One of the most important steps in getting hired for an executive job is successfully sitting through an interview. The interview process gives you a chance to showcase your knowledge and to highlight your strengths, showing potential employers why you are the right choice for the job.
Brushing up on your interview skills ahead of time is important if you want to increase your chances of getting hired.
1. Learn About The Company Before Your Interview
Well in advance of your interview, begin learning as much as you can about the company. Hiring managers are always on the lookout for candidates who are already familiar with the company. According to Arielle Executive if you can discuss their revenue or mention relevant statistics during the interview, it shows that you are really interested in the work that they do. You should also learn about the company’s direct competitors as well as the industry that they are in.
2. Brainstorm Answers To Common Questions Ahead Of Time
There are quite a few generic questions that are asked during most interviews. For instance, hiring managers almost always will ask you to talk about your strengths and your weaknesses. By thinking through answers to questions like these ahead of time, you won’t be caught off guard. Instead, you can answer the question directly, giving solid examples of your strengths and discussing how you are working to overcome your weaknesses.
Other things that you should think about ahead of time include where you want to be in five years, examples of challenging situations you have encountered at work, times when you have used your leadership skills, which of your previous jobs involved the most stress, and which job you liked the best. Even though these questions may not come up during an interview, they most likely will. Considering them thoroughly ahead of time will allow you to answer confidently.
3. Introduce Yourself With Confidence
The first time you meet the person conducting the interview, you should introduce yourself in a way that is confident and relaxed. State your full name and looked directly at the person. If you shake hands, squeeze their hand with the same amount of pressure as they apply to your hand. Your body language also says a lot.
To make a great impression, maintain good posture during the interview. Pay attention to what is happening and look directly at the recruiter. If you look agitated, exhausted, or distracted, you are unlikely to get the job.
4. Ask Intelligent Questions About The Position
During the interview, ask the recruiter what the most challenging aspects of the position are. Jot their answer down. Then, think about how the skills that you have could help you meet those challenges head-on. Ultimately, your goal should be to demonstrate what type of contribution you can make to the success of their company.
5. How To Handle An Interview After Being Fired Or Laid off
Always be honest with a recruiter when they ask why you left your last position, even if you were fired or laid off. If your job ended because of the layoff, find a way to talk about the situation that clearly demonstrates that you were cut through no fault of your own. For instance, if the company got rid of your entire department, be sure to mention that so that it doesn’t seem like you were specifically targeted.
6. Ask What The Next Step Is After The Interview
At the end of the interview, make sure that the recruiter knows that you are still interested in the job. Don’t hesitate to ask them what the next step is. Showing some enthusiasm can improve your chances of getting hired.
Instead of just hoping that they notice how interested you are in the position, you actually need to say it out loud. That way, they won’t question your level of interest and they will know that you are still serious about getting hired.
