Interview Practice Makes Perfect

There’s nothing else quite like the pressure of interviewing for your dream position. You know you can do the job; it’s just a matter of helping the interviewers understand your skills and passion. Selling yourself is the best way to get the job you want but, unfortunately, that sales approach is often lacking when even the best candidate sits in the interview chair. Sometimes nerves get in the way; sometimes a lack of preparation can be the culprit; and sometimes the deal-breaker is a simple lack of focus due to stress. Whatever the issue, it can spell disaster if the interviewer isn’t sold on you and your abilities by the end of the discussion.

Selling yourself isn’t about talking about yourself; it involves clearly explaining who you are and what you bring to the company. Employers want to determine whether you will be an asset or a liability, whether you’ll fit into the corporate culture, and how you’ll contribute to the organization’s goals. As you prepare for your next dream-job interview, consider these three tips:

Address Stage-Fright:
It’s perfectly natural to feel anxious prior to an interview; especially if it has been awhile since you last had the opportunity to participate in one! In addition to the support you will receive from your recruiter; you can proactively tackle nerves and with a little more advanced preparation. Below are a few potential tactics you can use to elevate your comfort level for this inaugural meeting at your prospective new employer.

Reconnect with Old Colleagues:
Recruiters regularly conduct candidate reference calls with individuals with prior working relationships for insights. There is no reason why you can’t employ this tactic in the application process yourself. When you check in with old coworkers during your job search and request permission to share contact information for a reference; you have the perfect platform to preemptively ask exactly why they enjoyed working with you. Be prepared to reciprocate for a candid two-way conversation based on your shared experience. First-hand perspectives will likely be very positive; so you can leverage the opportunity to elaborate on achievements and contributions deemed most valuable by your former team in your interview.

Study Up & Practice:
Another strategy to reduce pre-interview apprehension is to role-play common interview questions. Practice responses packed with impactful, factual, and quantifiable information. If you don’t have someone immediately available to help you conduct a mock interview; you can always practice in front of the mirror for visual reference. You can also utilize Voice Recording on your mobile phone to hear your rehearsed responses.

Image via Nietjuh • Pixabay

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