Finally, after weeks of searching, you’ve secured an interview at a tech company/IT firm you’ve been eyeing. The days leading to the interview will be a critical time for you to do everything from preparing for the interview, learning how to manage the actual interview process, and practicing how to follow up after the interview.
As a leading staffing agency, Top Notch Personnel has seen it’s fair share of good and bad job interviews. Below is a three-step process we recommend following when interviewing with employers, recruiters or employment agencies.
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Interview Preparation
Arm yourself with information about the company you’re applying to, the person who will be interviewing you (if you already know), and the role you want. The more information you have, the easier it will be to stay ahead of the competition.
- Scour the internet for anything about the company’s financial health, reputation and latest developments. Look for inside scoop on what’s happening within the company, whether it’s from friends or people working there.
- Go over your resume once more to see if you’re highlighting your strongest points relative to the company and position you’re applying for.
- Rehearse your answers to typical interview questions like, “Why should we hire you?” or “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”
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During the Interview
Your goal will be to present yourself as the person the interviewer/company is looking for. Make sure you demonstrate your personal brand, your unique selling points as an applicant, and your personal success stories.
- Never come across as rambling. Answers should be no more than three minutes and packed with genuine insights and thoughtful responses.
- As important as it is to rehearse some of your answers, be sure to pay attention to the interviewer’s questions, comments and statements to know where the interview is heading.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions of your own, or for the interviewer to repeat or even rephrase a question you’re not quite sure of.
- Be sure to have your own questions to ask in a job interview when the interviewer turns it over to you. This is your chance to let them know you did your homework on them!
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Post Interview
Many job seekers ignore the Importance of a simple thank-you email sent 24 hours after the interview. Aside from thanking the interviewer and company, use this opportunity to reiterate your interest in the job and request for a callback or confirmation email.
- If you forgot to mention something important during the interview, feel free to point this out in your follow-up email or card.
- Ask for interview feedback, including how they think it went, and what you can do to do a better job next time.
Need more advice for your next job interview?
After all this, don’t be afraid to continue your job search. There’s no reason you should stop looking for a job until you’re finally offered a position and have accepted it.
Get more job search insights and tips from the staffing specialists of Top Notch Personnel. We can connect you with our network of local employers to find work right away.
