“Interview” is often regarded as synonymous with tension and anxiety. Through this article, you will gain tips on how to be well-prepared and overcome anxiety to achieve interview success.
Before the Interview
- Research the Interview Company: It is crucial to have a good understanding of the company you are about to interview with. By learning about the company’s products or services, business market, and overall strategy, you demonstrate your interest in the job and your willingness to learn. Check the company’s website and look up your interviewers on LinkedIn to ensure that on the interview day, you clearly know the job role and the identity of your interviewers.
- Research is a Two-Way Street: The way you research the company is how the company will research you. Make sure your social media profiles have appropriate privacy settings and that your LinkedIn profile is updated and professional.
- Understand Dress Code Requirements: Don’t hesitate to ask the company in advance about dress code requirements. Contrary to popular belief, you should worry more about being overdressed. If the company has a casual dress code but you wear formal attire to the interview, they might think you don’t fit the company culture and vibe. (However, if you are truly unsure about the company’s dress code, dressing fashionably and professionally is better than dressing too casually.)
- Practice, Practice, and Practice: Like anything else, interviews get better with practice. Spend time in front of a mirror imagining yourself in the interview. Practice describing in detail the personal skills, qualities, and experiences listed on your resume. Always be ready with three or four different examples and scenarios to prove your skills.
- Figure Out the Route: This may sound obvious, but knowing the route to the interview is very important. On the interview day, you will likely feel nervous and pressured, so getting lost would be disastrous. Especially if you plan to take public transport, make sure to have several backup routes in case your planned service is delayed or canceled. If you are running late, always call your interviewer in advance so they are prepared if you don’t arrive on time.
During the Interview
- Manage Nervousness: It is natural to feel nervous on the interview day, but properly managing your nerves can help you show your best self. Prepare thoroughly before the interview and try to stay calm during it. Tell yourself it is just a professional conversation, not a personal interrogation. Learn breathing techniques; slowing your breath can effectively calm you down.
- First Impressions Matter: From the moment you enter the interview room, you are selling yourself. Confidence is key: when greeting the interviewer, ensure your handshake is firm and make eye contact. If you feel nervous, use your breathing techniques. A study by communication professor Albert Mehrabian shows that when conveying information, body language accounts for 55%, tone of voice 38%, and spoken words only 7%. This highlights the importance of body language in job interviews.
- Answering Questions: Having researched the company and overcome nervousness, it’s time to sell yourself. Look the interviewer in the eye, and if facing multiple interviewers, don’t focus on just one—maintain an open posture and engage with all. When answering competency-related questions (such as describing a situation that demonstrated your leadership), use the STAR technique. The STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) provides a basic template that helps you answer such questions and fully showcase your abilities.
- Asking Questions: Before the interview ends, ask insightful questions to show the interviewer you are actively engaged in the process. Check what questions you can ask the interviewer to help you stand out.
After the Interview
- Feedback: You usually will receive notification from the interviewer within a few weeks after the interview, but the timing depends on the number of candidates. Ask your recruiter when you can expect interview results. Regardless of the outcome, you should always ask the interviewer for advice and feedback (especially if you were not successful) so you know how to improve for next time.