Preparing for a job interview can feel overwhelming, especially if it’s a job you really want! As you’re gearing up to meet your potential employer, you want to be sure you’re presenting the best version of yourself. Don’t be left feeling unprepared. Check out these tips for knocking your job interview out of the park.

Be Punctual

Being on time actually means showing up 5-10 minutes early. This is the first positive impression you will make on your potential employer. If you show up late, your interviewer may assume punctuality is not important to you. The last thing you want to do is have people waiting on you. In addition, showing up to your interview early lets employers know that you are taking the process seriously and respect their time.

Prepare

It is important for you to prepare for an interview. Similar to preparing for a math test, you want to walk into an interview having ‘studied’. Look online for questions commonly asked by employers. Ask a family member or friend to go over those questions with you in a mock interview. When you avoid filler words such as ‘like’, ‘um’, and ‘uh’, you will sound more professional. Preparation can be incredibly beneficial if you take it seriously. Employers want to see polished candidates that will represent them well.

Keep it Positive

It is important to keep conversations light! Not only should your overall mood and demeanor be positive during your interview, your answers should reflect positivity as well. Hypothetically speaking, say you recently left a job where you did not get along with your boss. If an interviewer asks why you left your previous job, you would not respond to that question by bashing your former employer. There is something positive to be found in almost every negative situation. Find the silver linings or lessons learned and speak about those things.

Ask Questions

Asking questions is an excellent way to show your potential employer that you are genuinely interested in their company. Employers want their employees to feel a sense of connection with their business. Research the company a bit and come prepared with questions to ask. This shows initiative and will really impress an employer. A little prep work goes a long way.

Follow Up

If you haven’t heard back from a job you interviewed for, follow up with them. Give them a call and ask if they have made their decision or if they are still trying to decide. If, for some reason, you did not get the job, ask why. Don’t take rejection personally, constructive criticism is extremely helpful! Figure out what you can improve on and work toward strengthening your interview skills. Keep learning and don’t let yourself get discouraged.

 

Interviewing for a new job can be stressful. Making the proper preparations can help ensure that you make a great first impression. When you work hard at polishing your interview skills, you can feel confident that you will impress any potential employer.