Many people find the interview process to be very intimidating. This can cause them to perform worse in the actual interview and cause a loop of negative feedback. We’re here to help you overcome any trepidation surrounding the interview process and make sure that you are prepared to put your best foot forward when you are offered an interview for a new position.
The first and most important thing to keep in mind when interviewing is that it is not an adversarial process. Many people feel as though they are pitted against the interviewer and only one of them can succeed. You are actually both on the same team most of the time. They are looking to find a competent candidate to add to their team and you are looking to show them that you are that candidate. They want you to succeed just as much as you do. Changing your perspective on the whole process makes it much less intimidating.
There are a few things you can do to set yourself apart and make it easier for the interviewer to choose you at the end of the process. As long as you are not drastically under-qualified for the position, a little bit of confidence and interview etiquette can go a long way. Regardless of your current skill set you should come into any interview with the confidence that you can learn, to not only meet the minimum requirements but, to excel in the position. The interview is also your opportunity to demonstrate your communication skills and showcase your understanding of proper workplace demeanor.
The questions which you will be asked are designed to decide whether or not you will make a good addition to the company. All that you have to do is show why you believe that you are the best choice for the position. Make sure that you spend some time before the interview thinking about what qualities and experience you possess that make you a good fit for this particular job. Once you have these ideas in your mind you should be able to answer any variations that may appear during the interview.
There are a few common questions which pop up in interviews and most people simply memorize an answer that they think will best answer them. A common example is when an interviewer asks, “What is your greatest weakness?”. Many candidates simply choose a strength and make it sound like a weakness. This may seem like a good choice however once we analyze the question we can see why this is actually one of the ways that you shouldn’t answer this question.
While in an interview you should be thinking about why the interviewer is asking the questions that they are. What sort of information do they want to find out? Often they are asking questions in order to get a deeper look at your experience or character. When asking about your greatest weakness they are almost certainly aware that you know about this question in advance. So, what do they actually want to know? They are most likely looking to see whether you are able to identify your own weaknesses and address them in order to succeed in the future. Answering with one of your strengths, as most people do, shows the interviewer that you are incapable of analyzing yourself enough to find an actual weakness which could compromise your ability to be a valuable team member.
To learn more about the interviewing process and how to succeed in any interview check out How Do You Prepare for an Interview?
