How to Succeed in a Job Interview

When you feel anxious about your upcoming job interview, try to view it as an opportunity to move forward in your life. By truly understanding and confidently answering the interviewer's questions, you open yourself up to a great chance of landing the job you've always dreamed of. Even if you don’t succeed, you'll gain valuable insights to improve next time.

Research the company you're applying to. The first thing you should do once invited for an interview is to research the company. Learn about its mission, the length of time it’s been in business, the number of employees, and what your potential role would be if hired. Make sure to remember the company’s values, if available. The more you know, the more you can impress the interviewer and show genuine interest in the company.

• There are many ways to demonstrate your knowledge during the interview. For example, you could say: “I’ve read all the information about the institution’s mission, and I believe that contributing to providing free education to everyone is an amazing goal.”
• Also, make sure they know you understand the job requirements. If you know what qualities the interviewer is looking for, it will be much easier to leave a positive impression and prove you possess those qualities.

Learn about your interviewer, if possible. Taking a few minutes to research your interviewer can give you an edge during the interview process. Knowing their educational background, previous employers, and other relevant details can provide an advantage. While it's not necessary to mention that you've researched them online, if you discover common ground—such as having worked at the same company five years ago—this could help build rapport and give you another advantage.

• Check their LinkedIn profile or other professional networks for more information.
• However, avoid delving into personal matters. Don't bring up anything from their personal social media profiles during the interview.

Prepare for common interview questions. While every interview is different, many employers tend to ask similar questions. It’s a good idea to prepare for these to avoid being caught off guard or looking unprepared. Here are some common questions to consider:

• “What are your greatest strengths?” Choose one or a few strengths that align with the position you're applying for and provide specific examples to demonstrate these traits. Make sure to highlight strengths that are relevant to the job.
• “What are your greatest weaknesses?” Avoid cliché answers like “I work too hard.” Instead, select a weakness that isn't too critical for the role and mention that you are actively working to improve it. For example: “My biggest weakness in teaching is time management. I tend to get so engrossed in the lesson that I try to cover too much information in one session, but I’ve learned to break the lesson into smaller segments with 5-minute breaks to ensure students can absorb the material more effectively.”
• “Why do you want to work at this company?” Don’t say you’re only interested because this is the only company that invited you for an interview. Instead, mention specific things you admire about the company, and explain why you believe you are a good fit and how you can contribute to the organization.

Prepare to ask at least two questions. At the end of the interview, the interviewer will typically ask if you have any questions. You should always be prepared with a few thoughtful questions that show you’ve done your research and are excited about the role. If you just smile and say you don’t have any questions, they may feel you lack enthusiasm. Here are some things you could ask:

• Details about the role you’re applying for that you want to know more about.
• Questions about the daily tasks at the workplace, like how much time you will spend collaborating with coworkers.
• Ask about what they enjoy most about working at the company.
• Inquire about other areas of the company you could potentially get involved with outside of the job description. For example, if you're applying for a high school teaching position, you might ask if you can participate in extracurricular activities.

Practice with a friend. To feel confident during the interview, you should practice beforehand with a friend or someone familiar with the field. This can help you answer questions more assertively, control your body language, and feel confident in your abilities during the interview. It’s also a great way to reduce nervousness and build the confidence you need.

• You can even dress formally during the practice session so you don’t feel out of place in the actual interview.
• Ask your friend to give you honest feedback on areas where you could improve, but make sure they offer more praise than criticism to keep you motivated.

Prepare a clear explanation to show why you are the right candidate for the company. You should also be ready to explain why you're the ideal fit for the position you're applying for. Research the company's employees and the key qualities the company values most for the role you're targeting. Use contemporary language to demonstrate that you possess those qualities and explain why you are truly suited for the job. Here are some suggestions:

• “I understand that strong communication skills are essential for this position, and I am well-suited for it due to my years of experience in management, coaching, and recruiting. I have interacted with employees, clients, and managers for many years, and I've learned how to give constructive feedback and discuss potential improvements in a respectful manner.”
• “I really enjoy the teamwork approach required by this position. I work very well in teams and have collaborated with many colleagues in my current job, and I’m eager to apply those experiences here.”

Be sure to bring everything you need. It’s important to prepare everything you need the day before the interview so you won’t be rushing at the last minute. Typically, you’ll need to bring your resume and cover letter as an introduction during the interview, but also be sure to bring any other documents that can help you make a strong impression on the interviewer about yourself and your professional abilities.

• For example, if you’re applying for a teaching position, you may want to bring an old lesson plan to demonstrate your teaching capabilities.

Dress professionally. To make a lasting impression, you need to dress the part. Don’t hesitate to invest in an outfit that fits the corporate environment. The right attire for the interview can greatly improve your chances of landing the job. Even if the office seems casual, dressing a bit more formally than the interviewer is better than appearing too laid-back.

• Remember to take care of your appearance and personal hygiene. If you don’t take time to look after yourself, it will show.
• Try on your interview outfit at least a few days ahead of time to ensure it looks good and feels comfortable. You definitely don’t want to realize an hour before the interview that the new jacket you bought still has the security tag on it!

Arrive at least 10 minutes early. Arriving a little early shows that you are punctual and serious about the job. Moreover, if you rush to arrive exactly when the interview starts, you won’t have time to compose yourself and relax. If the interviewer sees that you can't even make it on time for the interview, they may doubt your punctuality for the actual job.

• Even if you arrive early, be sure to leave your coffee cup behind before entering the room. You’ll come across as more professional without a drink in hand during the interview.
• If you arrive 30 minutes early, wait outside or sit in your car. Don’t show up too early and make the interviewer uncomfortable because they are not ready to meet you yet.

Introduce yourself confidently. When you enter the room, stand tall, make eye contact, smile, offer a firm handshake, and confidently introduce yourself to the interviewer. Walk with confidence, avoid fidgeting or looking around the room. Remember, you only have one chance to make a great first impression, so make sure you do it well.

• You could say something simple like "I’m Phuong. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me."

Enunciate clearly when answering questions. Speak clearly and confidently as much as possible, maintaining eye contact with the interviewer while sharing your thoughts and ideas. Try to avoid filler words like 'uh' or 'um.' Focus on expressing yourself clearly, even if you need to pause for a moment to think. The key is to communicate with confidence and honesty.

• Practicing speaking out loud will help you gain the confidence to speak clearly during the interview. However, ensure your speech sounds natural, not rehearsed.

Avoid sharing too much personal information. Even if the interviewer seems to like you and is friendly, it's best to avoid oversharing personal details. Don't talk about your partner, spouse, children, or personal issues at home; it may make you appear distracted and unprofessional.

• Of course, if the interviewer has a large poster of a sports team you support in their office, you could briefly mention it if the topic comes up, but avoid discussing too much personal stuff.

Remember to thank the interviewer directly. Once the interview is over, express your gratitude to the interviewer for taking the time to meet with you and for the opportunity to discuss your skills and qualities. As you leave the room, shake their hand again, look them in the eye, smile, and sincerely thank them. This shows that you are considerate and genuinely appreciative of the opportunity.

• You can simply say: "Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me. This is a great opportunity, and I truly appreciate it."
• At the end of the conversation, you can ask about the timeline and the next steps. They will inform you when they’ll be in touch and what happens next.

Know what not to do. There are certain things you should avoid during an interview. Many people don’t realize that some seemingly innocent comments can raise red flags for the interviewer. Choose your words carefully and ensure that you give the impression of being a hardworking, respectful, and genuinely enthusiastic candidate for the position. Here are a few things to avoid:

• Don’t ask about vacation time before you’ve even been offered the job. This may give the impression that you care more about time off than about the work itself.
• Don’t talk about how you’ve applied to dozens of places but haven’t been invited to any interviews. You need to show that you genuinely want the job at this company.
• Don’t reveal that you know very little about the company or haven’t done enough research. Make sure the interviewer sees that you are genuinely interested in their company.

Don't speak negatively about your current job or employer. Even if your boss is rude, petty, inconsiderate, or condescending, or if you're bored with your job and unhappy there, you should still say something like, "I’ve had many great experiences with my current job, but I’m looking for a new challenge." If you speak poorly about your job or boss, the interviewer might think that one day you'll do the same about them.

• Leave an impression of being friendly, easy-going, and someone who is pleasant to work with. Even if workplace conflicts are not your fault, avoid coming off as difficult to collaborate with.

Take the next steps. After the interview, you should send a brief email to the interviewer thanking them for their time and reiterating your interest in the position. This shows that you value the recruitment process and are eager for the next steps.

• Moreover, not everyone does this, so you'll stand out as someone who is truly passionate about the role.

Perform well in a Skype interview. A key tip for succeeding in a Skype interview is to treat it like a formal interview, even if it's not in person. Dress professionally, have your resume and cover letter on hand, and make sure you're in a quiet location with a good internet connection.

• Choose a spot with good lighting so the interviewer can clearly see you and your expressions.
• Close any unnecessary windows, such as your email, to avoid distractions during the interview. Focus entirely on the person you're talking to.
• Test your microphone and video call application beforehand by talking with a friend to ensure no technical issues arise during the interview.

Perform well in a phone interview. Many companies conduct phone interviews first to identify the most suitable candidates before inviting them for in-person interviews. This method helps them save time and gain a better understanding of each candidate. Treat the phone interview with the same seriousness as a formal in-person interview. Have your notes in front of you, dress appropriately, and find a quiet place with a good signal to ensure a meaningful conversation over the phone.

• Maintain professionalism and caution in all your responses. Don’t be casual just because you’re on the phone.
• Remember that the interviewer can’t see you, so you must work harder to convey your image through your words. Use relevant terms if you think they will help.

Excel in a group interview. Sometimes, you may be invited to participate in a group interview, where multiple candidates are interviewed at once, and the employers can assess how you interact with others. A key tip for success in these interviews is to be assertive enough to showcase yourself while also demonstrating that you are considerate of others and can work well within a team.

• Don’t try to undermine others to elevate yourself. Instead, behave well and support other candidates, but make sure to clearly show that you are the best fit for the job.
• If there are group activities during the interview, try to take on a leadership role, but be mindful not to be domineering or prevent other candidates from participating.