Job Interview Tips
No matter what type of job you are interviewing for, there are some job interview tips that can help you get the job you want. From fast food to Wall Street, the same rules apply. With a little research, practice, and the correct appearance, you can easily impress your future employer.
Even if you are applying for your first job at a fast food restaurant, you should research the business. Obviously, if you are applying for a high level job, you need even more research. Going into a job interview cold and without a clue as to the business mission goals and basic business plan won’t help you impress your interviewer. With the advent of the Internet, researching any business is simple. Spend a few hours studying the businesses and you will be very prepared. If you are applying for your first job at a fast food restaurant and you already know the mission statement, the menu, and other basics of the business, you will certainly go to the head of the list of applicants. Even if you have a newly minted college degree and are applying for a high level job, you want to appear knowledgeable and confident. Proper research will always put you ahead of the game.
After you have done the research, you are ready to practice the interview process. If you are very young and applying for your first job, ask a parent or a sibling to work with you. Some of the jobs you will be asked are obvious. The interviewer will always ask you why you want to work in this particular business. If you answer to buy my first car, you will seem disinterested in the real purpose of the job. A better answer would be that you enjoy working with people and this is your favorite fast food restaurant. Then you might add that you are saving your money to buy your first car. The interviewer may ask you about your goals and dreams for your future. Obviously, this job is a stepping stone job. Tell the truth about your future and explain that you think this fast food job will enable you to learn skills you will need in your future jobs. Always be honest during the interview process. If you lie, you will seem untrustworthy and won’t get hired. Be assertive, confident, and outgoing and you have a good chance at the job.
If you are applying for an upper echelon job, some of the same rules apply. You want to practice interviewing with someone so that you will be ready for the real interview. You will be inevitably asked about your future goals and the reasons you want the job. You will also ask what you can bring to the business. Be ready for this question and present some ideas that you have for the job. Never criticize the business or imply that you would want to make huge changes. Be confident but not cocky. If you are not sure of an answer, say so. Being honest is much better than being caught looking foolish.
Dressing for success is very necessary. For a low level job, you can dress in business casual. For teens looking for that first job, you should wear nice slacks and a conservative shirt. Never wear jeans or clothes that are too trendy or flashy. You want to look mature enough for the job. Certainly you would never want to dress in shorts or skimpy clothes. You should even dress up when you go to ask for an application. For upper level jobs, you should wear very conservative business clothes. A suit is always appropriate for men and a dress or business suit for women is a given. The colors should be subdued and never faddish or overly colorful. Subdued is always a good luck because it gives you a trustworthy look, which is exactly what you want. Be sure to wear polished dress shoes to complement your overall look. Don’t wear too much jewelry, perfume or aftershave lotions, and never ever chew gum.
No matter the job, the interview process is stressful but with these job interview tips, you are already ahead of the game.
