Tips For A Successful Job Interview | Gentleman's essentials

If you’ve been back on the job hunt for a while, the whole process can be time-consuming and frustrating. You chase down a lot of leads but they can end up going nowhere. Then, when one of them hits and you get that interview, it presents a whole new set of problems. How do you stand out? How do you present yourself? How do you make sure you say the right thing? We have gone through that experience multiple times before so we decided to give you some great interview tips for both virtual and in-person interviews, perfect for landing your dream job! 

Phone or Skype Interviews

These are becoming some of the most common ways for a business to hire new employees. They can essentially be done anytime and from anywhere. These are of course perfect for interviews in other cities or locations but with this type of interview come a few rules to follow.

 

Pre-Interview 

Before this type of interview or any interview, it’s a good idea to start learning as much about the company as you can. Look them up on LinkedIn and check out their website. It’s good to be able to discuss their company at length.

You want to make sure you’re set up and comfortable before the interview. If it’s an online interview, you’ll want to check that your connection is good and even make a test call. While you're at it, make sure to clear away all other disturbances and let people around you know you’re going to be busy.

It’s always a good idea to have your resume on hand so you don’t have to stumble on questions surrounding particular topics and dates.

 

During The Interview 

At some point, they will probably ask you if you have any questions so it’s a good idea to have a handful of them ready. Doing so shows the interviewer that you possess a genuine interest in the company. It would be best not to ask about any salary related questions during a first interview. There will be time for that at later interviews. Here are a few good questions that you can ask the person interviewing you:

• What’s your favorite part about working for the company?
• How did you first start with the company?
• What are the growth opportunities like?
• What is the culture of the company like?
• Will you be letting people know if they're getting to a next interview or not?

 

Post Interview

It’s always a good idea to send an e-mail to thank the interviewer, it increases the chance of them remembering you and that is important, especially if that company is interviewing a lot of applicants during that week. In the event that you haven’t heard from the interviewer or the company in a while, kindly send them a follow-up email to thank them for the opportunity and ask for an update on the position. Once again, it shows your desire to work for that company.

 

 

 

This is more of a nerve-racking situation but there are still some similarities between this and a virtual interview. You want to arrive early to be comfortable and prepared. Make sure you have your resume and even a pen and notepad.

Let’s start with the most obvious one: Be on time! This interview may be your only chance to shine, so make sure you don’t dim your light by being late. Greeting the interviewer with a firm handshake and making eye contact will help make a good first impression. A firm handshake sets the tone and the perception of your abilities. It also doesn’t hurt to have a mint or two before to ensure fresh breath.

Make sure to give them a copy of your resume to show how prepared you are. During the interview, make sure to keep eye contact and smile. If there are several people doing the interview, make sure to make eye contact with all who are there. You will also want to have questions ready to go making use of that list from the above plus others you feel would be relevant to the company. 

After the interview, it’s a nice touch to send emails to the people who interviewed you and thank them for the opportunity. Now the hard part beings; having to wait to find out if you’re the right fit. A good company should reach out to all they interview to let them know if they are going with someone else as to not make them wait too long. If this is not the case after a week or two, you could send a follow-up email asking about an update on the position.

We hope these tips will help you get the job you’re looking for! Dressing to impress is always critical and you should always look professional in sharp business attire for a first job interview to maximize the chances for a great first impression. Make sure you wear The Fitted Life so you can stand out for the moments that matter the most! 

How do you prepare yourselves for a job interview? Share your own tips and tricks with the community!