Interviews can be nerve-wracking and immensely intimidating, especially if you don’t know what to do or say to the impress your interviewer. After all, who is comfortable addressing a room of strangers whose goal is to find out whether you’re right for the job or not? But never fear, because I have just the blueprint to help you get through your interview with flying colors and ensure you leave the interview with a lasting impression.
Prepare Ahead of Time
As the old adage goes, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”. To ensure you make a good impression on your interviewer, it is essential that you research the interviewer and the company beforehand. Doing so will give you an edge over other candidates and demonstrate your keen interest in the position and the company. This is a great way to show that you are familiar with the role and willing to invest your time and effort to become a part of the team.
In addition, it is immensely helpful to try to anticipate the questions you will be asked and prepare your answers ahead of time. Prepare what amounts to your personal elevator speech in preparation for the inevitable “tell me about yourself” question. Then, conduct some research on the most common interview questions.
You likely have the name of the interviewer, so be sure to check them out as well. Find their LinkedIn profile page and see if you can find them on social media. See if you can identify anything interesting about them. Are they pet owners? Do they ski or snowboard? Do they like to travel? This information can guide your opening small-talk that can immediately create a bond.
Make a Good First Impression
When preparing to impress your interviewer, it is important to remember that the interviewer is a human being just like you. This means that it is essential to be yourself and show off your best self when entering the interview room. Not only should you dress for the occasion, but also keep in mind to be comfortable and confident!
Your body language and words should indicate that you are eager to learn more about the role and the company. Even if the situation is intimidating, it is important to keep your composure and not let fear take over. Moreover, if you are not sure how to answer a question, take a deep breath and give yourself a moment to gather your thoughts before responding. This could be the difference between you impressing the interviewer and coming off as unprepared.
Ask Intelligent Questions
Asking great questions to impress your interviewer is essential during a job interview. It is important to remember that this is a two-way street, and the interviewer expects you to be prepared with thoughtful questions to ask them. Asking great questions of the interviewer allows you to demonstrate that you have taken the time to research the company and position, and are able to gain insight into the prospective role and the culture of the organization. It is a great way to show your enthusiasm for the role and to demonstrate that you are actively engaged in the process.
Questions can be tailored to the specific role or project, or can be broader to give you further information about the team and what to expect if successful. It’s also important to think of questions that allow you to clarify any unclear points from the interview, as well as to get a better understanding of the interviewer’s experience. Asking interesting questions will also help to build rapport with the interviewer, even if you don’t get the job.
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Understanding how to impress your interviewer can be intimidating. But with the speed, confidence, and knowledge that comes from researching the company, being confident, and asking the right questions, you’ll be able to leave a lasting impression and land that job.
