How to Interview Well

The internet is full of advice on how to have a successful interview. They tell you how to dress, how to talk, how to stand, how to sit, what to say, what not to say, etc. The list goes on. In my experience, interviews come in various shapes and sizes—they may not be the traditional suit-and-tie sit-down interview. The style of interview often depends on the type of job. For instance, while a traditional desk job requires the qualities depicted in the picture below, part of the interview process for field staff in a wilderness therapy venture requires applicants to take part in a one-week field training. Therefore, my advice for how to interview well is based in three things: (1) knowing what to prepare for, (2) doing your homework, and (3) knowing what to say.

Knowing what to prepare for.  As stated in the opening paragraph, it is imperative that you know what you are going in to. Ask ahead of time what the format of the interview will be. If you are going to be interviewing in an office, go ahead and wear formal to semi-formal dress. However, if it is a job that requires physical fitness, they may want to see how well you can perform the required tasks, which means you will want to wear clothes you can move around in.

Doing your homework. Researching the company can give you a heads-up about what to expect in the interview. You can often guess the types of questions they will ask and the types of things they will require you to do. Being knowledgeable about their company will also help you stand out from other applicants, especially if you can find ways to demonstrate that knowledge in meaningful ways.

Knowing what to say. After doing your homework, you should be able to know what to say about yourself that will make you more attractive to the interviewer. You will also be able to ask meaningful questions about the company—intelligent questions show that you are a critical thinker who is out to make a positive change. Having a list of questions also keeps you from feeling awkward and embarrassed when the interviewer asks you if you have any questions for them.

These are things that have worked well for me, or that I wish I had done. Aside from these, and some basic tips and guidelines (such as those found here), the biggest tip I can give is to be yourself! If you get the job by acting like someone you are not, you are going to be miserable. You will find success in your job interviews as you are honest with the interviewers and with yourself.

Picture courtesy of studytipsandtricks.blogspot.com