Are you moving to a new job? Looking for that first rung of the ladder as you start your career? In between jobs with your resume out to two dozen companies? Whatever the purpose, at some point during the application process you’ll need to face an interview.
“We don’t know where our first impressions come from or precisely what they mean, so we don’t always appreciate their fragility.”
~ Malcolm Gladwell
The interview process can be absolutely nerve wracking, even for those well into their career. But you are not without help! Here are a few tools and tips to come to your aid.
Research Your Company and Show Your Knowledge
Before heading to the one-on-one, you should make sure you know the focus, history and mission of the company you are interviewing with. ‘Knowing your stuff’ is a trait that does not go unnoticed in an interview.
There are more resources than you’d think to conduct this research. Glassdoor will give you insight from current and past employees on their experience working there. TrustRadius can provide insight into the specific tools they use and what customers say about them. The company website will tell you what the company finds important and, often, what they are looking for in an employee.
Taking even an hour to get to know the company will be a game changer in the interview process. It will help you know what to focus on in your own answers, understand what you’re getting into, and know what questions to ask during the interview.
Speaking of which – always make sure you have a specific and open-ended question to ask the interviewer. It could be about their target audience, about a feature of their product, or about their direction. Anything that shows you’ve done your homework and care about the company.
Tools to Help You Practice Your Interview
Once you have the resources you need to get to know the company, it’s time to get practicing! Thankfully we live in the Internet age, with plenty of resources available online designed precisely for this purpose.
For example, My Interview Simulator is an online mock interview practicing tool. The site features 46 interview questions (with suggested responses!), as well as six different interview simulations that walk you through the process in real time.
Quizlet is a more casual option. The tool lets users create their own flashcards with any kind of content. For interviews, think company information, and a few answers to common questions you’d like to get down pat.
Another option is to simply research common interview questions and techniques, and prepare accordingly. Take the time to read through these common questions and work through how you’d answer them in an interview setting. At the same time, make sure you research interview techniques; body language can be just as important as the right answer.
Finally, several popular online learning platforms offer interview preparation courses. Coursera lists a handful of courses, along with resume preparation and interview research. Udemy lists a free job interview skills training course – with some great reviews!
Armed with these tools, you will be well on your way to a winning interview. Do you have other ideas for improving your interview skills? Share this post on social media and spread the knowledge!
Brooklin Nash writes about the latest tools and small business trends for TrustRadius. When he’s not writing, you can find him reading YA dystopian fiction (with guilty pleasure) and cooking.
