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Interview

If you want to do well on your next interview, go with the tried-and-true motto, “Be prepared.” And what better way to prepare than by doing a mock interview beforehand? The more you can make it like the real thing, the better you’ll do when the time comes. In order to best prepare, take these steps.

 

  • Find the right “interviewer”.

This means avoiding having family, friends, or other loved ones to help. They will not have the objectivity that a mentor, coach, or colleague will – you need someone who will critique you without personal bias. If possible, try to find someone who has experience with interviews so they can best help you with responses.

 

  • Make it realistic.

That is, treat the mock interview as a real one. If practice does, indeed, make perfect, you need to treat this practice as a true job interview. That means no goofing around, no “retakes” on your responses, no breaking interview character in the middle. Use this as a time to get comfortable with your body language and overall presence.

 

  • Inform your interviewer.

Let that person know a bit about the position and the company so they can be as realistic as possible as well. By doing so, they can ask you questions connected to the company and your potential role, like the ones the real interviewer will likely ask. You may want to practice being asked typical and more complex interview questions for practice as well.

 

  • Dress for success.

Make sure not to overlook this part of the mock interview. It may feel silly, but think of it as wearing a uniform for a particular occasion – in this case, your interview uniform. It will help you get into your “part”, the interviewee. Plus, it allows you to see what fits well, what’s most appropriate, what’s comfortable, etc. Your mock interviewer can help you here as well.

 

  • Get constructive criticism from your interviewer.

After you’ve done everything, sit down again with your interviewer and get some honest, open feedback. The more you know what you need to work on and what your strengths are, the more prepared you’ll be for that interview. Have them give you an overall impression and then break it down into its smaller parts: body language, dress, responses to questions, and anything else you want to touch on.

One of the best ways to nail an interview is to walk in feeling as though you’ve done it before, that it’s almost familiar. This way when you have the real interview, you’ll have comfort and confidence.

For help on your next interview, visit PrideStaff.

 

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