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Job Interview Skills To Help You Get Hired
Job Interview Skills To Help You Get Hired
Job Interview Skills To Help You Get Hired
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BY
ALISON DOYLE
Updated July 09, 2019
Interviewing is a skill in and of itself, one in which your ability to interact with the
interviewer and to articulate your thoughts are factors that are just as important in
getting the job as are the qualifications listed on your resume. Here is a list of interview
skills that will help you get hired.
Interview Preparation
Winging it is never worth it. Not only will your interviewer see right through it, but your
answers (and your self-confidence) will seriously suffer if you neglect to properly
prepare. You should dedicate at least an hour to your preparation.
Indeed, practice makes perfect. In addition to practicing these steps on your own, ask a
friend or family member to pose as an interviewer so you can get used to answering
questions in real time.
Be on Time
There are very few (if any) excuses that will redeem a late arrival. Do whatever you
need to do to get there ten to 15 minutes in advance of your interview time, whether
it’s planning your outfit and packing your bag the night before, setting five
alarms, asking a friend to give you a wake-up call, or leaving extra early to account for
potential transportation obstacles.
Of course, you don’t want to sit there in silence for five minutes as you ponder an
answer, but it is acceptable to take several seconds to think before you speak.
Avoid the “ums” and “uhs” and buy yourself time by repeating the interviewers'
questions back to them, or by using a phrase like, “That’s an interesting question!” or, “I
was actually just thinking about that when I read an article on a similar topic, and…”
If you’re really stumped, you can say, “What a great question. I’ve actually never been
asked this before; let me just take a second to think about this.” Finally, know what to do
if you really can’t answer a question.
Focus on exuding a kind and balanced sense of confidence, and when you discuss your
achievements, be sure to give credit where credit is due in order to show that you’re a
team player.
Actually Listen
Anyone can nod, smile, and say “Right” or “Exactly” over and over, but how many
people actually listen?
However, if you don’t listen well in the first place, you might miss the entire point of the
question, and as a result, your answer could fall totally flat.
Stay in the moment and don’t let yourself zone out, even if it feels like the interviewer is
endlessly blabbing on. Preparation will help tremendously (so that you have material
ready to discuss and won't have to come up with it all on the spot), but good listening
skills and the ability to stay focused are key.
You should also be able to exert some level of control over the conversation. For
example, if an interviewer tries to trip you up with a tricky question like, “Have you ever
had a bad experience with an employer?” or “Tell me about a time a coworker was
unhappy with you,” you should be able to answer their question while bridging your
response into a positive: an idea or example that shows how you learned or grew from
the situation. You should also have questions of your own to ask the interviewer.
Express Gratitude
Don’t underestimate the importance of saying “Thank you.” As soon as your interview
concludes, you should thank your interviewers for their time and for the opportunity to
learn more about the position. When you get home, you should always follow up with
a thank-you email. Otherwise, the interviewer may take your silence as a sign that you
aren’t really interested in the position.
Key Takeaways
PREPARE IN ADVANCE:Interviews are less stressful if you get ready ahead of time,
and figure out what you're going to wear, and where you need to be.