Top 27 tips to prepare for your job interviews

I am David, admin of CareerHandbook365. Let me share all of you about #27 tips to prepare for your job interviews. I hope you enjoy it, if you love it, plz share it to your friends.

1. Search interviewer’s details:

Ask for names and roles of everyone you are meeting; and if possible get the interview loop/schedule so you know how much time you will be spending with each and in what order.

Research each person with whom you are meeting - e.g., look them up on Quora, LinkedIn, Facebook and don’t forget YouTube. Seeing a person speak on video is great preparation for what to expect with respect to their personality and style. Plus, diving into their published content will give you more to talk with them about, help inform your questions, and potentially help highlight your preparation to the interviewer.

2. Know about the company:

Spend time to know about the company’s background and various activities of the company. Knowledge about the company will make you look serious for the job. Also if you have time, read about the competitors.

Know the basic stats on size and state of the company, and try to develop a view on the top 3 strengths and the top 3 weaknesses/issues the company faces. If you can think through and be prepared to articulate how you can reinforce the strengths and help make progress against the issues, then even better.

Pro Tip:

Set up Google News Alerts for the company and industry you are interviewing for. It shall give you timely news alerts and much needed information & talking points! You can also refer to Social media, website, google search etc. to get more information. Also you can search for people/friends on LinkedIn who are already working in the company and talk to them.

Search company on Glassdoor.com. I find that there are typically elements of truth to the themes that surface there, and it is a good way to get a feel for what to expect culturally and again this preparation can help to inform your questions

3. Secret weapon: tell your career stories at your job interview

You’re prepped and ready to totally nail this job interview. You’ve rehearsed your elevator pitch—in front of the mirror, even. You’ve committed the entire job description to memory. Heck, you even drove a practice route to the interview location to make sure you knew exactly where to park.

So, when the meeting finally rolls around, you’re feeling cool, calm, and collected. That is, until the interviewer jumps right in with the dreaded, “Tell me about a time when…”

Suddenly your mouth is dry, your mind is blank, and you have a mental facepalm moment. Why, oh why, didn’t you think to prepare for these types of prompts?

Yes, those requests for real-world examples—also known as behavioral interview questions—are frustrating. But, they’re also an extremely common part of the interview process.

Your best bet is to have a few stories prepared and ready to go for your next interview. Here are the six big ones you should make sure to have in your arsenal. They’re general enough that they can be used for a variety of questions, but specific enough that the person asking will feel like he or she’s getting a good, solid, detail-filled response.

Related material:

+ 7 secrets to tells about your career stories

4. Clarify your "selling points" and the reasons you want the job.

 Prepare to go into every interview with three to five key selling points in mind, such as what makes you the best candidate for the position. Have an example of each selling point prepared ("I have good communication skills. For example, I persuaded an entire group to ..."). And be prepared to tell the interviewer why you want that job – including what interests you about it, what rewards it offers that you find valuable, and what abilities it requires that you possess. If an interviewer doesn't think you're really, really interested in the job, he or she won't give you an offer – no matter how good you are!

5. Ask questions 

 You should always have some questions for your interviewer to demonstrate your interest in the position. Prepare a minimum of five questions, some which will give you more information about the job and some which delve deeper into the culture and goals of the company.

Related post:

+ Top 10 questions to ask employer in job interview

6. Carry an Updated Resume:

A Resume which doesn’t have the correct and updated facts does not leave a good impression. Make sure it has the correct details of your last job, dates, responsibilities, education, internship details, and so on. Carry a copy of the resume with you, even if the interviewer is likely to already have it.

7. Re-read the job description.

You may want to print it out and begin underlining specific skills the employer is looking for. Think about examples from your past and current work that align with these requirements.

8. Understand Job Requirement:

It is very important to understand what is job profile and whether u fit in this profile or not…Always ask for Job Description before appearing for interview…Identify your strengths & be clear on what kind of candidate organization is looking for..It will help you to decide your approach during course of interview.

9. Use the STAR method in answering questions.

Prepare to be asked about times in the past when you used a specific skill and use the STAR method to tell stories with a clear Situation, Task, Action and Result.

10. Wash (and Dry!) Your Hands

If you’re a nervous Nellie, like I am, you might suffer from sweaty palms (among other things) prior to an interview. Here’s one of my favorite interview tips: don’t send the message that you’re feeling anxious before you even sit down for your chat; wash and dry your hands, or use an alcoholic hand sanitizer, to greet your interviewer with a confident handshake that won’t gross them out. Also, skip that greasy hand cream!

11. What all you are bringing it to the table?

Always think that if u need this particular job then at the same time, organization is also looking for good candidate…During interview always focus on what all skill sets you will bring to organization & how it will benefit the organization in long benefit…Job is also doing a business, in our daily life if we buy any product or hire any service..we always look how this product or service will benefit us similarly you are also doing business with organization and try to showcase how organization is going to benefit if they offer this job to u.

12. Treat everyone you encounter with respect.

This includes people on the road and in the parking lot, security personnel and front desk staff. Treat everyone you don’t know as though they’re the hiring manager. Even if they aren’t, your potential employer might ask for their feedback.

13. Do not speak negatively about your previous employers.

Companies want to hire problem solvers who overcome tough situations. If you’re feeling discouraged about your current job, focus on talking about what you’ve gained from that experience and what you want to do next.

14. Dress for Success

Plan out a wardrobe that fits the organization and its culture, striving for the most professional appearance you can accomplish. Remember that it’s always better to be overdressed than under and to wear clothing that fits and is clean and pressed. Keep accessories and jewelry to a minimum. Try not to smoke or eat right before the interview and if possible, brush your teeth or use mouthwash.

15. Use Social Sweepster To Clean Your Facebook & Twitter

Nowadays, 91% of employers search your social media for any red flags. While most people tell you to watch every single thing you upload, there’s a much easier solution. Use Social Sweepster, an app that detects pictures of red solo cups, beer bottles, and other “suspicious” objects. It even detects profanity from your past posts! Now, that’s f%$king awesome!

“Too many recruiters reject candidate because of something they found on their social platforms” Social Sweepster CEO Tom McGrath says. “We help you create the first impression on your own terms.”

16. Control Your Body Language

Sure, you’re talking with your mouth during your interview, but your gestures, posture, and body language speak inaudible volumes. Maintain a good posture, with your back straight and your head held high. Avoid putting your nervousness on display too apparently by keeping your legs and arms still. Try not to fidget and play with something in your hands, and don’t chew on your lips.

Communication skills mean being able to speak with both verbal and non-verbal signs! Feel like you could improve the way you communicate?

17. Respectfully Avoid Illegal Inquiries

Once in a while, you may get a question that may be insensitive in one way or another, like about your origin or age. Most of the time, the interviewer doesn’t mean to offend and their interest is genuine and for small talk.

Try to keep your composure as you steer the question back on track. If you don’t want to answer their question, simply answer with something like:

“I’m confident that I’ll be able to meet the demands required of me and excel in my role.”

18. Arrive on time, relaxed and prepared for the interview

 There is no excuse ever for arriving late to an interview. Short of a disaster, strive to arrive about 15 minutes before your scheduled interview to complete additional paperwork and allow yourself time to get settled. Arriving a bit early is also a chance to observe the dynamics of the workplace.

 The day before the interview, pack up extra copies of your resume or CV and reference list. If you have a portfolio or samples of your work, bring those along too. Finally, remember to pack several pens and a pad of paper to jot notes. Finally, as you get to the offices, shut off your cell phone. (And if you were chewing gum, get rid of it.)

19. Make good first impressions

A cardinal rule of interviewing is to be polite and offer warm greetings to everyone you meet from the parking attendant to the receptionist to the hiring manager. Employers often are curious how job applicants treat staff members and your job offer could easily be derailed if you’re rude or arrogant to any of the staff. When it’s time for the interview, keep in mind that first impressions the impression interviewers get in the first few seconds of meeting you can make or break an interview.

Remember that having a positive attitude and expressing enthusiasm for the job and employer are vital in the initial stages of the interview; studies show that hiring managers make critical decisions about job applicants in the first 20 minutes of the interview.

Related post: 13 ways to make a good first impression at job interview

20. Practice, practice, practice.

It's one thing to come prepared with a mental answer to a question like, "Why should we hire you?" It's another challenge entirely to say it out loud in a confident and convincing way. The first time you try it, you'll sound garbled and confused, no matter how clear your thoughts are in your own mind! Do it another 10 times, and you'll sound a lot smoother and more articulate.

But you shouldn't do your practicing when you're "on stage" with a recruiter; rehearse before you go to the interview. The best way to rehearse? Get two friends and practice interviewing each other in a "round robin": one person acts as the observer and the "interviewee" gets feedback from both the observer and the "interviewer." Go for four or five rounds, switching roles as you go. Another idea (but definitely second-best) is to tape record your answer and then play it back to see where you need to improve. Whatever you do, make sure your practice consists of speaking aloud. Rehearsing your answer in your mind won't cut it.

21. Bring examples of your work

I have been called several times by hiring managers who expressed their delight at some of my candidates who came to the interview session with samples of their work. You also have the opportunity to do this. Make the most of printed words, it shows how prepared you are and this alone might just set you apart from other candidates. Idea: Some candidates take a copy of their most recent written review to the interview. Obviously, you should only do this if your evaluation is outstanding. Perhaps you could come with a graph or a chat that illustrates the actions you took that saved your old company some money or even how you improved their business.

Always couch your examples with the following line of logic:

• This was the situation at the time.

• This is what I did to remedy the situation.

• My actions yielded these results.

22. Make good first impressions

it is important that you present yourself as polite. Greet everyone you meet right from the parking attendant to the receptionist and of course, the hiring manager. Employers are usually interested in seeing how you relate with members of staff. Note that your first few seconds during the interview can make or break you so it is important you make the first few seconds count. Arrive early, dress well and when you met your interviewer, greet him/her with a smile, while standing and making eye contact. Your handshake should be firm not too soft, not bone crushing. Remember that it is important that you show enthusiasm for the position at this stage because most interviewers lean towards a decision within the first couple of minutes of the interview.

23. Remember the importance of body language

as much as what you say and how you look is important, it is also important that you have the right body language. If your body language is wrong, it could be a reason not to hire you or in the best-case scenario, it could be a distraction. The right body language entails that you smile, have a good posture, eye contact, active listening and nodding while bad body language includes playing with a pen, slouching, looking off in the distance, touching your face, stroking your hair back, fidgeting the chair, mumbling or chewing gum.

24. Salary Negotiations:

Never ever ask for unrealistic salary hikes as it gives impression that you are not serious about the job and just changing the job for money….Kindly do your homework before salary negotiation i.e. with your experience and for the particular job profile what is industry benchmark…For junior and middle management, normal salary hike is in the range of 25% to 40%…Also in some of critical job profiles like treasury in banking you might get very high salary hike.

25. Thank Interviewer(s) in Person, by Email, or Postal Mail

Common courtesy and politeness go far in interviewing; thus, the importance of thanking each person who interviews you should come as no surprise. Start the process while at the interview, thanking each person who interviewed you before you leave. Writing thank-you emails or notes shortly after the interview will not get you the job offer, but doing so will certainly give you an edge over any of the other finalists who didn’t bother to send thank-you notes.

26. Ask about next steps.

After your interview, it is appropriate to ask either your interviewer, hiring manager or recruiter about what you should expect next. This will likely be a follow-up email with results from your interview, additional requirements like an assignment or reference list or another interview.

27. Freelancer jobs

if you do not get picked or hired, you should not be bothered. There are many jobs on the Internet that can help you earn as much, if not more than you would have earned if you worked for a company.