In-Person Interview Tips and Tricks

The interview process starts long before you even arrive. It’s important you are prepared for the process and take the proper time needed before to practice and feel confident in yourself. Every part of the interview is important in its own way, from showing up early to asking questions at the end, there are so many steps to be successful in an interview. Now it’s time to learn more about preparing for your upcoming interview and we’ve got you covered.

How to Prepare for the Interview

Learn about the Company

This is easy but important research you should be doing on your own. First, you can look at the company website and explore employees, their mission, what they do, and any other important sects of the company that stand out to you. You can also do a simple search on the internet and see if anything of importance catches your eye. It is also possible that depending on the size of the company you are interviewing for, there may be articles that you should read up on about them. You may even want to do research on the employee who will be interviewing you. If they are an important part of the company, you should know why before showing up.

Research the Role

It’s also important you know about the role you are interviewing for. The last thing you want to do is seem inexperienced or unsure of the role you’re interested in. You can search up some articles on what a job like this may entail. You should know the job description from front to back. This is also a great time to determine if you have any questions about the role that are not in the job description. Make sure you understand the role before you arrive to avoid asking obvious questions or questions answered within the job description.

Practice

Practicing before your interview can help ease the pressure and anxiety an interview can bring. This is a great way to boost your confidence and feel good about yourself going into the interview. You can search some common interview questions online and practice those to a family or friend. You can even recite some answers to yourself or write them down to try and remember better. Practicing is a key part to making a good impression during the interview.

Pick Out Your Outfit

Employers are more likely to hire someone who is dress properly and neat for their interview. It is proven that people who dress for success feel more confident, powerful and pay more attention to detail. Dressing for success will also help you make a great first impression to your potential employer. Dressing well is more than just your clothing, it’s about how you carry yourself. Start your interview right by picking out a nice outfit beforehand.

Plan to Arrive Early

The interview starts before you even exchange conversation. Showing up about ten to fifteen minutes early for an interview will show you’re eager, interested and timely. This will also give you time to use the restroom to freshen up and check in with a receptionist if need be. It is also important that you don’t show up too early. The employer or interviewer may read your arrival time as a sign of desperation. Employers prefer candidates who arrive early, but not too early. Get your interview started off on the right foot before even having a conversation

Tips for your In-Person Interview

Show good manners and body language

Your language, both verbal and non-verbal, is very important in order to have a successful interview. Pay attention to your posture by standing tall or sitting up with your shoulders back. During the interview, be sure to smile and maintain eye contact as this proves your comfortability with the interviewer and will help your confidence shine through.

Use the STAR Method

This technique helps you structure your response to behavioral interview questions, such as “Tell me about a time when…” This makes it easy to formulate a story into a digestible format for the interviewer. STAR stands for the following: Situation, Task, Action, and Result. Start by explaining the context of the story and then move into what you were tasked with and the action you took based on that task. Lastly, close out with the result of your action and how that benefitted someone or your previous company.

Ask Questions

Be sure to have a list of questions to ask during the interview, either on paper or in your head. This shows that you are serious about the position and company. Whether you want to ask about the day-to-day responsibilities, the culture of the company, or a personal question about the interviewer’s experience, these are all good questions that will paint a picture of what a future at this company could look like.

Follow Up

It is essential that you follow up after an interview. A thank you email is a great opportunity to remind the interviewer about your skills and topics that stood out during your interview. This is also your chance to show what you liked and what you can potentially look forward to. Thank them for your time and getting to discuss the role with you, and then explain why you would be a good fit. Don’t wait too long to follow up, send the thank you email within 24 hours of your interview. The hiring manager could have many candidates and it’s easy to get lost in the mix; this is the perfect way to stand out.

If you are ready to advance your career, consider Bryant & Stratton College. With programs in business, technology, healthcare, and more, we have the degree to meet your needs. Find your program today!