Ace That Interview

1. Research the company and interviewers

Understanding key information about the company you’re interviewing with can help you go into your interview with confidence. The company’s website, social media posts and recent press releases will provide a solid understanding of the company’s goals and culture and how your background makes you a great fit. 

2. Practice your answers

Prepare your answer to the common question: “Tell me about yourself, and why are you interested in this role with our company?” The idea is to quickly communicate who you are and what value you'll bring to the company and the role—this is your elevator pitch.Tip: You should come prepared to discuss your salary expectations.  

3. Reread the job description

You may want to print it out and begin underlining specific skills the employer desires. Think about examples from your past and current work that align with these requirements.

4. Use the STAR method

Prepare to be asked about times in the past when you used a specific skill and answer with a story using the STAR method—situation, task, action and result. The STAR method is a structured way in which you can answer behavioural or competency-based interview questions. 

5. Prepare smart questions for your interviewers

Interviews are a two-way street. Employers expect you to ask questions: They want to know that you’re thinking seriously about what it would be like to work there. Here are some questions you may want to consider asking your interviewers:

Can you explain some of the day-to-day responsibilities of this job?

How would you describe the characteristics of someone who would succeed in this role?

If I were in this position, how would my performance be measured? How often?

What departments does this team work with regularly?

How do these departments typically collaborate?

What does that process look like?

What are the challenges someone in this role might experience?

6. Win them over

Being genuine during interview conversations can help employers easily relate to you. Showing positivity with a smile and an upbeat attitude can help keep the interview light and constructive. 

7. Respond truthfully

While it can seem tempting to embellish your skills and accomplishments, honesty is the best policy. Focus on your key strengths and why your background makes you uniquely qualified for the position. Being able to identify something you struggle with and how you work day-to-day to rectify that shows maturity and self-awareness. This might sound something like this:I definitely find it challenging to manage my time with larger projects as sometimes I can find it difficult to know when to stop working on one thing and move on to the next. I ensure to rectify this by setting clear objectives or SMART goals for the project and use timers such as the Pomodoro method to manage my time accordingly. 

8.  

Don't speak negatively about previous employers. Companies want to hire problem solvers capable of overcoming tough situations. If you’re feeling discouraged about your current job, focus on what you’ve gained from the experience and what you want to do next.