50 Essential Tips For A Great Interview

Job Interviews can be a nerve-wracking experience.

However as standard practice worldwide they aren’t going anywhere soon.

Sometimes the only thing standing between you and the job of your dreams – is the job interview.

For this reason we have written this aritcle for our readers to get the best jump on the competition, and have a great job interview.

Want to see some important on Assertiveness to help grow your knowledge on the topic? Look no further than our Assertiveness Statistics 2022!

Why Are Job Interviews So Tricky?

You don’t get a second chance at making a first impression (see our assertiveness guide for more details).

We have to to cast our anxiousness aside and stride in with confidence.

Although all hiring managers account for nervousness; you do not want it to interfere with your performance.

Like many things in life, there is no one thing that will allow you to ace an interview process.

Instead, lots of different things contribute to interview success.

Here at Acuity Training we have compiled our 50 top tips on how to have great interview success.

50 Top Tips For A Great Interview

1. 1. Look professional – dress smartly even if you are given the impression that it is a casual interview. Our interview preparation infographic has more details.
   2. Know the job description inside out so that you can think on your feet during the interview and tailor your answers towards it.
   3. Do your research on the company and use this to tailor answers and reflect your enthusiasm for working for them.
   4. Prepare answers tailored to the job description beforehand.
   5. Prove that you would be a good fit with the company culture.
   6. Don’t be dishonest about past experience and credentials.
   7. Be polite at all times and to everyone who you meet, not just your interviewers.
   8. Don’t speak negatively about your current/previous workplace – an interviewer will worry that you would do the same to them.
   9. Ensure that you don’t smell of cigarette smoke, strong scented perfume or cologne, etc. that might be offensive to others.
   10. Arrive 15 minutes early to account for any time spent going through security, and to avoid turning up flustered.
   11. Add at least 30 minutes to your predicted journey time to account for traffic or unforeseen delays.
   12. Know who your points of contact are.
   13. Think of questions that may be asked beforehand so you can prepare suitable answers for them.
   14. Ask some questions that show you have researched the company or job at hand.
   15. Demonstrate excellent communication skills by being articulate but not rehearsed.
   16. Maintain eye contact with your interviewer/s.
   17. Greet with a firm hand shake.
   18. Maintain a good posture throughout the interview.
   19. Do not fold your arms during the interview.
   20. Don’t be uncomfortable with pauses and fill them with unnecessary words.
   21. Build a good rapport with everyone you meet during the process.
   22. Be yourself – if you try to be someone you think the interviewer wants you to be, you will be investing in a false economy.
   23. Come across confident in yourself and abilities without being arrogant.
   24. Have any documents or resources needed at hand.
   25. Have paper based back up if you have to deliver a presentation instead of banking on technology working smoothly.
   26. Put your mobile phone on silent or switch it off.
   27. Have some questions you want to ask prepared beforehand.
   28. Keep answers focused on the question asked.
   29. Show enthusiasm for the job and the company.
   30. Follow-up the interview with a thank you email or letter.
   31. End all answers on a positive note.
   32. Have conviction in your answers.
   33. Make sure shoes are polished.
   34. Ensure your clothes are cleaned and ironed.
   35. Know why you want the job and genuinely express your reasons during your interview.
   36. Listen to others when they are speaking.
   37. Stay focused instead of letting your mind wander.
   38. Avoid using slang.
   39. Know your CV/resume.
   40. Include how you overcome specific weaknesses.
   41. Get enough sleep the night before.
   42. Eat well beforehand to avoid stomach grumblings!
   43. Relax.
   44. Don’t fidget during the interview.
   45. Follow the company on social media sites to ensure you have up to date knowledge.
   46. Treat everyone with the same courtesy – you never know who will influence the decision whether or not to hire you.
   47. Use body language to support your listening skills e.g. nodding your head.
   48. Walk with a sense of purpose. Train yourself to be assertive.
   49. Research the company’s competitors so that you have a basis for comparison.
   50. Don’t be afraid to disagree with your interviewer, it shows that you will contribute well to team discussions. Express your opinion clearly and unemotionally and back it up with relevant facts as you would in any business meeting.

Final Thoughts

It sounds a lot to remember and when listed like this.

However, most of the points are linked to one another and are based in common sense.

If nothing else gives you confidence; just remember that the interviewers want to meet you based on what they know so far – that means you are already halfway to success!

Conclusion

Now you have these essential tips, you should be equipped to perform well in any coming interviews.

Keep in mind that everyone has been through a bad interview, and they don’t show a failure, but a chance to improve.

For more Assertiveness content, read our article of 5 Ways To Deal With Hard Conversations!