Making A Positive Impression: 5 Tips For Acing Interviews

Interviewing for a new job is one of the most stressful situations that anybody can go through. In most cases, you only get one chance to nail the interview, and it could be for your dream job. Because of this, you want to make sure that you leave a great impression and ace your interview. For some, it’s easier, as they have practice with interviews or just have a natural way of at least presenting themselves positively to a potential employer.

For the rest of us, though, we may need a lot of help, and that’s where we come in. Here are five tips for acing your next interview, even if you’ve never had an interview before or have struggled with them in the past.

Exude Confidence

When you’re trying to land yourself a sweet new job, it’s important to show a healthy level of confidence. Not to be mistaken with cockiness. Employers want to see that you’re confident in your own abilities and can handle pretty much anything the job throws at you. Hiring employees with confidence makes the company look better than if they hired someone more timid and meek. It’s important to wear your confidence comfortably and not let it turn into arrogance or cockiness. That will likely turn any and all employers away immediately. 

Practice Conversation Skills

Along with confidence, employers want to know how strong your conversation skills are. Are you able to hold a conversation? Are you capable of initiating healthy conversation? Are your conversation topics comfortable and inoffensive? During your interview, make sure you’re able to read the room and use your conversational skills to the best of your ability. Try not to be too chatty, or too reserved. Give your interviewer plenty of space to speak. Make them feel listened to and understood. Doing this will show your potential employer a certain degree of conversational intelligence they are certainly looking for to represent their company. 

Look the Part

As to be expected, you must look at the part when going for an interview. No matter the job title, go into your interview hygienically, with a tidy haircut, and donning a proper outfit.  Nobody wants to hire an unkempt employee who shows very little care for themselves. An employer wants to see that you can keep up with appearances and put in the effort. How you present yourself will reflect how you’ll represent the company. Remember to dress accordingly based on the job description. It’s possible to overdress and make a fool of yourself just as you would by undressing. 

Know How to Talk About Yourself

Sure, you’ve mastered your conversational skills, but how well will you perform when you’re the topic of discussion? Employers will want to know who you are and what you offer. What use are you to the company? What are your strengths and weaknesses? What are your thoughts and opinions on the job title you’re interviewing for? Interviewers will pick your brain to find out these things and expect you to be able to present them with information about yourself to better understand if you’re the right person for the job. Gather some talking points about yourself beforehand so you’re well prepared. 

Ask Questions  

After all is said and done, interviewers will often ask if you have any questions for them. So it’s helpful to have some prepared. The interviewer won’t want to be bombarded with a barrage of pointless questions. Make sure your questions have thoughts and purpose behind them. Perhaps ask what your potential employer expects out of you. Ask practical questions regarding starting pay, shift scheduling, and the benefits the company offers. Don’t forget to throw in the classic “When do I start?” Just kidding, don’t do that. Whatever questions you ask, keep it simple, and to the point