Congratulations! You’ve found your dream job and you’ve been asked to come in for an interview. Before you do, here are five tips that will help you impress your future employers and land that job.
Research the company before your interview
You’ve read the job description and seen the ‘About Us’ section on the employer. That information is great, but it in no way covers everything you need to know about the employer.
Research the company’s website before your interview. Make sure you check out the in-depth ‘About Us’ section as well as any type of media clippings they’ve posted. Looking at this information will help you formulate questions to ask at the end of the interview.
Arrive at the interview location early
There are no excuses – don’t be late for your interview! If you’re taking public transportation, or even driving yourself, make sure you give yourself ample time to arrive 10-15 minutes early for your interview.
Once you arrive, introduce yourself to the receptionist and state that you have an interview. Be courteous to the person and every other person you meet prior to your interview. Employers will often ask for input from those people and you want to leave a good impression. If you’re able to find the actual HR consultant Toronto representative then introduce yourself to them as well.
Looks are important
Dress professionally for your interview. Men should wear a suit and tie – make sure you wear black socks! Women should wear a dress or pant suit with stockings. Make sure you’re well groomed by shaving or pulling your hair back. Leave the smelly perfumes behind, as most places of business are scent free.
Be confident during your interview
You want to impress your potential employer right from the get-go. Upon meeting them, offer a firm handshake and introductions will naturally fall into place.
One of the most worrying parts of the interview is not being able to answer questions that you are asked, or worse, not being able to answer because your nerves get in the way. Remember to listen to the questions and take your time responding. It’s ok to pause and think about what you want to say. Slow down when you’re speaking and you’ll be able to articulate your answers clearly.
Ask relevant questions
If you don’t come prepared with questions, you’ll appear as if you’re not interested in learning about the company. Throughout the research you did about the company prior to the interview, you’ll have come across a few questions to ask. Make sure you come prepared with a few other questions in case those get answered during the interview. The last thing you want is to say “no” at the end of the interview when the employer asks if you have any questions.
Now you know the top five best practices to take into consideration when preparing for your interview. If you follow these guidelines you’ll be sure to land the job of your dreams.