Making the Best Impression Possible in a Job Interview

Landing an interview is always exciting news. It means you’re one step closer to the job role you want to work in. Chances are you’ve already spent a lot of time and effort browsing the job market, crafting the perfect CV and chasing up positions to get to this point. But don’t slack now! Securing an interview doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve secured the job. This is your big shot to impress the company you’re interviewing with and get your foot in the door. So, you’re going to need to put a lot of effort into making a good first impression and showing what you have to offer. Here are a few areas you might want to focus on to make the best impression possible at your next job interview!

Dress the Part

The first thing you might want to organize once you find out you have a job interview is an outfit to wear for the interview itself. You may already have an outfit in mind, or you may have to buy a new one from a reliable company who are able to craft a high-quality suit, like Mohans Custom Tailors. The main thing to remember when picking out your outfit is you need to look smart and professional. Business wear is always the best way to go. Even if the company you’re applying to work for has a casual dress code, you should look as smart as possible for the interview anyway. Well pressed trousers, a shirt, tie, and suit jacket are generally a good idea. Don’t forget to make sure your shoes are well polished and clean too!

Be Well Groomed

Clothing isn’t the only aspect of your personal appearance you should take into account. You need to be well groomed too. Consider a fresh trim before your interview and make sure any facial hair you may have is well maintained. You should smell fresh and your nails should be clean – remember you are likely to have to shake hands at the beginning and end of an interview and dirty fingernails don’t give off the right impression.

Go Through Your CV and Cover Letter

You should go through the CV and cover letter you submitted when applying for the job. You should know all of the information that’s on it already, as it should all be true, but you need to know what you’ve written down. Remember, up until this point, your CV and cover letter are all the employer has seen about you. They may ask about the qualifications you’ve listed, the experience you’ve noted down, or the hobbies you’ve included. You need to be prepared to talk about all of these things when placed on the spot.

Go Through the Job Description

When you applied for the job you’re interviewing for, you’re likely to have found or received a job description. This is essentially a short document that details all aspects of the role you applied for. It will include information including the responsibilities you’d undertake if you were to land the position and you need to know these tips inside out. The person interviewing you will expect you to know what exactly the role you’re applying for entails and is likely to form the interview around the position itself and whether you can tick all of the boxes required to excel in it. Make sure you can explain how you’d excel with each responsibility listed, drawing previous experience to justify your claims. For each point on things you would be doing in the role, think what your previous roles or your time in education taught you that will help you to complete the tasks expected of you.

Prepare for Common Interview Questions

Of course, every interview will be unique. But many follow a similar pattern and many interviewers will ask similar questions through the course of the interview. It’s generally good to research common interview questions and make sure you have some answers for them. You can even use a search engine to find common questions asked in interviews for the role you’re applying to in particular. Questions might include what your past experience is, what you studied if you studied, what you think you can bring to the role, why you want to work for the company you’re interviewing with rather than another company, and how you’d deal with problematic situations should they arise. What’s important is that you are able to answer all questions in a positive light. You need to put yourself across as competent and professional at all times.

Take Along Any Necessary Documents

Sometimes, companies interviewing you want to see your personal documents. So make sure to take them along. It’s generally a good idea to take some proof of ID and copies of your qualifications such as degree certificates. If they want anything, in particular, there’s a good chance they’ll have informed you to bring these extras along when inviting you to the interview. If the workplace has requested specific documents, make sure to take them! You need to make sure the company can see that you can follow their instructions properly.

Give a Warm Greeting

When you enter your interview, you should greet the person interviewing you warmly. It’s generally a good idea to smile and if they offer their hand forward for you to shake, you should shake it (as long as this abides by your own cultural and religious customs). Let the interviewer know it’s nice to meet them.

As you can see, there’s a whole lot that you need to prepare for when it comes to excelling in an interview for a position you really want. The key to success if preparation and positivity. So, put in the work before the interview and things should go as well as they possibly can! Once the interview is over, await a response patiently, but don’t be afraid to politely chase up if things seem to be taking a long time!