How To Impress At Any Interview!

Get Ready With Research

One of the wisest ways to warm up your interviewer is to show up informed.

It changes the encounter from a cold meeting, where you both don’t know anything about each other, to one where you both already share some common ground.

Researching important topics in advance, such as the company’s products and services, and their company history and culture, will prove to your recruiter that you are interested and invested in their business. And they’ll be that much more likely to be interested in investing in you!

Plan Your Answers In Advance

Have you ever been watching someone doing standup comedy, or playing a musical instrument, or performing theatre, when suddenly they have to stop to remember what comes next?

And doesn’t that just ruin the moment for you, as the audience?

Well, the same thing can happen during an interview when you have to take an awkward pause to think of how best to answer a question from your potential employer.

You may not be able to anticipate EVERY question they could come up with, but there are dozens of common questions that you can predict. Preemptively preparing your responses will keep your interview running smoothly, and impress your interviewer with how well you can maintain your flow.

Here’s the top 10 questions to think about:

1. Tell me about yourself
2. Why do you want this job?
3. Why should we hire you?
4. What is your greatest strength?
5. What is your greatest weakness?
6. Why did you leave/are you leaving your last job?
7. What are your salary expectations?
8. How do you handle stress and pressure?
9. Describe a difficult work situation/project and how you handled it.
10. What are your goals for the future?

What will YOU say when asked these questions?

Be Punctual

This is by far the easiest way to impress your interviewer, or else risk losing face by being late.

Remember that when meeting someone for the first time, the reason little things can become so important is because this is 100% of what they know about you.

Every interaction with and piece of information they learn about you is the first and only thing they have to get a picture of who you are.

So if you are late this one time, while that may not be a normal character flaw in your life at large, they only know you as someone who is late.

Plan your route in advance. If possible, try it out to make sure the timing and directions are accurate. And in any case, leave yourself ample time to account for mishaps, traffic, accidents — anything that could delay your arrival.

And make sure you are aiming to be slightly early, not just right on time. That’s cutting it too close.

Dress To Impress

Unless you’re invisible, chances are the first thing an interviewer will notice about you is how you look.

Humans are wired to make fast presumptions about what we see because, from an evolutionary standpoint, what we see allows us to make the quickest assessments about whether something in our environment is a threat or a boon.

Even today, when we no longer have to worry about the constant threat of predators, or continuously be on the lookout for resources, we still make assumptions about others based on their appearance.

Knowing this, it’s absolutely important for you to dress in a way that makes you seem like a boon to their business, and not a threat.

A professional outfit doesn’t have to be expensive, just clean and appropriate for the situation. Good hygiene and no heavy smells like perfumes and colognes are another important part of your outfit.

Say The Right Things With Your Body Language

Up until now, your interactions with this potential employer have more than likely been restricted to emails, texts, and calls. Your interview is the first time you will be meeting face to face, giving them an opportunity to see how you compose yourself in person.

It won’t just be your words or your voice you are presenting with anymore, it will be the language you’re speaking with your gestures and body language.

Some of the most important cues to impress your interviewer when it comes to body language are:

• Maintaining eye contact
• Strong, upright posture
• Staying at an appropriate distance (as close as you can without entering their personal space)
• Not fidgeting or making nervous movements
• Not crossing/folding your arms

Another subtle way to score points with your recruiter is to mirror their body language slightly (do NOT copy their movements exactly, just hold yourself in a similar position). Not only will this help you decide what to do with your own posture, but it will suggest to them that you are relatable.

ACCESSIBILITY