Happy Monday babes! I hope you all had an awesome weekend. I had a busy one, but it was oh-so-good. We went to a Hootie and the Blowfish concert on Friday night that was so amazing. It was opened by the Bare Naked Ladies and they were amazing. It was definitely a fun time. Then Saturday, we spent the day tailgating and watching football. If you are new around here, I married a Gamecock fan, so by rights of marriage (and no previous team ties), I have become one myself and while we still have stuff to figure out, I am proud to be a Gamecock!
Anways, on to today’s post.
Today, I thought I would share something that I pride myself in a bit.
Since I was 16, I have worked. In fact, since then, the only time I did not work was when I was in nursing school which was an accelerated BSN program over the course of 16 months and in all honesty, there is truly no way I could have worked during that time. BUT, besides then, I have always had a job, and surprisingly, I have never NOT gotten a job I have interviewed for. So, today, I thought I would share my top 7 tips for nailing a job interview.
- Research – I think this is probably the most important step in nailing your job interview. First of all, you want to make sure it is a job you actually want. You have to have passion behind your purpose. I feel it is very obvious to an employer if you are going to be invested and applied within your role. It is very important that you not only waste the companies’ time, but also your own. Next, once you have submitted an application, you want to make sure you know a little bit about the company. This doesn’t need to take a ton of time, but having a general understanding of the company’s mission and values, some of the key players within the company, and a general understanding of their structure can be extremely valuable during your interview. For example, if you know the companies’ values, you can use some of those key words within your interview. It not only shows interest, but also shows you spend the extra time to learn more about the company.
- Dress the part – I have one business suit. Yes, just one. I got it when I was going to D.C. to interview for a nursing program and a possible scholarship opportunity (I got both in case you were curious). Since then, I have only worn it to interview in. Make sure to get a neutral color and if need be, get it tailored. If you are working in a corporate setting, I would highly recommend that it is tailored to your body. This will set you apart from numerous other interviewees. Next, if you opt for a skirt set, make sure that it is not too tight and not too short.
- Resume – If you all are interested in resume tips, I can do a separate post on it, however, for day of interview, ensure you have enough copies for each person that is interviewing you and a few extra. I have a portfolio I use for mine that includes a place for my resume and for me to take any notes during the interview process.
- Strong handshake – In business school, I remember we spent one day in class learning how to shake hands. A strong shake is important. It is especially important for us ladies because we are the ones that typically offer up the fish tail. A strong handshake shows confidence, which can be very important during a first impression.
- Interview questions – Don’t over practice interview questions. Go over a few important and common ones such as strengths and weaknesses, the “tell me about yourself” (asked in 100% of the interviews I have had), an explanation for your resume (i.e. any sort of job hopping or time gaps), and knowing exactly why this is the job you want.
- Questions – Have a few questions you would also like to ask. Appropriate things for a first time interview include what a typical day might look like, how your interviewers ended up at the company and why they like it, and perhaps benefit/PTO questions.
- Thank you – A thank you note a few days following your interview can be a very good lasting impression. It reminds them of their interview with them and can be a nice touch. This can be as simple an email, or a hand written note.
Bonus Tip: Smile. Don’t be afraid to laugh at jokes, or make simple jokes yourself. Smiling can make you feel approachable and welcoming.
I hope these tips help. They aren’t complicated, but have worked very well for me in the past. If these types of posts are something you would be interested in for the future, comment below!
xoxo,
Melissa
