How to be Good at Interviews: An Overview

Interviews – some are good, and some are bad.

Sometimes we think we sunk when we did well, and vice versa.

Let’s talk about how to make interviews less daunting, and more productive while being more prepared. In this blog post, I am going to talk about what preparation should happen before, during, and after a job interview, rather than talking about what questions you should answer and how.

Before the interview…

So, you got the call or email. The company called for a job you are interested in to set up an interview and they have told you what you will need to do to prepare for the meeting. 

You have three days. Here is what you should do:

1. Research the company again. Chances are while you were applying, you at least read the job posting and gave the company website a glance. And chances are that you probably also know that you will likely be asked during the interview what you know about the company. So, this is your chance to do some in-depth research about the company. For example, go over their website in more detail than just the ‘about us’ section. Read their blog, read their careers page, watch videos they have, go to the bottom of the homepage, and read the different links they have so that you can get a well-rounded view of the organization.  Another thing you can do is read news articles about the company, which can be found by a simple google search.

What about employee reviews? Look on websites like glass door and indeed to see what others are saying about working there. Now keep in mind that these reviews are opinions of other people’s experiences at the organization. If there are bad reviews, it does not always mean that the experience working there will be bad. Each person’s experience will be different.

• Review your resume – Review and memorize the resume that you sent to the employer. For each job you apply to, you should always be tailoring your resume, cover letter, and/or application to the job posting. It is always wise to have a good idea of what the employer is looking at. Now you are probably thinking, I already know what is on my resume! The reason I suggest this, is because we often apply for several jobs, with several tailored resumes, so it is a good idea to have it fresh in your mind what you are presenting to the employer.

• Prepare all tasks they ask you to do before you attend the interview. These days employers are commonly asking candidates to prepare short presentations, complete writing tasks, create videos, and the like before they attend the interview. Make sure you do this well in advance to give yourself time to practice the small presentation they ask you to do, or to proofread the questions or assignment they wanted you to complete. If it is a presentation, practice in front of someone, or if you don’t have someone to practice in front of, do a video recording of yourself presenting and watch it. The important thing is to prepare what you need to do in advance so that when the interview happens you will be well prepared.

• Practice interview questions and have your questions prepared to ask. Print out the job posting and memorize it for the interview. Have interview answers prepared that you could use to answer various types of interview questions. Situations like problem-solving, team building, conflict resolution, behavioral answers, and the like are common in interviews. You should have what is called a STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) prepared. STARs are great because the answer is broken down, and you will be able to explain your answer to the employer based on the question they are asking you.

Having the questions that you want to ask during the interview is also important. Do not have questions like how much is the salary and what are the benefits. Have more constructive questions about the company, the culture, growth, etc., and about the opportunity itself. These types of questions will make you look genuinely interested in the role while showing that you did your research.

During the interview…

1. Arriving at the interview – Always plan to be at least 15 minutes early to the interview. Plan for things like not being able to find parking, finding your way around, and not looking rushed and frazzled when you arrive.

Another thing is to dress the part. I know that this is common sense, but I can’t tell you how many times I have had people arrive for interviews not dressed properly, or who have brought their family members or spouse with them. The rule of thumb is to arrive at the interview with just yourself dressed professionally. When you greet the person at the front desk always be polite. The front desk clerk is typically the person who gets the first impression of you, and if it is not a good one, chances are they will tell the interviewer what their encounter with you was like if it was not pleasant.

• Meeting the interviewer – Always stand up, shake hands, and say “hello [insert name here], nice to meet you”. Or something along those lines. When you arrive in the interview room ensure that you thank them for inviting you to the interview and make eye contact. Answer all the questions to the best of your ability. If they ask you a question and you need a minute to answer it or need the question repeated, feel free to politely say so.  Also, ensure that your answers are not too long, but also not too short, and answer the question directly, try to avoid going off on a tangent.

After the interview…

1. When the interview is over – Thank the interviewer again for their time and that you are looking forward to hearing from them! Always offer a handshake before and after the interview. It should go without saying, but a handshake should be firm, but not squeezing their hand, and not a limp handshake either. A firm handshake shows confidence.

• Reflection – When you get home reflect on your interview. Think about how you did well, and where you can improve your answers for next time. Always do this as soon as possible so that the conversation is still fresh in your head! Reflection is a strong building blog that can foster self-growth and preparation for future events in your life.

• The thank you email – The email should be simple and to the point. Address the people you met with, tell them what interested you in the role, thank them for their time, and reiterate your skills and how you feel you could help the company. Not many people send thank-you follow-ups, so this can be one way to stand out from the crowd. Also, send the letter within 3 days of the interview taking place.

So, there you have it. Basics of before, during, and after the interview. Preparing for an interview is daunting because you want to make the right impression. By taking your time, preparing, and executing your plan the interview process will be easier.  

Looking for interview coaching or specific suggestions? Get in touch with me via the contact page on this website or via Instagram @BlissPlusYou.

How to be Good at Interviews: An Overview

Interviews – some are good, and some are bad.

Sometimes we think we sunk when we did well, and vice versa.

Let’s talk about how to make interviews less daunting, and more productive while being more prepared. In this blog post, I am going to talk about what preparation should happen before, during, and after a job interview, rather than talking about what questions you should answer and how.

Before the interview…

So, you got the call or email. The company called for a job you are interested in to set up an interview and they have told you what you will need to do to prepare for the meeting. 

You have three days. Here is what you should do:

1. Research the company again. Chances are while you were applying, you at least read the job posting and gave the company website a glance. And chances are that you probably also know that you will likely be asked during the interview what you know about the company. So, this is your chance to do some in-depth research about the company. For example, go over their website in more detail than just the ‘about us’ section. Read their blog, read their careers page, watch videos they have, go to the bottom of the homepage, and read the different links they have so that you can get a well-rounded view of the organization.  Another thing you can do is read news articles about the company, which can be found by a simple google search.

What about employee reviews? Look on websites like glass door and indeed to see what others are saying about working there. Now keep in mind that these reviews are opinions of other people’s experiences at the organization. If there are bad reviews, it does not always mean that the experience working there will be bad. Each person’s experience will be different.

• Review your resume – Review and memorize the resume that you sent to the employer. For each job you apply to, you should always be tailoring your resume, cover letter, and/or application to the job posting. It is always wise to have a good idea of what the employer is looking at. Now you are probably thinking, I already know what is on my resume! The reason I suggest this, is because we often apply for several jobs, with several tailored resumes, so it is a good idea to have it fresh in your mind what you are presenting to the employer.

• Prepare all tasks they ask you to do before you attend the interview. These days employers are commonly asking candidates to prepare short presentations, complete writing tasks, create videos, and the like before they attend the interview. Make sure you do this well in advance to give yourself time to practice the small presentation they ask you to do, or to proofread the questions or assignment they wanted you to complete. If it is a presentation, practice in front of someone, or if you don’t have someone to practice in front of, do a video recording of yourself presenting and watch it. The important thing is to prepare what you need to do in advance so that when the interview happens you will be well prepared.

• Practice interview questions and have your questions prepared to ask. Print out the job posting and memorize it for the interview. Have interview answers prepared that you could use to answer various types of interview questions. Situations like problem-solving, team building, conflict resolution, behavioral answers, and the like are common in interviews. You should have what is called a STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) prepared. STARs are great because the answer is broken down, and you will be able to explain your answer to the employer based on the question they are asking you.

Having the questions that you want to ask during the interview is also important. Do not have questions like how much is the salary and what are the benefits. Have more constructive questions about the company, the culture, growth, etc., and about the opportunity itself. These types of questions will make you look genuinely interested in the role while showing that you did your research.

During the interview…

1. Arriving at the interview – Always plan to be at least 15 minutes early to the interview. Plan for things like not being able to find parking, finding your way around, and not looking rushed and frazzled when you arrive.

Another thing is to dress the part. I know that this is common sense, but I can’t tell you how many times I have had people arrive for interviews not dressed properly, or who have brought their family members or spouse with them. The rule of thumb is to arrive at the interview with just yourself dressed professionally. When you greet the person at the front desk always be polite. The front desk clerk is typically the person who gets the first impression of you, and if it is not a good one, chances are they will tell the interviewer what their encounter with you was like if it was not pleasant.

• Meeting the interviewer – Always stand up, shake hands, and say “hello [insert name here], nice to meet you”. Or something along those lines. When you arrive in the interview room ensure that you thank them for inviting you to the interview and make eye contact. Answer all the questions to the best of your ability. If they ask you a question and you need a minute to answer it or need the question repeated, feel free to politely say so.  Also, ensure that your answers are not too long, but also not too short, and answer the question directly, try to avoid going off on a tangent.

After the interview…

1. When the interview is over – Thank the interviewer again for their time and that you are looking forward to hearing from them! Always offer a handshake before and after the interview. It should go without saying, but a handshake should be firm, but not squeezing their hand, and not a limp handshake either. A firm handshake shows confidence.

• Reflection – When you get home reflect on your interview. Think about how you did well, and where you can improve your answers for next time. Always do this as soon as possible so that the conversation is still fresh in your head! Reflection is a strong building blog that can foster self-growth and preparation for future events in your life.

• The thank you email – The email should be simple and to the point. Address the people you met with, tell them what interested you in the role, thank them for their time, and reiterate your skills and how you feel you could help the company. Not many people send thank-you follow-ups, so this can be one way to stand out from the crowd. Also, send the letter within 3 days of the interview taking place.

So, there you have it. Basics of before, during, and after the interview. Preparing for an interview is daunting because you want to make the right impression. By taking your time, preparing, and executing your plan the interview process will be easier.  

Looking for interview coaching or specific suggestions? Get in touch with me via the contact page on this website or via Instagram @BlissPlusYou.