10 Steps You Should Not Miss If You Want To Land Your Dream Job
Congratulations — you managed to get an interview for a position at your dream company. But don’t start celebrating just yet.
It’s not enough to get your foot in the door; you also have to make the right impression when you interview. From wearing the right clothes to making eye contact with the hiring manager, small gestures can have a big effect on your career prospects.
Here are steps that can help you land your preferred job faster.
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1. Dress the Part
An impeccable appearance will improve your confidence, according to Wendy Green, author of “50 Things You Can Do Today to Boost Your Confidence.” Prepare your interview attire days in advance.
Also, make sure your outfit is dry cleaned and ready to wear. Dress in a manner that is appropriate for the role for which you are interviewing, ensure that your hair is tidy and clean your fingernails. Keep jewelry, visible tattoos and piercings to a minimum.
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2. Research the Company and Role
What type of person is the company seeking? What skills should that person have? Assess existing staff and the corporate culture by doing your research about the company and the role you’re seeking before the interview. Doing this will help you come up with questions to ask during the job interview. Lots of free job-hunting apps have great background information for you to use.
3. Prepare Insightful Interview Questions
To show your interest and knowledge in the job and company, prepare questions to ask your interviewer. But “you should also not ask questions that can be easily researched,” said Dr. Heather Rothbauer-Wanish, owner of Feather Communications. “For example, asking about the organizational mission statement is not a good idea if that information is clearly posted on the company website.”
Instead, show interest in the interviewer by asking questions such as, “What is your favorite part about working here?” and “What does the typical day-to-day look like for someone in this role?”
4. Show Up on Time
Although arriving late is largely avoidable, it’s still a common complaint among interviewers. Gary McKraken, the author of “Successful Interview Tips, Techniques and Methods for Job Seekers and Career Changers,” suggests, “Do a spot of reconnaissance first so you know where (the company) is, how to get there, where to park or what the public transport links are.”
If you are delayed for some reason and will be at least seven minutes late, show respect by calling the company and asking whether you should attend or reschedule.
5. Know Your Interviewers
Find out the names of your interviewers ahead of time and research their areas of expertise. To really knock an interviewer’s socks off, when responding to one participant, refer to another by name. For example, “To follow up on my response to Carol …” is a good way to work that in. Remembering names can be a difficult job skill to master but one that leaves a lasting impression.
6. Smile and Be Courteous
Hiring managers say failing to make eye contact is a mistake made by 68 percent of job candidates, according to a survey conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of CareerBuilder. Not making eye contact during an interview could imply that you’re not paying attention. Additionally, nearly 40% of candidates fail to smile.
Nonverbal behavior can be more important than what you say, according to Psychology Today, and smiling opens doors. To be approachable and engaging during your job interview, practice shaking hands, smiling, making eye contact and making small talk.
7. Be Careful of What You Say and Do While Waiting
If you find yourself waiting in the lobby before an interview, it can be tempting to channel your nervous energy into fiddling on your phone or thumbing through magazines. However, you never know who at the company is watching to see what you do. Innocently scrolling through your iPhone to kill time might actually convey to a potential employer that you’re bored, not serious about the position or you’re overly confident.
The Reserve Network, a company that specializes in staffing solutions, advises job candidates instead to, “Think about the important skills you want to convey, and rehearse a few anecdotes that demonstrate your professional aptitude. You should already have a lot of this prepared before you go into the interview, but there is nothing wrong with rehearsing it so it is fresh in your mind.”
Remember to also be kind to the receptionist and anyone else you meet while waiting — poor networking skills could cost you the job.
8. Ask for the Job
Laurie Berenson, master resume writer of Sterling Career Concepts, said, “Don’t be afraid to ask for the job … Tell the interviewer that you’re interested in the role, that you feel you are a strong fit and would love to continue with the process.”Being direct can give you a leg up on other candidates, according to Berenson.“You won’t leave them guessing as to your interest level, and you might just come out on top of another equally qualified candidate who rushed out without reiterating enthusiasm for the role,” she said.
9. Prepare for the ‘Weakness’ Question
In deciding how to prepare for an interview and predicting the questions that might arise, try to determine what the questions are really asking. So when you’re asked to describe your greatest weakness, remember that the interviewer wants to see if you can demonstrate a commitment to personal growth.“The secret to acing this trick interview question is to give an honest answer and then explain what you’re doing to overcome that weakness,” according to Dorie Clark, marketing strategy consultant and professor at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.
10. Talk About the Value You’ll Add to the Company
Here’s a not-so-secret tip for job seekers: Most employers want to hear that you will assimilate quickly and effectively contribute to the company’s future. Address these issues, and you might just get your dream job.Tip the scale in your favor, too. Apply to industries that need more workers and are hungry to hire.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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