5 Key Tips to Ace Your Job Interview

Now that your resume passed the first round and has been shortlisted for a personal interview, it’s common to feel butterflies in your stomach. A job interview(s) is often the final barrier between you and your first job. 

You may be worried about what the interviewer might ask and whether you’ll know the answers. That’s understandable as the interviewer can literally ask any question under the sun. 

There could be wildcard questions like “what did you eat for breakfast?” or “what would you do if you suddenly won $10 million in the lottery?” Then there’s expected ones like “tell me about yourself.” 

No matter what questions you are asked, it’s important to be prepared with these 5 pro tips to ace your first job interview. 

1. Read the job description well

You might think this is a given, but here’s a startling fact: 90% of candidates do not read the job description. 

Let’s begin with the most crucial question - what is the recruiter looking for in a candidate? It’s all written down in the job description. Do they need a customer representative who can hold their nerves while dealing with cranky customers? Or, are they looking for an accountant with excellent attention to detail?

Throughout the interview process, the interviewer will have only one objective: to assess how well you fit for the role. Preparing yourself for an interview becomes much easier when you know exactly why a company is hiring and what skills and expertise they are looking for. 

So, your preparation for a job interview must begin with digging deeper into first the company, and second the job profile. It’s important that you understand what the job requirements are so you can speak specifically into how you’re the perfect candidate to fill those duties. Bonus: give details from previous work experiences and how you would apply it to the position you’re applying for.

2. Mirror the interviewer's communication style

Do you know a secret way lawyers try to influence judges while arguing for their clients? They simply copy the judges' writing and speaking style. This technique is called linguistic mirroring. Studies show that lawyers using linguistic mirroring are more likely to win cases. 

Although a personal interview may not be as intense as a courtroom argument, mirroring your interviewer’s communication style improves your chances of getting selected. So, if you want to have an instant connection with the interviewer, simply copy their body language and the way they speak. 

There is one caveat to this: don’t get too comfortable or casual. You’re still being interviewed–not them–so don’t talk to them like you talk to a best friend. Keep it professional!  But you’ll be able to gauge their style and what they are interested in by the type of questions they ask you. 

For example, if your interviewer skips over pleasantries and goes straight to substantive questions, answer them directly and succinctly. This signals they don’t have time to waste in interviewing. 

On the other hand, if an interviewer asks more casual questions like “what animal do you most identify with” it’s because they want to see your personality, so it’s okay to show them!! You should! They want to see your interpersonal skills and communication style, which resumes don’t give insight into and younger generations tend to struggle with. 

3. Show confidence with your nonverbal communication 

A job interview is a game of perception. Selecting a candidate based on a short interview is not an easy task, and it gives them anxiety too by the way. Recruiters often rely on their intuitions and gut feelings. Studies show candidates who appear confident and enthusiastic are 2.5 times more likely to get hired. 

So, how do you appear confident and show energy? Well, it’s all about body language and non-verbal communication.  According to body language researcher Albert Mehrabian, over 70% of communication is non-verbal. This includes your voice (intonation, tone, and volume) and especially body language. 

For instance, smiling and keeping the right amount of eye contact–but not staring–can help you appear confident and enthusiastic. It also sends a positive vibe, which makes you look more approachable. Companies want to have people on their teams who exude positive energy as they easily get along with other team members. 

Pro tips: Here are a few tips to come out as confident in an interview: 

• Give a strong–but not white knuckling–handshake
• Avoid fidgeting or making nervous movements 
• Nod and smile while the interviewer is talking 
• Maintain a straight posture
• Maintain eye contact and keep a positive facial expression
• Avoid crossing your arms as it portrays defensiveness

4. Tell a compelling career story using the STAR method 

Most people prefer stories over dry facts. And every one of us has stories to tell. So when the interviewer asks you a situational or behavioral question, answering with a story is a great way to go. In fact, experts think effective storytelling is the key to landing a new job. 

These type of questions usually starts like:

”Tell me about a time when…” 

“What do you do when…” 

“Have you ever…”

So, how do you tell a story the right way in an interview? With the S.T.A.R method! It’s an abbreviation for Situation, Task, Action, and Results. Let’s go over an example:

• Situation: Set the scene by describing the background/context of your story. I.e. I started a side hustle as a freelance graphic designer.
• Task: Now describe your task or responsibility in the situation. I.e. I needed to manage multiple client projects simultaneously.
• Action: What action did you take to overcome the challenges? This should be 80% of your answer. I.e. I developed strong time management skills and utilized project management tools to effectively manage my client
• Results: What were the results or outcome of the actions you took? I.e. I learned to efficiently balance my workload and deliver high-quality work on time.

But remember not to fake or exaggerate the story or your part in it - your story needs to be personal, genuine, and related to the job you are being interviewed for. 

5. Ask good questions

An interview is not a one-way conversation. They expect you to ask smart questions to show your interest in the company and job.  Plus, asking follow-up questions can better your chances of getting hired. 

So, what types of questions should you ask? While it’s tempting to ask about the perks and benefits, don’t jump the gun just yet. Start with questions that show your interest in knowing more about the job roles, the company, and how you can contribute to it. They want to see that you proactively picture yourself in the role!

Here are some questions that can have positive impressions on the interviewer:

• Can you describe the typical day-to-day responsibilities for this job?
• Can you tell me more about the team I would be working with and the company culture?
• What opportunities for professional development and career advancement are available within the company?
• What are the biggest challenges the team/company is currently facing, and how does this role contribute to addressing them?

Remember that cracking your first job interview is mostly about showing up prepared, reflecting confidence, communicating well, selling your story, and asking the right questions. 

These tips are part of a comprehensive course on career readiness. Want to really ace the interview and be successful? It starts with getting on the right career path, building a stellar resume and cover letter, learning how to effectively job hunt, fully preparing for the interview, and once you land the job… actually keeping it! 

We will walk you through each step and give you the tools you need to accomplish your goals, including managing your money once you land that job! Check out our 6-module course for a comprehensive roadmap to career clarity and financial freedom!