The Top Ten Ways to Ace Your Next Interview

With the post-bubble economy still being in its tepid state, it isn’t enough to have the required experience and education to land your dream job. Nowadays you need to step up your game to stand a chance among a sea of hopeful applicants. As a seasoned professional recruiter who has placed hundreds of candidates, I know the industry secrets for successful interviews. Here are the top ten ways to ace your next interview, and insure that you get placed at the top of the pile of potential hires. For organizational purposes, I have divided the tips into a list of five basic musts and five advanced tips.

The Five Basic Rules to Start Your Interview Off Right:

1. Dress to impress. The best rule of thumb is to dress one level up from the standard dress code of the company you are interviewing with. Don’t know the dress code? Call ahead and ask the receptionist or the person who recruited you. Don’t be embarrassed to ask. It would be more embarrassing to show up underdressed—though if you have the personality of Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness [sic], you still stand a chance.

2. Show up on time. This seems simple, but as a recruiter I can’t tell you how many times that my whole schedule has been derailed because someone didn’t show up at the expected time. No matter what role you are interviewing for, time is of the essence. It is common courtesy to show up early or on time, and punctuality always leaves an impression of professionalism. If you can, try to show up fifteen minutes early. But if a delay is inevitable, let the recruiter or hiring manager know as soon as possible. 

[Via Pixabay]

3. Know the ins and outs of the job that you are interviewing for. Make sure you know about the job description before you arrive. Try to find out the scope of the project, skills required, and even goals—but don’t go overboard and try to memorize the job description. Some recruiters and hiring managers resort to using stock job descriptions, which may contain extraneous details that are not even relevant to the job. I’ve also even seen hiring managers ask for the impossible (i.e. Five years of a technology that has been out for one year). What does that mean for you, the interviewee? Be aware that the job description is generally a ‘big picture’ wish list. Be ready to help the interviewer see that you fit the general requirements of the job. Showing that you know what they want and what they need will get you one step closer to getting the job.

[Via Pixabay]

4. Bring a copy of your resume. Bringing something tangible to your interview is a great way to show initiative. Not only does it show the recruiter or hiring manager that you care, it also gives your interviewer something to refer to and focus on in your interview. Although a lot of hiring managers and recruiters will have a copy of your resume already printed, sometimes they don’t. There’s nothing more awkward than having to go over your work history without having your resume to back you up. Plus it gives them something else to look at, instead of staring you down.

[Via Pixabay]

5. Put your phone on silent. As more and more people become cyber-dependent on their smartphones, I find that it is more important than ever to stress the need to silence your phone when interviewing. While some people have legitimate excuses to answer calls during an interview (such as an on call doctor at a hospital), most calls can go to voicemail and be answered at a later time. If you don’t turn it on silent, you run the embarrassing risk of answering the phone during the interview. While it won’t kill your chances, it will most likely stall your engine at the start.

[Via Pixabay]

[Next, The Five Advanced Tips You Need to Know to Get Hired]

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