6 Practical Steps to Improve Your Job Interview Skills - Sterling Career Concepts

6 Practical Steps to Improve Your Job Interview Skills 6 Practical Steps to Improve Your Job Interview Skills Interview preparation is essential if you want to get the job you dream of, regardless of how much experience you have or how polished your resume is. Improving your interview skills will take a great deal of dedication and practice. Also, there are several things you can do to boost your skills so you can excel in your job interview. Business experts and Ivy league college consultants share steps below to enhance your interview skills and boost your chances of getting hired. How to Enrich your Interview Skills 1. Use the job description Think of the job description as your interview preparation cheat sheet. Basically, this will spell out where you should be focusing your preparation efforts. Often, most job seekers are forgetting to use such a handy guide. The job description will outline how the interview will go, so use it to create position-specific interview questions to practice with. Once you are done creating questions, read through it and determine if there is a missing piece. Moreover, you can use it to craft relevant stories and examples that you can use during the interview. For instance, if the company is looking for detail-oriented persons capable of managing multiple projects, you must have a story or two to exemplify that. 2. Do your research on the company During the interview, you won’t just be selling your skills, but you will also be trying to pitch what a great fit you are for the organization. Therefore, you need to know everything about the company. If so, you will most likely stand out from the competition. Most interviewers will ask why you want to work here. Knowing what the company is all about and connecting the dots as to why you will be a perfect addition to the team will help you create the best answer to this question. Look into the company’s website and read the values, mission and vision, and the annual report. Furthermore, you also need to get a sense of the firm’s strengths. Learn what it does to outgrow its competitors. Hiring managers will greatly appreciate a candidate who compliments the organization for excelling in its industry. 3. Practice answering the common interview questions Most interviewers will be asking common interview questions so make sure to practice your answers to such. List crucial points you want to cover before each interview. These include your leadership and creativity skills, work experience, professional ambitions, and strengths. Rehearse your delivery in front of your friend or the mirror, or do a mock interview with someone you trust. 4. Learn the importance of nonverbal communication Another way of demonstrating energy and confidence to potential employers is through nonverbal communication. During your mock interview, practice making eye contact with the interviewer whilst maintaining good posture. Always wear a smile. Most importantly, practice avoiding any nonverbal behaviors that can leave a negative impression, such as chewing gum and looking at your watch. 5. Practice active listening Often, interviewees easily get so caught up in their answers that they do not listen to what the interviewers are asking or telling them. Find a way to let the interviewers know that you heard what they said by bringing up some ideas that they have mentioned. This will show that you are paying attention and you are very much interested. This will also help you make a good impression. 6. Get expert help There are professionals and graduate school admissions consulting services that help and guide those who are looking for a job. They can help you with all the areas of employability, including how to perform better in interviews and improve your motivation. Trained guidance officers can help identify problems in your job search approach as well as help you improve your chances of getting hired. What you wear during the interview matters as well to land the job you want. Avoid wearing too many accessories. Let your intended position and the company’s culture guide how formal your outfit must be. Improving your job interview skills is among the best ways of boosting your confidence and performance. These steps will help you make a good and unforgettable impression on potential employers. It will also help you become more relaxed for a smoother interview process. By approaching an interview expecting to succeed, you will most likely to do just that. GUEST AUTHOR BIO Brian Giroux is an experienced college admissions advisor and co-founder of Capital College Consulting. Brian is a Professional Member of Independent Educational Consulting Association (IECA). Brian has worked with students from over 30 countries to help provide guidance through the US admissions process. Brians experience includes 18+ years in education serving multiple roles as educator, athletic director, and college admissions consultant.