If you were looking for advice on how to perform during an interview, you would find no shortage of information. There is plenty of advice out there on how to handle the interview. There is general agreement on many things, such as making sure you do your research. But there are also divergent opinions on some other aspects, such as how to respond to certain types of questions, how to dress, how much to say, among other things.
But there are some generally accepted pieces of advice for things you should do during an interview. And below you will find five suggestions that, although not guaranteed to land you the job, could add greatly to your performance.
The first piece of advice is by now pretty common knowledge, but bears repeating nonetheless because it is so important. And that is asking questions – make sure you ask good questions. This shows your interest and engagement in the job. The more intelligent the questions will also show the interviewer your knowledge about the job and the industry in general. For example, some good questions include the kinds of issues you would face on the job, what kinds of things you would need to do differently than the last person who held the job, and what kinds of company-wide issues you need to be aware of.
Another thing to let the employer know during the interview is that you are flexible. You need to show that you can work together with people by letting the employer know that you are open when it comes to scheduling interviews, starting dates and even the duties of the job.
Another thing to remember for the interview is that words matter, specifically the words the company has used to describe the job you are applying for. They have chosen particular words to describe the duties of the job, and you should pay attention to these words because they will probably give you a good idea of what the company is looking for. Then, in talking about the job, use the same words as the company has, which will show that you are on the same page as the employer and are plugged in to what the company wants.
If the interviewer asks you a question that catches you by surprise, you can buy a little time by answering “That’s a good question, ” rather than blurting out, “I don’t know.” It shows that you appreciate the perspicacity of the interviewer and gives you a little time to think about an answer.
Finally, make sure during the interview that you spell out why you want the job, how it fits in with your career aspirations, your plans, and what you hope to get out of it.
If you are looking for temporary, temporary-to-hire or direct-hire work in the Anchorage area, send a message to the Opti Staffing Group. We would love to discuss how we can help you find the job you are looking for