How To Have a Successful Job Interview

Job interviews can be terrifying. You know the company is interested after viewing your resume, but now you have to convince them that you are a good fit for the company. Even the most highly skilled and experienced person can be daunted by the strange questions prospective employers tend to ask during job interviews. Here are some tips for rocking your next job interview.

Arrive on time in business attire

Wear formal business attire to any and all job interviews. First impressions count. Even if the company doesn't require business attire on the job, wear it to the interview. Also, make sure you arrive exactly on time. Plan to arrive at the job location at least 20 minutes early, which gives you some wiggle room in case the subway is late or the traffic gets snarled. Then, wait quietly outside and present yourself exactly five minutes before the interview is scheduled to start. You will come across as professional, organized, and punctual.

Plan and practice stories

Think about events in your life where you overcame adversity, failed, or succeeded. Then, come up with a true story about that event and practice telling the story. The best job interviews involve the employer asking questions and the prospective employee calmly telling coherent stories about their life that directly answer the questions. There are many resources online that list the most common questions employers ask during interviews. Consult these lists and prepare an answer to as many of them as possible.

Take a moment

If the employer surprises you with a question you did not prepare for, take a deep breath, think for a minute, and then speak calmly and clearly. Perhaps you had never encountered that situation before, in which case, your best course of action is to admit that and then make up a hypothetical story about what you would do if that situation did arise.

Prepare your own questions

The employer will ask you if you have any questions to ask about the job or the company. Make sure you have some questions. Make a list of ten questions to ask and bring the list with you. It is ok to pull it out and refer to it. Having a list makes you look prepared and confident.

Be positive

Don't say negative things about previous employers, teachers, or co-workers. If the employer asks you to explain a gap in your work history, a bad grade, or why you are leaving your current employer, be truthful but try to put a positive spin on it. If you made a mistake, admit this and then talk about how much you learned from that mistake.

Wrap it up

At the end of the interview, thank the employer and ask about the next steps, such as whether they need anything else from you and when they are likely to contact you in the future. Leave on a positive, upbeat note.

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