The Keys to a Stellar Job Interview 

Okay, so you’ve got your killer cover letter and resume. Now what? There’s the terrifying prospect of what’s called the interview…. Oh, dear. You know the feeling….

Palms are sweaty, your heart’s beating faster than a bass drum, and you’re about to pass out. This is the moment defining your professional future: when you’re face to face with a prospective employer deciding right then and there if you’ll get the job or not. And it’s particularly terrifying especially when there’s maybe a dozen others doing the exact same thing – interviewing for the same job.

The Reality of the “Job Interview”

 Yes, job interviews are competitive. So, statistically, the chances of you getting picked out of the litter could be 1 out of 12, 1 out of 50, yikes maybe even 1 out of 100. Not very good odds.

But it’s the final step to getting through the door and landing that job. Think of it as the lottery. You get the winning number, you win a million dollars. What are the chances? Slim.

Good news, though – there are ways to nail your job interview to the wall, solidifying your chances of landing that job with the employer above everyone else. Even if the competition may have more ‘experience’ and more ‘credentials’ than you do, your killer resume could stand an even better chance if you present it well during that interview.

Just follow these advanced tips:

Tip 1: Be Proactive and Ask Them Some Questions

 I call these “advanced” tips, because everyone knows about the whole ‘not lying on your resume’ thing and always sending a ‘thank-you note’ advice, not to mention making eye contact and not swiveling around in your chair.

Those are obvious givens!

These are tips that, in all honesty, take real practice. Training, if you will. I tell you, there should be a college class in interviewing. Our job market would work out a whole lot better.

But I can help out a little bit, starting with this particular tip: asking questions.

What does that mean?

No, don’t simply ask about pay, benefits, and other details of the job (although those questions are important to ask). Rather, when I talk about ‘asking questions’ during the interview, I mean specifically asking the prospective employer about any concerns the employer may have about hiring you. In other words, you’re trying to cover all your bases.

Why should this employer hire you? Better yet, why wouldn’t the employer hire you? Ask! There’s no reason why the employer wouldn’t answer honestly, so simply ask. Be proactive and cover any issues the employer may already have right at the end of the interview. This solidifies you as a choice when you’re already addressing such issues, whatever they may be.

That way, not only do you deliver results, you’re able to fix any problem. And employers love that.

Tip 2: Ask for Some Homework

So this is why school was so relevant when you were eight years old! Homework does make a difference!

All joking aside, when I say “homework” during a job interview, I simply mean “proving yourself to the employer.” Can you do the job? It’s one thing to present yourself well during the interview. But can you truly perform? Can you measure up to what the employer wants?

You instill great confidence in that employer if you actively ask for a trial project of some kind, a test, if you will. Homework. Close to the end of the interview, go ahead and ask if there’s something the employer needs to figure out with the business, and offer to handle it on a trial basis, create a document, write a letter, set up a plan, anything. It, of course, depends on what the field is, whatever you’re applying for.

Imagine if you’d be the only job applicant actually asking for some kind of “homework” to do, proving your skills. I’d say you’d be at the top of the list.

And that goes right back to what we had always learned in grade school: showing is better than telling.

Tip 3: Do Your Own Research

Jokingly, I’d say be a stalker! Within reason, of course.

What I mean by that is even before you get into the interview, research on Google, on Klout, on LinkedIn, anywhere, about the company, the employer, even the other employees. Find out as much as you can about the business, so you’re prepared not only for any question the employer asks during the interview, but so you can ask some pretty deep questions yourself.

Nothing can charm a prospective employer than when it sounds like you’re interviewing them. You’re almost doting on these employers by how much you know of them and the employees and even the janitor.

It sends a message that you always like to be in the know. You like to stay on top of things. And for many businesses, being on top is crucial.

That Is, of Course, What You Want

You want to be on top. These three tips can help you nail that job interview. Keep in touch here, though; because there are a lot more advanced tips out there to make you a job interview specialist.

Until then, though, tap into these three tips and see where it gets you. All you need to do is get your foot in the door. One right word. Even one right gesture during that interview can make or break the day and get you your first paycheck or send you out the door with nothing.

So be sure to worship this one timeless piece of advice when handling job interviews: practice makes perfect.