Interviews are daunting, nerve-wracking and stressful, but instead of focusing on the negative, looking at interviews as a positive learning experience can help you rock your next job application. 

Changing your perspective on interviews is a great place to start. Think of an interview as a testament to your own knowledge of your skills rather than just a way to sell yourself. It may not seem like it, but interviews are the perfect time to measure your comfort level with the different skills you have. While being questioned on the spot, your ability to assess where you stand in your career is tested. Many questions come out of left field, causing you to rifle through the files in your mind, calling back to past projects you forgot about.

You want to make sure you have adequate information to share with your potential employer about your skills, projects and work ethic. Before your interview, think back on projects you have worked on. Measure the time they took, the amount of work that went into completing them, their successes and their failures. Many employers want to hear about the good just as much as the bad. Make sure you have a solid idea of successful tasks you have completed as well as ones that were a bit more difficult to complete. 

When it comes to questions based on your personality, be honest. It can be obvious when someone is speaking to impress an employer rather than telling the truth about oneself. Show off your personality so that the interviewer has a good understanding of who you are and what you are looking for. Don’t be afraid to be yourself while also being professional.

Interviews are a two-way street. What does this mean? A job interview is not only for the employer to measure your fit with the company, it is also a chance for you to see how you would like working for them. Come to the interview with at least three questions for the interviewer. 

Questions to ask the interviewer:

  • What does a typical day look like at your company?
  • What characteristics does a worker at your company need to have in order to be successful?
  • How does the onboarding process look for this role?
  • How has the company shaped you and how have you shaped the company?
  • What is the company culture like here?

Aside from coming prepared with questions, there are a few other things to bring with you to an interview. For starters, ensure that you have physical forms of your resume to share with the potential employer. Bring your own pen and paper to jot down notes, questions and comments that arise during the interview. Arrive on time with your materials organized so that you present yourself in a professional and timely manner.

Always remember to be confident in yourself. Show interest in the position, but remind yourself if it is what you are looking for in your career. You are not the only one selling yourself, the interviewer and company have just as much to share during the interview as you. Ask questions, be present and be proud of the skills you have to offer. 

For more examples of questions to ask during the interview, check out the link below.

Resource: https://www.themuse.com/advice/51-interview-questions-you-should-be-asking

Written by: Katie Mann

2/11/22