Top 10 Interview Tips to Land Your Dream Career

By: Paul Melanson

There are many parts to a successful job interview. One of them is that you are doing more talking than the interviewer. But, if you want to do most of the talking, you need to be prepared with the right talking points.

Here are my top 10 tips for preparing for your next job interview:

1. Do your homework

Know what you are walking into. Before you meet with any potential employers, at the very least, check out their website. Know a bit about their products or services and see what you can tell about their corporate culture.

2. Prepare questions

Come with a couple of questions to ask your interviewer. It looks good on you to ask a few meaningful questions.

3. Show your personality

This might be the thing that sets you apart from other candidates. Show off your personality in how you talk and what you say. Employers always want to know you can do the job from a technical standpoint, but they are also evaluating to see if you’d fit into the company culture.

4. Tell stories

Prepare a few (true) stories that illustrate your experience with success, failure, or overcoming adversity in your career. When asked a question, try to tell a quick story or give a real example to show your answer. Stories will make you more memorable.

5. Create rapport

Find ways to connect with your interviewer on a more personal level. Look up your interviewer on LinkedIn or ask your recruiter what they know about the person. This can often come naturally during the conversation so keep your ears open for anything you have in common. (whether it’s job/career-related or not).

6. Zoom interview etiquette

If your interview is happening over video conference (like Zoom, Skype, or Google Meet), do your best to find a quiet place, free from distractions. Be mindful of your background and test your speaker and camera before the call.

7. Take notes

Have a pen and paper ready to take any notes. This helps if you think of a question to ask, but it’s not an appropriate time. It can also help show that you are engaged by taking some light notes during the call.

8. Have a paper resume

If your interview is in-person, have a couple of copies of your resume handy. Have extra to give to your interviewer(s) in case they forgot to print it. If your interview is online, have your resume handy too so you can reference it if needed.

9. Close the interview

Most interviews end with the candidate saying thank you and walking out. Before that, you should always ask a closing question that shows you are interested in the position. This will likely include asking how you stand up to other candidates and asking about their hiring timeline and next steps.

10. Send a thank you note

Ask for their business card and email address so you can follow up with them. Send them an email when you get home, or if the hiring timeline is a bit longer, consider sending a snail-mail thank you card or note. That will make you stand out.

If you are working with a recruiter, get their interviewing tips too. The recruiter has already spent time getting to know the company and the hiring manager so they can likely answer questions that aren’t on their company website. Your recruiter can help you prepare to pass your interview with flying colours, and ideally, a new job!