Strategies for a successful interview come in multiple aspects; familiarizing yourself with the companys offering position, dressing
Question:
Strategies for a successful interview come in multiple aspects; familiarizing yourself with the company’s offering position, dressing for success, preparing ahead of time for possible interview questions, and preparing your own set of questions for the desired company. All these strategies can be completed ahead of time before the interview. The more time given to prepare, the higher the chance of the interview going more smoothly. The less time given to prepare, the higher the chance of the interview ending in disaster. For example, "when interviewers do not ask questions, hiring managers often view [potential employees] as uninterested and inexperienced" (Robin, 2022, p. 91). Preparing ahead of time can also build confidence in an individual with no mistakes to be made during the interview. Not only will these strategies prepare you for success, but the interviewer will gain a great first impression due to your professionalism.
One main question that comes up in every interview is the “What are your goals” question. This question can give the interviewer some insight to where a potential employee’s focus lies whether it be family, educational purposes, or a stepping stone to complete a short-term or long-term goal. This question should be answered in a positive manner that puts you in a good light while expressing your room for growth. For example, as a college student, one could answer this question by stating their educational goals. Some goals include maintaining a certain GPA, keeping a high grade in each remaining course, receiving a degree, and even going as far as to know what job specifically you aim for. Any question must be answered strategically, confidently, and concisely.
Salary should not be discussed during the interview process. The best time to negotiate a salary (and benefits) is after the job is offered. The main goal of negotiating a salary is based on the research of the position and knowing your value as a potential employee. Before transferring to Texas A&M – Central Texas, my last semester allowed me to network with my classmates in similar majors. One classmate was also in the process of a negotiation between two companies who wanted him as an employee. By knowing his value, he was able to pick (and even make) the company offering him the largest salary and best benefits.
A ”thank you” note should be sent within a few hours or one day after the interview. The note should be professional and short, getting straight to the point while expressing your gratitude for the opportunity of the interview. The note can be sent as an email or a written note to the interviewer; as long as the note is sent then there should be no preference. When sending the note (via email), it would be wise to attach a resume, LinkedIn link, email address, and phone number towards the bottom of the note. This way the interviewer has a way of contact along with a chance to relook over your credentials after the interview. According to the textbook, "In a poll of 300 hiring managers, 80 percent stated that sending a thank-you note could increase chances of employment" (Robin, 2022, p. 93). Sending a “thank you” note can open more opportunities of being thought of first in a new position or the interviewer directing towards another job for employment.
Post 2
One of the best interviewing strategies you can use is to practice. Practice makes permanent and it can help you be prepared for many of the more common questions asked during interviews. You can also make use of your network and get your peers to help you with getting a job. Your network can also help sell you for potential employers. Research is another important strategy that can be used in the interviewing process. With research you can find some information that can help you look like the most qualified for the job.
One of the most common questions you will hear will be tell me about yourself. The best way to answer this question when to sell yourself and make yourself look like the best candidate for the job your applying for. Another question that you'll be asked when being interviewed is Why do you want to work for us? For this one your answer will vary mostly because your trying to tell the interviewers your reasoning to want to work for them and be honest tell them. usually there are going to be multiple things you resonate with in the company and it helps to let future employers know about that. That being said from previous experience it's never a good thing to tell them you want to work for the money even if that's the only thing that comes to mind when answering this question.
The best time to negotiate your salary is after you know you have the job. At this point you know they want you to work with them so you have the most leverage. Some things to keep in mind when negotiating are your experience and living situation to name a few. Another thing that must be kept in mind when negotiating are your skills and how much people are making in the same job in the same area. As for benefits they are just as important so make sure to ask for what you need when doing this. Remember its ok to move on in the case that the job is unwilling to approve of what you want but keep in mind that if your asking for too much can easily make you lose the job you've been trying to get.
Some some key things you need to remember when your writing a "Thank You" note are to figure out how you're sending the letter. Is it going to be something handwritten or something you send as an email or something similar. Who are you writing your letter to is another thing to keep in mind as well as making sure to address whoever you are sending your thank you to properly. From here its important to let them know why you're sending the letter. Afterwards sell yourself a little more highlight your qualifications. Finally let them know you ready to take the next step and send the thank you. When sending a thank you letter you should try to send the letter between 24 and 48 hours of the interview the sooner the better however according to emeritus.org