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Contributor: Shannon Malkovsky. Lesson ID: 10103
HR finally called you! They must have liked your application and are interested in you! The interview is scary but most important. The first seconds can make or break you. Learn to ace it today!
Watch this funny commercial on how friends ensured their friend reached the top of a potential interview list.
Don't do that when interviewing for a job!
First impressions do matter when it comes to interviewing! Many job interviewers decide whether to hire you within the first 90 seconds after they meet you.
Learn what it takes to ace that interview!
A job interview can seem scary to some people, but it’s much less scary when you are prepared.
Learn how to prepare for an interview.
It's a meeting between an employer and a job applicant to discuss possible employment. An interview can be face-to-face or over the phone.
It is a chance for the employer to see if you would be a good fit for the company and if the company would be a good fit for you.
Now that you know what an interview is, learn how to prepare for one.
Assess Yourself
Consider who you are, why you want this job, and why they should hire you.
Figure out what your strengths and weaknesses are.
Figure out why you decided to pursue this career field in the first place, why this particular job is right for you, and why this company is right for you.
Clarify what your goals are.
Figure out what makes you special and unique — what you bring to the table that other candidates may not.
Figure out why you are the BEST person for this job.
You’ll have to answer questions about all these things during the interview.
Research the Company
At the very least, you should be familiar with the information on the job description and the information on the company’s website.
Also, talk to current employees if you can, search for articles written about the company, etc.
Once you’ve researched, prepare the questions you want to ask the employer.
Know the Standard Questions and Be Prepared to Answer Them
You may still get an off-the-wall question you weren’t prepared for, but if you seem surprised by a standard question, you’ll give away the fact that you didn’t prepare well.
Some of the most common questions and how to answer them are discussed in the Got It? section.
Practice, Practice, Practice!
Collect sample questions and ask your friends and family to interview you with them. Check out these 100 interview questions to assess candidates and review their skills for ideas.
Remember, employers like it when you ask them questions, too! Explore What Are the Best Questions to Ask in an Interview? and practice these too.
The more practice you get, the better you’ll do at the interview.
Review the Dos and Don'ts of Job Interviewing found in Downloadable Resources in the right-hand sidebar.
Then, continue to the Got It? section to watch a mock interview.
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