Jobs tips
Bring an Interview Survival Kit
Importance: [⭐⭐⭐⭐] You got your notebook and some copies of your resume in your briefcase or purse, but let’s go a bit further. Pack some items that will ensure that you arrive at the interview in excellent form, such as an umbrella, bandage strips, breath mints, a pen, a stick of deodorant, some paper towels, and a portable stain remover. Maybe a snack bar for any hunger pangs that pop up unexpectedly. Get a whole interview checklist here: What to Bring to an Interview & Printable Checklist with 12 Crucial Items There are some things that you can’t do in advance, but you must still remember to take care of during the interview. Below, you’ll see a list of the best interview tips and tricks for outperforming your competition during your time in the hot seat. Here’s how to behave in an interview:
Pay Attention to What They Say and Take Notes
Importance: [⭐⭐⭐] Just before your interview starts, pull out that notebook (remember the one with your cheat sheet?) and take some notes. You’ll look like a diligent candidate, you won’t have to ask them to repeat much, and you’ll have any questions and answers handy for when that time comes.
Use the STAR Method for Behavioral Interview Questions
Importance: [⭐⭐⭐⭐] Behavioral interviews feature questions about specific situations from your past work experience and how you handled them or behaved. They can be a doozy to answer, and to top that, they often come out of nowhere. But there’s a great trick to answering them, and it’s not at all underhanded or black hat. It’s called the STAR method, and using it will help you structure your answers and deliver a response that will impress the interviewer every time. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result. To learn how to put this formula to work for your next interview, see this post: STAR Method for Acing Behavioral Interview Questions
- Tell me about yourself
- Tell me about your experience in your current position
- Why should we hire you?
- Why did you leave your last job?
- What is your greatest strength?
- What is your greatest weakness?
- Why do you want to work here?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
- What is your management style?
- Do you have any questions for us?
- What motivates you?
- What are your salary requirements?
- What are you passionate about?
- How do you explain this employment gap?
- STAR Method for acing behavioral interview questions
- Informational interview questions
- Situational interview questions
- 25 Teacher Interview Questions
- 25 Nursing Interview Questions
- Illegal interview questions employers cannot ask When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your resume here. When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better. I’ll skip the shower. Hell, I don’t even need to put on any deodorant (or pants!). It’s a phone interview. That may be the case, but there are other ways you could choke during a phone, Skype, or Zoom interview. Just because you won’t meet them in person doesn’t mean you can let your guard down completely. Here are some interview tips and advice for acing these remote meetings:
Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?
Importance: [⭐⭐⭐] Most people don’t have a defined plan as to where they’d like to be in 5 years, but this question is asked by employers more so they can understand a vague idea. They want to hear that they’re part of your future and if your long-term career goals align with the company. Read some great responses to this question here: “Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?” Interview Question
What is Your Management Style?
Importance: [⭐] Before you skip over this question thinking it doesn’t pertain to you, think again. You could get this question no matter the position you’re applying for, as the hiring manager uses your answer to gauge your leadership prospects and potential. Give a brief success story about a time you managed a project or team. Read some great responses to this question here: What is Your Management Style? Best Answers
Describe Your Current Job Responsibilities
Importance: [⭐⭐⭐] Relevance is key here. Don’t tell them everything you did, because not all of it will be significant to this new company. Curate a list of tasks that are the most relevant, and speak about those. This is why preparation is so important! Read some great responses to this topic here: How to Describe Your Current Job Responsibilities
Why Do You Want to Work Here?
Importance: [⭐⭐] For the love of Barbara, don’t dare say something like, “because I need work.” No, what interviewers are really asking here is for compliments. Convey your enthusiasm about their company. Show that you're not interviewing for a job only because there are no better options at the moment. Read some great responses to this question here: “Why Do You Want to Work Here?” Interview Question
Tell Me About Yourself
Importance: [⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐] This interview question is not as broad as it sounds. Hiring managers don't care where you were born and raised, what your favorite sport is, and so on. Rather, they’d like an answer back that is relevant to them. Think of what you might answer were this asked of you during a first date. Read some great responses to this topic here: “Tell Me About Yourself” Best Answers
"Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?"
Importance: [⭐⭐⭐] At first glance, this question seems like a piece of cake, right? But there are obstacles, particularly if you didn’t have an amicable parting-of-ways with your last organization. Don’t say anything that will make the company question whether that same situation could make a second appearance. Read some great responses to this question here: "Why Did You Leave Your Last Job" Best Answers
"Why Should We Hire You?"
Importance: [⭐⭐⭐⭐] This can be a stumper, if not thought out before the interview. However, if you prepare, it can turn into a golden opportunity to give a winning elevator speech. Summarize your best points, and try not to feel uncomfortable by being overly modest. Read some great responses to this question here: "Why Should We Hire You?" Best Answers