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What should I emphasize about myself in interviews and applications?
I am wondering what can make me stand out among other people.
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Allison’s Answer
Hello Vincent! In order to prepare effectively for your job interview and stand out as a top candidate, you need to take a more comprehensive approach. Here are some steps you can follow:
1. Research the company thoroughly: Visit their website, read press releases, and find recent news articles about the company. This will not only help you understand the company's values, culture, and objectives but also demonstrate to the interviewer that you have a genuine interest in the organization.
2. Analyze the job description: Note down the key skills, qualifications, and responsibilities mentioned in the job description. This will allow you to match your personal experiences, skills, and qualities with what the employer is looking for.
3. Reflect on your experiences and achievements: Think about how your past experiences, both personal and professional, have given you the skills and qualities required for the job. Be prepared to provide specific examples of how you have used your skills to solve problems, achieve goals, or overcome challenges.
4. Prepare your answers to common interview questions: It's important to practice answering common interview questions, such as "Tell me about a time when you had to solve a problem" or "Can you give an example of how you successfully managed a difficult situation?" By crafting well-thought-out answers, you can demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to adapt to different scenarios.
5. Come up with a list of questions to ask the interviewer: Being proactive and engaging in a conversation with the interviewer helps you stand out as a curious and interested candidate. Ask questions about the company's work culture, the team dynamics, growth opportunities, and how success is measured within the role.
6. Dress professionally and practice good body language: Wearing appropriate attire and maintaining good posture, eye contact, and a firm handshake can give you a competitive edge during the interview.
7. Prepare materials: Bring extra copies of your resume, a note pad, and a pen in case you need to take notes during the interview.
8. Be punctual: Arriving early or on time for the interview shows that you are responsible, reliable, and respectful of the employer's time.
9. Follow up with a thank-you note: Sending a thank-you email, message, or letter after the interview can reinforce your interest in the position and leave a lasting impression.
By following these steps and adequately preparing for your interview, you will not only feel more confident but also be well equipped to showcase your best self and increase your chances of securing the job. Good luck, Vincent!
Research the company you are applying for
Update your resume to highlight the skills you have related directly to the job you are applying for
1. Research the company thoroughly: Visit their website, read press releases, and find recent news articles about the company. This will not only help you understand the company's values, culture, and objectives but also demonstrate to the interviewer that you have a genuine interest in the organization.
2. Analyze the job description: Note down the key skills, qualifications, and responsibilities mentioned in the job description. This will allow you to match your personal experiences, skills, and qualities with what the employer is looking for.
3. Reflect on your experiences and achievements: Think about how your past experiences, both personal and professional, have given you the skills and qualities required for the job. Be prepared to provide specific examples of how you have used your skills to solve problems, achieve goals, or overcome challenges.
4. Prepare your answers to common interview questions: It's important to practice answering common interview questions, such as "Tell me about a time when you had to solve a problem" or "Can you give an example of how you successfully managed a difficult situation?" By crafting well-thought-out answers, you can demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to adapt to different scenarios.
5. Come up with a list of questions to ask the interviewer: Being proactive and engaging in a conversation with the interviewer helps you stand out as a curious and interested candidate. Ask questions about the company's work culture, the team dynamics, growth opportunities, and how success is measured within the role.
6. Dress professionally and practice good body language: Wearing appropriate attire and maintaining good posture, eye contact, and a firm handshake can give you a competitive edge during the interview.
7. Prepare materials: Bring extra copies of your resume, a note pad, and a pen in case you need to take notes during the interview.
8. Be punctual: Arriving early or on time for the interview shows that you are responsible, reliable, and respectful of the employer's time.
9. Follow up with a thank-you note: Sending a thank-you email, message, or letter after the interview can reinforce your interest in the position and leave a lasting impression.
By following these steps and adequately preparing for your interview, you will not only feel more confident but also be well equipped to showcase your best self and increase your chances of securing the job. Good luck, Vincent!
Allison recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Emitom’s Answer
Hi Vincent,
Allison provided a great response. I want to elaborate on #4. Many organizations ask behavioral interview questions. These are the questions that start with something like "Tell me about a time when...". When you are asked one of these questions, they would like you to respond by providing a specific example. A helpful method you can use to do this is called the STAR method. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result. You can start by describing the situation you faced and the tasks you needed to complete. Then, describe the actions you specifically took and the results you achieved from those actions. If you have quantitative results, it's great to bring in numbers, but if not, qualitative results work as well. I encourage people to start by practicing 3 STAR stories. As you feel comfortable with those stories, you can start to practice more. I recommend, in the long-term, having 8-10 STAR stories you feel really comfortable with and can know how you can tweak them to apply to different interview questions. At that point, you're pretty unstoppable! Many organizations ask these questions based off things that are easy to find online like their values and leadership principles. When you have an interview scheduled, I recommend doing research on the company and practicing STAR stories that are specific to that company. If needed, there is a lot out there on the internet where you can learn more about the STAR method.
Practice using the STAR method to respond to behavioral interview questions
Allison provided a great response. I want to elaborate on #4. Many organizations ask behavioral interview questions. These are the questions that start with something like "Tell me about a time when...". When you are asked one of these questions, they would like you to respond by providing a specific example. A helpful method you can use to do this is called the STAR method. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result. You can start by describing the situation you faced and the tasks you needed to complete. Then, describe the actions you specifically took and the results you achieved from those actions. If you have quantitative results, it's great to bring in numbers, but if not, qualitative results work as well. I encourage people to start by practicing 3 STAR stories. As you feel comfortable with those stories, you can start to practice more. I recommend, in the long-term, having 8-10 STAR stories you feel really comfortable with and can know how you can tweak them to apply to different interview questions. At that point, you're pretty unstoppable! Many organizations ask these questions based off things that are easy to find online like their values and leadership principles. When you have an interview scheduled, I recommend doing research on the company and practicing STAR stories that are specific to that company. If needed, there is a lot out there on the internet where you can learn more about the STAR method.
Emitom recommends the following next steps:
Updated
quinta’s Answer
Hey Vincent! Interviews can be super tough and its hard to know what each company and interview by role even has in store for you! It certainly can be overwhelming to prepare but i always recommend the following at the least which hopefully simplifies it a bit and helps with your prep!
1. Prepare to speak to or answer the most commonly asked topics/questions from interviewers - these are just the big one that come to my mind!
- tell me about yourself
- why this role?
- strengths/greatest weaknesses
- biggest challenge / accomplishment
2. Outside those, prepare a "library" or set of experiences, scenarios, accomplishments to speak to - I like to call them backpocket answers - start with reading through the job description and seeing what responsibilities they require or qualities they're looking for and use this to figure out what would be best to pick or draw upon.
3. Practice the STAR framework (situation, task, action, result) - this is HUGE! You should be using this to answer almost every question so great to practice and be sure to be succinct. You want to set up clearly the situation & task of course, but id really focus on the action and result to demonstrate your impact - remember that the result should focus on what YOU did or brought to the table versus just the task.
4. Prepare questions that are unique to the company, role, interviewer - be thoughtful and do your homework! Again reference the job description and maybe build a question rather than whats the typical day to day like?
Final reminders
- dont be afraid to take time after hearing the question to make sure you understand and can properly answer
- Always follow up immediately to send a thank you and bring in something personal to what they shared or your convo with them
- biggest feedback ive seen for why interviewers dont move forward with candidates is because of how in depth, long, and overly wordy answers are because they either run out of time where the interviewer cant ask all questions and adequaltely assess or they cant see the impact or their experience due to being lost in the details. Can be challenging especially if your nervous but try and keep is succinct and remember they dont need ALL the details and can always ask you clarifying or follow up questions OR you can even ask if you answered their question.
- lastly, be yourself! Get to know them personally, bring your authentic self in as these are your future teammates and you'll want to make sure you can be yourself and that you know the culture of the team/company you could be potentially joining.
GOOD LUCK!
1. Prepare to speak to or answer the most commonly asked topics/questions from interviewers - these are just the big one that come to my mind!
- tell me about yourself
- why this role?
- strengths/greatest weaknesses
- biggest challenge / accomplishment
2. Outside those, prepare a "library" or set of experiences, scenarios, accomplishments to speak to - I like to call them backpocket answers - start with reading through the job description and seeing what responsibilities they require or qualities they're looking for and use this to figure out what would be best to pick or draw upon.
3. Practice the STAR framework (situation, task, action, result) - this is HUGE! You should be using this to answer almost every question so great to practice and be sure to be succinct. You want to set up clearly the situation & task of course, but id really focus on the action and result to demonstrate your impact - remember that the result should focus on what YOU did or brought to the table versus just the task.
4. Prepare questions that are unique to the company, role, interviewer - be thoughtful and do your homework! Again reference the job description and maybe build a question rather than whats the typical day to day like?
Final reminders
- dont be afraid to take time after hearing the question to make sure you understand and can properly answer
- Always follow up immediately to send a thank you and bring in something personal to what they shared or your convo with them
- biggest feedback ive seen for why interviewers dont move forward with candidates is because of how in depth, long, and overly wordy answers are because they either run out of time where the interviewer cant ask all questions and adequaltely assess or they cant see the impact or their experience due to being lost in the details. Can be challenging especially if your nervous but try and keep is succinct and remember they dont need ALL the details and can always ask you clarifying or follow up questions OR you can even ask if you answered their question.
- lastly, be yourself! Get to know them personally, bring your authentic self in as these are your future teammates and you'll want to make sure you can be yourself and that you know the culture of the team/company you could be potentially joining.
GOOD LUCK!