How To Nail 'The Interview'
RE:WORK TRAINING
Building the bridge between tech and Chicago's untapped talent with our free 8-week job training and placement program.
This is the moment you’ve been waiting for. You fill out the application, get your resume in, and you get called back for an interview!
Even though it can be nerve-racking, landing an interview means your skills and experience stood out from your resume, and they want to get to know you more. But this is a great opportunity to look forward to—it means your skills and experience stood out, and they want to get to know you more.
Let’s make sure you’re prepared so once you land the interview, you also land the job.
Here are three things to help guide you:
#1 "Tell me about yourself"
When you think of ‘interview questions,’ you probably think of the ever-so-vague and open-ended one: “Tell me about yourself.”
You should be able to answer this question in 30 seconds or less. Think of it as an elevator pitch! Explain who you are and what makes you unique in the time it takes you to get in and out of an elevator. Be concise, clear, and confident.
A solid answer can include a mention of your past, a mention of your present, and a mention of your future—it doesn’t have to be in this order.
For example: "I’m a sales manager at A Company, leading a team of 'x' with an average deal size of 'y'. I’ve consistently increased revenue by 'z' every quarter."
#2 STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
The STAR questions are something you’ll see in every interview if you know what you are looking for. This method is an easy way to remember what interviewers are looking for in your answers. It’s a way for you to demonstrate your knowledge and problem-solving skills. Examples include how you demonstrated leadership, how you work under pressure, a challenge or conflict you faced at work, a time you disagreed with a decision at work, or even when you made a mistake. The goal is to be prepared so you can use the right experiences in your professional history. Think of STAR as a form of storytelling. The key is to adapt the narrative to fit your experience and skill set. You want to be honest and upfront about challenges and setbacks, but also use them to show your conflict resolution skills and what you bring to the table.
Recommended by LinkedIn
Situation: The situation is the context or the stage of the question. This isn’t something you have to spend a lot of time on. Just offer specifics, avoid generalizations, and make your setting as concrete as possible so the rest of the discussion is easy.
Task: The task is what you had to do or accomplish with the situation, where you mention your role and responsibilities. Focus on one or two main areas.
Action: You’ll spend most of your time perfecting and practicing this part. Explain the specific actions you took in response to the task!
Results: What were the results after your actions? This is your chance to show how your actions directly led to optimal results.
#3 Interviewing the Interviewer
A job interview is a two-way street. You want to show that you are the best candidate for the job, but you also want to ensure that the company, its culture, its future, and the role are right for you. This is also a chance for you to show you are well prepared and interested in the company. The right questions can help you find out about training or development opportunities and how to advance your career. One or two questions is a good rule of thumb!
Some good questions to ask:
With these strategies in your toolkit, you’re well-equipped to impress any interviewer. Now, go ace that interview and land the job you deserve!
You’re going to do great! Progress over perfection. Let us know in the comments what else you’d like to know about the interview process or questions.