Secrets To Passing Your Next Job Interview

A job interview is your chance to further highlight the information on your CV and show an employer the person behind the skills and experience. Being well-prepared can make it easier to impress an interviewer or panel and secure a position.

Being invited to an interview means that the employer has reviewed your CV and recognizes your potential but they want to know more about what you could bring to the position.

During interviews, there are common mistakes that numerous candidates make, regardless of the position they are interviewing for. Some of them include: lack of preparedness, poor presentation skills, poor self-confidence, and a lack of understanding of the role.

While mistakes do happen, it is important for you, as the interviewee, to do your part and minimize on the errors.

How do you make a great first in-person impression and ensure that your next interview goes well? Here are some ways to present your best self in an interview and increase your chances of being hired:

One of the secrets to passing a job interview is to understand the role. Go through the job description and understand it from an employer’s perspective.

In today’s job process, interviewing has shifted from focusing on the common interview questions to focusing on competency i.e. the skills and qualities you possess that make you an ideal candidate for the job. But you shouldn’t stop at understanding the job description. You have to look at the company vis-a-vis the industry, regulations, suppliers, clients and everything else that makes a company run smoothly.

Character is also key is when it comes to your career. There are very good candidates who have the right skills and industry knowledge but have a problem moving up the career ladder because of their character.

Beyond qualifications and skills, employers are interested in what you believe in as an individual. Are you a person of integrity? Can you work under minimal supervision? Can you be entrusted with company assets? What will your previous employer say about you? Keep in mind that no employer will employ you without conducting proper reference checks.

Another big concern with employers is on the soft skills – that is, personality traits, communication, language, personal habits, interpersonal skills, managing people, leadership, etc

These skills are transferable skills, so they can be used in many different types of jobs. They are personal qualities and attitudes that can help you to work well with others and make a positive contribution to organizations you work for.

It is highly unlikely that you will be considered as a potential candidate, if you don’t demonstrate such soft skills.

Employers are aware that technical skills can be taught more easily than soft skills, which tend to be either personal characteristics or skills that have been fine-tuned over a period of time. Sometimes it’s not easy to change a person’s characteristics or belief. If you would like to know your strengths and weakness I’d recommend you take a personality test.

Remember,

The secret to passing any job interview is to know yourself better and be clear on how you can meet the needs of an employer.

Would you like to pass your next interview? Get in touch with our interview coach here.