Set yourself up for success: 7 tips to ace your next job interview!

So you just completed a (re)training track and are ready to enter the job market. Or, you want to take your current career to the next level and apply for a new position. Congratulations! That is a big step.

An interview process can be daunting, especially if it has been a while since you put yourself out there. We are here to tell you that, although it’s normal to have some healthy nerves, the process doesn’t need to be stressful. Preparation is the key to success!

We’re convinced that with proper preparation, you will feel confident to ace your next interview.

1. Collect as much information as you can about the company: 

We can’t stress this enough! The first step in preparing for a job interview is to know the company inside and out. Research the company’s website, social media channels, and reviews on websites such as Glassdoor. What’s the story behind the business? What is the culture within the company? What’s their mission?

Make a document to collect all of the information so you can read it through before you go into the interview.

2. Know the vacancy by heart:

Think about how your skills match the job requirements. If you don’t meet all the requirements or don’t have the exact amount of experience they are asking for, don’t stress. You are allowed to grow into a role. In fact, applying for a role where you have room to grow can be a great indicator of your ambitious personality. So, if you can check many relevant boxes and are convinced that you’ll make a great candidate, it’s worth applying.

Reflect on your experience in other jobs and how this translates to the position you’re applying for. Then, think ahead and come up with examples of when you demonstrated the behavior or used the skills they are looking for. 

3. Research your interviewer:

In this digital day and age, a little online stalking goes a long way. No, we’re just kidding about the stalking but researching your interviewer is a good idea. If you’ve been emailing back and forth, you probably know your interviewer’s name. Look them up on LinkedIn to get an idea of what they’re like and what they value. This will give you an idea of the person you will be speaking to. A good interviewer will appreciate the effort and be flattered that you went the extra mile to prepare. 

3. Prepare an interview pitch:

This might sound a bit more intimidating than it is. The most common (and simultaneously misunderstood) question is: ‘tell me something about yourself or ‘walk me through your CV.’ With this question, the interviewer is not asking you to tell exactly what’s on your CV; they’ve most likely seen that. Instead, they are asking you to give your interview pitch. Tell them why you are the perfect match for the company. Preferably, you can do this in less than 2 minutes. The interview pitch is an essential part of an interview and can make or break your first impression. During ourLand your dream job training,’ we help you to craft a job-winning pitch and practice until you’re so confident that you can’t wait to get out there and pitch yourself. 

4. Always think in solutions and possibilities:

As mentioned before, there may be requirements in the vacancy that you don’t meet. Remember, you most likely won’t be the only candidate who can’t tick all the boxes, so don’t let this make you feel insecure. 

Instead of simply stating that you don’t have the experience, try to think outside the box. For example, you might not have experience with this specific subject, but you have other experiences that could show you can learn this particular skill fast. Demonstrating that you have a problem-solving mindset can be more valuable than actually having the specific experience. For example, the vacancy states that the company is looking for someone who has experience with R-Studio:

‘Have you worked with R-Studio?’

‘I have heard a lot about ‘R-Studio,’ and I would love to learn more about it. As I enjoy working with Phyton, which is similar, I’m sure I’ll understand R-studio quickly. 

5. Know your value:

Even though we don’t recommend starting the hard salary negotiations before you’ve had the first interview, we recommend researching and determining your salary expectations before your first conversation. This way, you are prepared to answer any salary-related questions that you may encounter confidently. 


6. Prepare questions to ask:

A job interview is not only about convincing a company you are the right fit for them; it’s also about exploring to see if they are the right fit for you. We believe that being happy in your workplace is crucial to a successful career. Therefore asking questions and being honest with yourself to determine if the job you’re applying for is right for you is essential. 

7. Be confident: 

True confidence is one of the most attractive qualities a person can have. People are drawn to people who believe in themselves, so do whatever you need to do to get into this mindset. Of course, some healthy nerves are totally normal and even beneficial. Prepare an outfit that you feel great in, go for a refreshing walk before the interview, or practice your pitch one more time in front of the mirror; you got this!
Knowing that you are prepared will make you feel empowered and excited about the interview. It means that you are getting one step closer to your dream job, which is something to be excited about!
During our new training ‘Land your dream job,‘ we will prepare you to enter the job market confidently. This course consists of 8 hours of live training, spread over two days.

The first day will be focused on how to ‘Ace your job interview,’ and on the second day, we will continue with ‘How to negotiate the salary you deserve.’ 

Thanks to the STAP budget, this training is now completely FREE. That sounds like a pretty amazing deal, doesn’t it?

Find out all about this training and how to apply for the STAP budget here.