(listicle)

An interview is an important stage in the employment process, since it determines whether you will be hired or not. It doesn’t matter if your job interview is in a large company or a small one, you need to prepare well for it, know how to act during it and what to do after it.

To succeed in an interview, the most important thing is to prepare well, dress professionally and have a positive attitude — these are general rules that everyone knows, but this is not enough to succeed on interview. But from this article you will learn some life hacks that will help you figure it all out.

Before the interview:

Tip 1. Research the company

First of all, you should study the company, the position you are applying for, and the people you are going to meet. Also, carefully read and analyze all the requirements and skills the employer seeks. You need to clearly understand where you are going so that the employer will perceive you as a serious and interested candidate.

Tip 2. Typical questions

Practice answering common interview questions, such as your strengths and weaknesses, work experience, motivation, explanation of your career gaps (if any), etc. You can easily find a list of such questions on the Internet. Although this information should usually be included in your resume, the employer may want to hear about it from you one more time in person, so you should be prepared.

Tip 3. Your experience

One of the most important questions you’re likely to be asked in an interview is about your job experience. Think ahead and write down specific examples from your past work experience that would demonstrate your best skills and achievements. If you have little or no work experience, you should honestly inform the employer about it, but at the same time mention your high motivation to learn and improve yourself and show them that you’re interested. Also, it would be great if you gave examples from your life where you showed such traits, for example, during your university or everyday life. This will show the employer that you are good at problem-solving and not afraid of challenges.

Tip 4. Questions for the employer

Employers like it when candidates ask clarifying questions during an interview because they take it as sincere interest and responsibility. But you should be careful: do not ask obvious questions, the answers you can easily google or find on the company’s website. You don’t want to seem incompetent. It’s better to ask questions that directly relate to your work in the company.

During the interview:

Tip 5. Be punctual

An obvious but important thing — arrive early, 10-15 minutes is enough. This way you will not only make a positive impression but also have extra time to bring your thoughts together and to calm down. Punctuality is seen as mutual respect and can set the tone for the job interview.

Tip 6. Smile and positive energy

People in Eastern Europe, especially in Ukraine, are not used to smiling often. Because of this, we are often perceived as unfriendly and negative people. Even if you are very serious and melancholic, forget about it during the interview and try to have a friendly expression on your face. You don’t have to smile all the time, but a friendly smile at the beginning, in the middle (depending on context), and at the end of the conversation will set a good tone and make a good impression on the employer.

Tip 7. Body language

During the interview, it is very important to hold a good posture, be relaxed, and maintain eye contact with the employer. Even if you are nervous, try not to fidget with your fingers, crack them, tap the table, tuck your hair every second, or shake your feet. Gestures are important, but not excessive. During the interview, make sure that your body is turned towards your interviewer. Also, make sure that your hands are visible — this will show that you are open to dialogue and are not hiding anything.

Tip 8. Diction and intonation

Try to speak clearly and semi-loudly. It’s a good idea to do a little articulation warm-up right before the interview. If you speak clearly and without mumbling, you will be taken seriously. Even if you are nervous, this should not be reflected in your intonation or in your shaking voice. Try to breathe calmly, don’t ramble, and share your thoughts at a steady speed and with logical pauses.

After the interview:

Tip 9. Express gratitude

Not many people talk about this, but it’s worth thanking the employer after the interview. Do it no later than 24 hours after the job interview. Write an email or a message if you have contacts. You don’t need to write a lot, because it is just a way to remind them about yourself and, at the same time, show respect. But be sure to write during working hours.

Tip 10. Follow-up message

If suddenly you do not receive a response within the specified period after the interview, don’t be upset and send another message to the employer. Usually, if the company didn’t contact you after the interview, it means that you were not hired. But even in this case, it will be very useful to hear feedback on how you passed the interview and your strengths and weaknesses, so that you know what you should pay attention to so as not to make mistakes in the next job interviews.