How to interview for a Job and Get Hired

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By Research Analyst

How you dress says alot about who you are
How you dress says alot about who you are

How to Interview for a job

Interviews take practice, there are some basic rules to follow. If you want to get hired then you want to follow some crucial step by step guide to winning the job interview to get hired.

An interview is your opportunity to give a presentation of your best qualities and skills, its a chance to summerize information on your resume and let your personality shine through. It is a chance for the employer to decide if they like you and if you will fit in with the company, values, and culture.

First step is to know what not to do in an interview, when it comes to making a first impression one would not want to give the wrong impression with ones appearance.

How to Dress for an Interview

Appearance, How you dress plays a huge role in getting hired. Make sure that you dress appropriately for the job you are applying for. When in doubt "remember to always look professional, clean neat and approachable"

Do not allow your manner of dress distract from the interview. You want what you say to stand out more than what your are wearing. In the area of dress, getting too fancy and dressing flashy or gawdy can detract just as much as wearing too casual, baggy or wrinkled clothes.

Make sure to do your research before hand, find out what the dress code is for the job you are applying for and get clothes that will give the best presentation for a winning interview.

First impressions matter most
First impressions matter most

Grooming Tips for a Interview Success

How you look is important but first one must take care of the little details that make up the overall visual language.

When one goes to an interview it is what you do not say that speaks loud and clear. Give the interviewer a chance to accept you as someone who will fit well on the team. Quick way to do this is by taking care of your grooming in the following areas:

  • Hair, when it comes to your hair make sure to keep it neat, clean and in harmony with your outward dress. Remember "conservative" always works well when interviewing for a job. (Exceptions may occur if applying for a creative type job, where self expression is encouraged.) Most importantly keep a business minded approach when styling ones hair for an interview. Don't distract keep the interviewers attention with a winning personality and knowledge of the job instead.

  • Nails, nicely manicured nails show that one pays attention to detail and is clean and neat. Clean nails with a nail clipper, nail file or nail buffer. Keep all nails clear of dirt, stains or uneven or ragged edges. Your handshake is critiqued for its firmness and its clean nails.

  • Hygiene, when it comes to an overall clean appearance, just wearing clean neat and pressed clothes is not enough, one must make sure to cover the area of hygiene. Take a shower before an interview, shave, put on deoderant and don't put on too much cologne or perfume. Less is more when it comes to wearing scented creams, lotions or body sprays. One does not want to distract by bad or good oders.

  • Teeth, a winning smile works everytime so use this opportunity to have clean, sparkling teeth. Use a teeth whitener if necessary to avoid yellow stained teeth. Keep your breath fresh, with breath mints or mint strips. Lasting impressions are just that lasting.

  • Eyes. bright alert eyes are another winning tactic to getting hired on a job interview. One does not want to have tired, puffy, red eyes. Well rested and attentive eyes that make good eye contact is a winning combination every time.

Send a Thank You Note after a Interview
Send a Thank You Note after a Interview

Sending the right message with Body Language is the Key to Success

When interviewing for a job, one necessary element is to be aware of what messages you are sending with your body language. One does not want to give the appearance of slouching, disinterest or bordom. Make sure to sit up straight, lean forward showing attentiveness.

When answering questions make sure to give eye contact, smile, use hand gestures and keep feet on the floor. Remember you are giving a presentation of your abilities, skills and qualifications. Also you are giving a preview of how well you communicate in front of a group or panel.

Do not cross your arms, or give any type of signal that you are closed off. Do not play with your hair or fiddle with jewelry, such as watches, rings, bracelets. When one becomes nervous it is easy to give the wrong signals with our body language so try to be aware of those little nuances.

Show a welcoming, team player spirit with your body language. Help the interviewers see why they should hire you for the position and why you are teh best candidate for the job.

Finding Recession-Proof Jobs Video

Prepare Prepare Prepare

When it comes to interviewing for a job and getting hired one must be prepared. Here are some tips to keep you on track.

1. Research the company you are interviewing for, learn about the companies mission statement, look at where the company is headed and what type of employees they seek to hire. Bring a copy of your resume with you to the interview for easy reference.

2. Have at least 3 questions to ask once the interview is over and you are asked if you "have any questions". This will show that you are genuinely interested in the company and that you took some time to think of things to inquire about.

3. Showcase at the interview how you will add value to the company, what will you bring to the table and in what ways will you help the company reach its goals. Show measurable accomplishments and how you were able to solve problems, connect with fellow co-workers and manage a project. Its not always about credentials but what you have demonstrated towards measurable developments.

4. Leadership qualities is what companies seek in future employees, How can you demonstrate your leadership ability? Can you lead a team? Will you take the initiative on a project? These are things that one can incorporate in answering interview questions so as to give the employer a chance to evaluate how well you will fit in the company.

5. Get the right contact personnel so as to send a thank you note after the interview. Showing such detail and gratetude goes a long way to getting hired.

A Handshake shows confidence
A Handshake shows confidence

Tips for answering interview questions

When it comes to answering interview questions one needs to make sure they follow these simple tips.

Make sure to listen to the entire questions before answering, understanding what is being asked will determine if you will be able to give a thorough answer or not. If you do not fully understand the question get clarification right away.

Answer questions fully, do not be short, or too quick. Elaborate on key points giving examples. But on the other hand do not ramble on and on, keep in mind the number of questions that need to be answered during the alotted time.

When interviewing in front of a panel or a group of interviewers, one needs to answer each question while giving eye contact to everyone in the group. Since you are being observed for "how you answer the question" you are also being observed on "how you speak in front of a group" on panel interviews you are in front of several different supervisors and managers who are considering you for their department.

Most important is to remember to thank each member on the panel with a handshake after the interview, this allows for a physical connection and a chance to show your confidence.

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Interviewing Like A Pro Video

Another edition brought to you by Hubmob
Another edition brought to you by Hubmob

How to Interview for a Job : How to Answer Questions in Job Interview

Comments

Tony-P profile image

Tony-P 3 years ago

Cool hub , i copied this information cuz i will set for an interview and i hope it will workout with me , thanks again and keep the good job

BeatsMe profile image

BeatsMe 3 years ago

lol. Very detailed. Hope the interviewee won't forget what to answer on the interview. ;)

Ryan Hupfer profile image

Ryan Hupfer 3 years ago

Great addition to the HubMob...everyone can use some help with the always crazy interview process. but, like you said - it's all about being prepared.

Happy 1 profile image

Happy 1 3 years ago

Great informative hub, thanks !

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1 3 years ago

I have worked in human resource and been on many interviews.  IMO your research on how to interview is right on!  I may be out interviewing again soon so thanks for the refresher course.

Research Analyst profile image

Research Analyst Hub Author 3 years ago

TonyP - I am glad you found the information useful, one thing that never changes is making the right first impression.

Beatsme - you bring up a very good point, since most people concentrate more on the interview questions, I thought I would write about other areas that may be overlooked.

Ryan - Thanks for stopping by and I am glad to contribute

Dottie1 - Wow, human resources, you must have some real funny stories to tell.

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1 3 years ago

Research Analyst - the story that comes quickly to mind is the person who came in desperately seeking employment and while I wasn't looking stole my purse from my desk drawer. My purse was found on the railroad tracks behind where I worked and the guy that stole it got caught the next day thanks to my good detective work! He represented himself very well ---- please for godsakes do not hire me under any circumstance! lol

Research Analyst profile image

Research Analyst Hub Author 3 years ago

Dottie - What an incredible story, how on earth can he expect to get a job if he is stealing from his future co-workers, Go figure. Thanks for sharing.

Mindfulness profile image

Mindfulness 3 years ago

The info in this article is so true. We almost didn't hire a guy because his eyes were puffy and he had, shall we say, avante garde hair. But we did and he turned out to be the most versatile and intelligent employee we had. It's a good thing we hired him despite the fact but our first impression did almost cost him the job.

Research Analyst profile image

Research Analyst Hub Author 3 years ago

mindfulness, - thanks for relating that experience its great to hear success stories.

Vivenda profile image

Vivenda 3 years ago

Really good synopsis!  The points you make are not new to me, but it's good to see them all brought together with such clarity.

Research Analyst profile image

Research Analyst Hub Author 3 years ago

Yes reminders are always good, especially with the downturn of the economy and persons losing their jobs, helpful hints on how to get hired will aid them in future employment.

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