whats the general workflow for the department? Asking good questions is a great way to find out if this new company offers similar perks as you had before and if theyll fill the gaps where your old company fell short. 8: Find out who you are interviewing with. If you know that you will be speaking to the head of Human Resources, keep in mind that youll be asked more general questions. In this case, be prepared to talk about your career history and background as well as your personality, work style and unique qualities. If you have certain items that youd like addressed, such as day-to-day responsibilities and what the positions demands of you, know that these questions are better left for your potential boss or the head of the department where youll be working. 9: Do a quick mini-visualization beforehand. Professional athletes do it you can, too. Picture how you want the interview to go and the ideal outcome. Set your intentions. I am going to show these people exactly why Im more qualified than any of the other candidates who apply. I will do this by pointing out my accomplishments and core strengths, which are: X, Y, Z. Imagine that at the close of the interview, youre smiling, shaking hands with the hiring manager, and feeling on top of the world like you really nailed it! Envision getting a callback from them that clearly indicates how impressed they were with your professionalism and capabilities. 10: Dress the part. Look professional and wear something that shows your personality as well, depending on the type of job. Consider the environment. For example, many jobs where employees meet with clients and vendors require the gold standard suit and tie/skirt and blazer. Other places have changed with the times, and now offer dress down Fridays or adopt corporate casual which means khakis for guys, and skirts or nice pants for the ladies. So if its formal, be a little more formal. If its not, tone it down and be casual yet crisp and neat. Look put together, cleaned up. Add a bit of personal style maybe a favorite gold watch or silk scarf. Try to conceal things like unusual piercings or body art unless of course, you work in an artistic field and thats the expected look. Chances are after reading this, youre already feeling more confident about your professional abilities. Dont lose the momentum go grab a pen and paper right now and begin to formulate your strategy for interview success. Go into this feeling proud of your many accomplishments. Know that even if it doesnt turn out to be the job of your dreams, thats okay. The career search is an ongoing process and learning experience. Youre one step closer to landing the job youve always wished for! All the best for a rewarding and fulfilling career doing what you love! HallieCrawford.com was founded by certified career coach, speaker and author . Since 2002, the company’s team of certified career coaches have helped thousands of job seekers worldwide identify their ideal career path, navigate their career transition and achieve their career goals. Schedule a free consult with https://halliecrawford.com today to learn more about our services.