The best interviewees use these mental tips to garner job offers.
Go into every interview with the end-goal of receiving a job offer for your desired job title. Make it your decision as to whether you want to work for the company rather than letting the company determine whether you are a fit.
While interviewing is not always easy, there are certain interview tips which can be implemented to increase one’s odds of getting the offer and making the hiring manager confident that you are the right applicant. Here are 10 ways to do so:
People are attracted to those who display positive energy, are upbeat and who are optimistic about their career outlook.
One of the biggest tricks to interviewing is sounding enthusiastic about the position and, by doing so, ensuring the interviewer that you are interested in the job as a marketing director and are ready to contribute to their team effort.
The best companies set firm goals and do everything possible to obtain them. As a job seeker, you should be no different.
Prior to interviewing, take the time to write down where you want to be in 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. Be specific and map out a step by step plan to ensure that you get there. If you live in the midwest but have dreams of moving to New Orleans, Louisiana, make sure to include that in your plan. If we don’t know where we are going, our overall achievements are going to end up a fraction of what they could be. Be focused and tenacious in your goals and let those ambitions be heard by the hiring company. If you’re interviewing for a software developer position, make sure it’s known that you aim to become a senior software developer one day.
3. Remember it’s what you can do for the employer
The best way to sell during your elevator pitch is to talk in terms of what the other person wants. If you’re interviewing for a job at Nike, the hiring manager is going to want to hear how you are going to improve the company, not about why getting this role would fulfill your own personal dreams.
Take the time to think about what benefits and skills you bring to the table. Read over the job description and envision the concerns and needs of that employer. If they ask the “what is your greatest weakness” question, don’t answer with one of the skills or traits listed on the job description. Instead, use one of these 3 weaknesses job interview examples to ace this question.
By speaking about how you can deliver the desired results, you are more likely to get an offer and, when you do you have more leverage answering the salary question. In essence, give the employer what they want and you will get everything you need.
Be sure to touch upon this point again in your thank you email after the interview.
4. Be approachable and likable
Whether you’re in the hospitality industry or the tech industry, people want to work with likable people. When interviewing, the hiring manager is going to look for intangibles such as whether you are going to fit in with the corporate culture a.k.a. will you get along with the employees and enjoy working there.
The best way to make the interviewer confident that you’ll fit in is to be approachable and likable throughout the interviewing process. Don’t play hard to get, remain easy-going, and connect with the individual on a personal basis. Remember to smile.
5. Focus
If we are focused 100% on an interview, psychologically we can’t be nervous, tense, or judgmental of ourselves. The best conversations occur when both parties are fully engaged and this happens when everyone is focused on only the interview and nothing else.
Leave everything unrelated outside of the room and if you find yourself distracted or getting nervous the simple remedy is to put your mind at ease listening only to what the interviewer is saying rather than what you are telling yourself. Focus is especially important when answering the most common phone interview questions.
One way to focus on the questions they are asking you is to be prepared with stories beforehand. You can predict what questions an interviewer will ask you using these STAR interview questions, and use the STAR method to craft your stories.
6. Strong mentality
Remember to always approach the interview with fearlessness, optimism, and confidence. Don’t be afraid of failure. Rather be honest and authentic; it’s the most anyone can ask of you.
7. Never get discouraged during tough interviews
The best interviewers are going to ask you tough questions. Never take it personally, rather consider it due diligence on the end of the interviewer and be thank you that you are speaking with a hiring manager who knows what they are doing. If they are asking behavioral interview questions, make sure to come prepared with set stories you can tell from your career.
When we think upbeat thoughts, positive energy allows us to focus and come across more upbeat and engaging. If you find your answers slipping, quickly pick yourself up. Everyone gets discouraged; though, when we begin to take difficult interviewing questions as due diligence as opposed to a personal knock, we are more apt to be successful.
8. Be determined to get the job
Luck favors those who are determined to reach a specific goal. As a job seeker, you should have a focus and drive to ace every interview that you go on making sure to leave multiple positive impressions on employees throughout the company.
You should expect to win. When we are focused, driven, and expecting success, it comes.
9. Ask the right questions in the right manner
When you ask questions, don’t come across as skeptical or prying, rather ask the questions because you want the information. People don’t like hidden agendas and interviewers are no different. Prior to interviewing, formulate some interviewing questions that you are comfortable with and deliver those inquiries in a non-assuming, intelligent manner. During a panel interview, make sure you ask the right person the right questions.
10. Focus on the positive aspects of the position
Regardless of pay, title or industry, there are both positive and negative aspects to any position. It’s your choice what you focus your attention on and it’s a lot more productive to hone in on the things you enjoy about the job rather than letting the downsides cloud your judgment and outlook.
Take the time to write the benefits of working at the company on a sheet of paper. Everyone likes a sincere compliment and it never hurts to convey those points of interest to the hiring manager.
In the end, you should look at the interviewing process as enjoyable rather than considering it a chore. Think positively, stay focused, follow your intuition and you’re bound to get the position that you want.
Make sure to follow up by sending a thank you email after the interview.
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