4 Tips on How to Make a Great Impression in a Job Interview
Knowing how to prepare for an interview is key to making a great first impression. Below are some helpful tips to guide you as you ready yourself for the interview process.
1. Make a good first impression.
How you present yourself dictates how you will be perceived. Make eye contact, offer a pleasant greeting, and remember to take a deep breath to avoid speaking too quickly. First impressions also entail reviewing the dress code. If you’re unsure about the dress code, rely on your recruiter for guidance.
When making a good first impression, it’s also imperative to arrive on time for your interview. Factor in things like how long it will take to travel to the destination and parking. If it’s a virtual interview, familiarize yourself with the instructions for logging into the online meeting room. We recommend logging in at least five minutes early to account for any technical difficulties.
Another way you can present yourself as a qualified and interested candidate is by being prepared. Have an extra copy of your resume on hand and bring a notepad and pen so you can take notes throughout the interview.
Lastly, we suggest practicing beforehand. You can leverage your professional network and ask a trusted colleague or friend to help you practice. Start by brainstorming a series of potential interview questions and your response to each. Hold a mock interview with your chosen professional and ask them to give you feedback at the end of the interview. Receiving feedback in a low-pressure environment will help you discover your strengths and weaknesses, gain confidence, and fine tune your interview responses.
2. Utilize the STAR Method.
The STAR method is a way for you to frame your answers to interview questions that lets you tell specific stories about your past experiences. This gives you the chance to really let the interviewer know why you’re a great fit for the job.
STAR stands for Situation/Task, Action, and Results. Here’s an example of how you can use this method in an interview:
Interview Question: Tell me about a challenging work-related goal you set for yourself and then achieved.
Situation/Task: Describe a situation you were in or a task that you needed to accomplish. Be specific – your interviewer wants to hear you talk about a specific thing you were working on or an actual situation you were in. Be sure to give enough detail for the interviewer to understand. This situation or task can be from a previous job, from a volunteer experience, or any relevant event.
Example: In my previous role as a sales representative, the sales target had increased from previous months. Based on my previous performance, I would miss the sales goal unless I improved my sales numbers. I wanted to make sure I would continue exceeding the sales goal, so I met with my manager to talk about the new sales target and how I could improve my performance.
Action: Describe the actions you took. What specific steps did you take?
Example: In that discussion with my manager, she mentioned I often wasn’t asking customers enough questions to learn more about their needs, and therefore didn’t give myself opportunities to cross-sell other services. I asked the high-performers in my office about their approach to cross-selling, including what types of questions they asked. From those conversations, I set a goal for myself to increase the percentage of sales that included other services from 15% to 30%. I made sure that these goals were attainable by comparing them to my coworker’s sales metrics. During each call with a customer, I carefully listened to their needs and their interests for additional services, and I suggested packages that would best suit what they were looking for.
Please note: The most important step in the STAR Method is the “A.” Prioritize communicating the actions you took that led to results. Just remember to stay focused on the actions to avoid getting lost in the details. “I statements” can help with this. For example, “I asked,” “I set a goal,” “I carefully listened.”
Result: Describe the outcome of your actions. Don’t be shy about taking credit for your behavior. What happened? What did you accomplish? What did you learn? Make sure your answer contains positive results.
Example: By the end of the next month, I had hit my goal. I was in the top 10% of sellers at my office for the first time, and I exceeded the new sales target. My manager recognized my efforts and mentioned me specifically as being proactive in seeking out feedback from her and my coworkers. I learned providing good customer service by actively listening had a huge impact on my ability to sell, and that setting ambitious goals is a powerful motivator for me.
Prepare yourself for the interview by thinking of 3-5 examples of situations where you used multiple skills. For example, think of when you’ve worked on a team and how you contributed, or a time you provided service to customers, or a specific problem you had to solve. Practice telling these stories using the STAR method. In the interview, adapt these stories slightly to answer the specific question you were asked.
3. Interview Us, Too.
Interviews are a two-way street. A resume doesn’t tell your whole story, and job postings don’t tell ours. Ask questions to get an understanding of the role, including the day-to-day, training, and the hiring timeline. This shows you have thought about your future with us. Here are a couple of questions you can consider asking during your interview:
- Can you describe a typical day for the person in this role?
- What training programs are available to your employees?
- What are the next steps and expected timeline?
You can also demonstrate that you have researched the company and industry. Your research should give you insight into the company’s mission and values, recent news, competitors, industry trends, and the job’s key skills, allowing you to properly tailor your interview responses and follow-up questions. You can start by looking at its social media pages, blog posts, and website. Just remember to apply this research to the role you’re interviewing for to keep the conversation relevant to you.
4. Follow up.
According to Vanessa, Senior Recruiter at Spectrum, being a self-starter is one of the top qualities she wants to see in applicants. “I look for people who are proactive in their approach. They are able to see an opportunity and take their own initiative or action to move it forward,” she says. One way to be a self-starter is by sending a thank you note following your interview. This shows your interviewer you appreciate their time. It’s also a good opportunity to show you’ve thought about your conversation by referring to what was said and expanding on that discussion.
Utilizing these four tips will help you feel ready for your interview. Remember to be prepared every step of the way, be confident in your skills, and communicate regularly with your recruiter. For additional information regarding Spectrum’s application and interview process, please click below.