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Job Interview Commandments

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Oct 01, 2021

When you receive a call to interview for your dream job, what should you do to prepare? Besides reviewing the job description and researching the company, here are our essential tips on how to give the best impression at your next job interview.

  • Check social media
    What would a potential employer think of your Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram profiles? Make sure the content and the photos are appropriate for future employers because they will check.
  • Never arrive late...or too early
    We all know that arriving late to a job interview will leave a poor first impression, but did you know that arriving too early may be considered rude? If you are earlier than 15 minutes, we suggest that you go for a walk, wait in your car, or go to a nearby cafe to avoid inconveniencing your interviewer.
  • Remember names
    If you can’t remember who to ask for when arriving at your job interview, it can make you appear unprepared and disinterested. If you haven’t had any prior contact with them and don’t know their name/s, it is best to do some digging and find out beforehand.
  • Prepare to answer this question
    'Tell me about yourself' is a popular question asked at job interviews, so it is a clever idea to prepare an answer. Watch this video for some great suggestions on how to tackle this common interview question.
  • Come prepared with your own questions
    Have several questions to ask your interviewer should the opportunity arise during the interview. Here are some suggestions:
  1. What is the team culture like?
  2. What would a typical day look like in this role?
  3. Are there any goals or KPI’s in place for this role?
  4. How has this company handled COVID-19 and what impact has it had?
  5. In lieu of COVID-19, how do you think your business will perform financially and culturally going forward? What pipeline of work or projects do you have in place? Have you lost or increased a percentage of your customer base?
  6. Do you offer any flexible work arrangements?
  • Use real-life examples
    Prepare real-life examples that demonstrate various aspects of your skillset. Using facts and data to support your answers will add credibility to your responses. For example, since 2019 I have been able to increase the rent roll in my department by 15%.
  • Be prepared to answer questions about salary
    You may or may not get asked questions about salary, but it is best to be prepared in case. Research realistic market salaries in your sector to ensure you are informed. However, do not bring it up too early as this may make you appear too focused on this aspect of the job. If it has not been discussed at all, it is ok to bring it up at the end of your interview.
  • Dress for success
    When attending a job interview, you not only represent yourself, but you also demonstrate how you would represent the potential employer, so it’s important to make a positive impression. Businesses have a wide variety of dress codes and dress cultures and until you are familiar with them, it’s best to dress up rather than dress down.
  • Research, research, research
    Take the time to research the business you are interviewing at. Google is a great source of information!

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