Whenever you meet a potential employer – at a job fair, at an interview, or at a networking event — you need to be ready. Ready to impress. Ready to charm. And ready to land a job. These tips will help you stay top of mind even in a sea of competition.
Know What You Want
Having goals and aspirations is great, but you also need to know how verbalize those thoughts in a professional and concise way. If you’ve nailed your “So tell me about yourself” speech, you’ll be much more likely to stay in someone’s mind. Just like a resume should be tailored to each position, so should your interview answers. How does this company and this position fit in with your goals and how can your experiences help this company be even better?
Know the Company
Even if you don’t get asked, “So what do you know about our company?” your extensive research will impress any interviewer. Drop pieces of this research into your responses when it’s appropriate. If you can, be sure to speak to a current employee beforehand by setting up an informational interview. A company will take bigger notice of someone who’s networked their way through the door as opposed to someone who blindly applied online.
Stay Calm and Collected
If you’re nervous, you’ll make everyone around you uncomfortable. Talk slowly and take your time to gather your thoughts. Be friendly. Smile. Avoid nervous habits like tapping your foot, giggling, avoiding eye contact, touching your hair, or saying “umm.” Every word that comes out of your mouth should be deliberate and confident. Practice by talking in front of a mirror.
Image by Jarod Carruthers.
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