3 Practical Tips for Acing Your Job Interview

By Marcus Ralph

As you get ready for a job interview, you likely have so many questions in your head, it's easy to get overwhelmed. Not knowing where to start, you end up spinning in circles without making any progress. However, with an average of 118 applicants for every job opening, being fully prepared before a job interview is critical. Here are three key tips to nailing your job interview.

How to ace a job interview

1. Research the company

Companies use social media platforms to check out job candidates. So, if a company is researching you, shouldn't you be doing your own research as well?

Your job interview homework will usually begin by researching a company’s LinkedIn page. Now, this doesn’t mean taking a quick look at their LinkedIn company page. You need to dive into the company—understand their purpose, their culture, and what is important to them. Take notes. You need to be prepared to show your interviewer that you did your research. If appropriate for the interview format and setting, reference these notes during your interview to ask questions.

Also, if you have access to the information, look over your interviewer's LinkedIn profile. This can be a great talking point during your interview. Showing your interviewer that you care enough about the interview and position, and took the extra time to get to know them, can go a long way toward acing your job interview.

While this step may seem like a no-brainer, there are many people who do not take the time before going on an interview to really understand the company that they are trying to work for. Do your homework. Understand the company, what they do, and what their values are. This shows employers that you are truly interested in the job and you value their time.

2. Dress to impress

To ace your job interview, it's important to research and then dress in the appropriate business attire for the company you are interviewing for. However, there are a few basic guidelines to follow:

• Be comfortable. Be sure you will be comfortable in whatever you will wear for your interview. Pick soft, comfortable materials and fabrics for your interview outfit. Uncomfortable attire could lead to itchiness or increased sweating, which won't allow you to feel like your most confident self.
• Dress nicer than your interviewer. Dressing a notch above your interviewer is important if you want to make a good first impression. It shows your commitment to the role, your preparation, and your understanding of the company dress code and culture.
• Keep it simple. This can be accomplished by being conservative in what you wear—in style, fit, and color. Wear neutral and professional colors; avoid incredibly bright colors. Wear clothing that is not too loose and not too tight. Also, wear moderate makeup; don't wear perfumes or colognes.

More articles from AllBusiness.com:

• Sales Strategy: How Should I Dress for This Sales Call?
• Tips for Interviewing Potential Employees
• 10 Essential Steps to Prepare Yourself for a Job Interview
• 9 Great Places to Hold Your Next Team Meeting
• Here Are the Job Interview Questions You Should Expect

3. Practice interview questions

The next step to acing your job interview is to practice interview questions. Here are 10 common interview questions that you may be asked during an interview:

1. Tell me about yourself and your background.
2. How did you hear about this position?
3. Do you prefer working independently or on a team?
4. Why are you the best person for the job?
5. Why do you want this job?
6. When working on multiple projects, how do you keep yourself organized?
7. How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?
8. What are your salary expectations?
9. What is your greatest strength? And weakness?
10. What are your goals for the future?

Beyond these questions, be prepared for technical questions regarding the position as well as questions specific about the company you are interviewing for—this is where a lot of your company research will come in handy.

The best way to practice answering questions is to actually say the answers out loud. Practicing out loud helps you become comfortable verbalizing your responses.

Also, when preparing your responses, be sure your answers are based on results. Numbers establish an element of trust in the eyes of potential employers, and quantifiable experience shows employers evidence of your past successes and the value you can bring to a position.

Preparation is the key to acing your job interview

Preparing for your job interview and taking the time to go the extra mile will help you to stand out as a candidate. Follow these tips and you will be well on your way to getting the job of your dreams.

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