How to Win Over the Interviewer

How to Win Over the InterviewerLearn how to earn points by engaging with your interviewer and demonstrating your knowledge of the company’s goals.

An interview can definitely be nerve-wracking. Expect your interviewer to ask several questions that may put you in a difficult spot, especially if you didn’t prepare enough. Though the questions you’ll be asked are beyond your control, you can still win the interviewer’s attention with these tips and tricks:

1. Be friendly. Before showing up for the interview, make sure to do your research about the company. Find them on LinkedIn and other social media platforms to get updated news about the company.

At the same time, it helps to have an idea of what your interviewer is like. Look him or her up online and find interests that you both have in common. This is a great icebreaker to help you loosen up before the interview starts. Talking about similar interests you both enjoy is better than awkwardly talking about the weather or the office.

2. Figure out how you fit. Does your skill set fit with what the job posting requires? Know how to fit in and shine in the position you are applying for by researching past and current employees. Ask people in the company questions to get to know the organization better. This will help you find the niche that will suit you.

It is important to get to know the company inside and out before getting yourself involved internally. You don’t want to waste your time working for a company that won’t value your skills as much as you expect.

3. Bring visual proof. If you want to highlight your skills and achievements, you might want to apply visuals to keep the interviewer interested. You can show your success in industry-neutral terms, instead of using jargon too difficult to understand.

If you’re in the design field, you can bring your portfolio as your visual aid. Taking this step will give your recruiter an idea of what you’ll be like as an employee if you get the chance to work for the company.

You can provide an infographic resume or create a presentation of your career highlights. If you do this, don’t forget to give the interviewer printed copies of your slides for reference.

4. Share your plan. Have a plan in mind and, if the opportunity presents itself during your final interview, share it. List your goals in a 30-60-90 day plan format to let the interviewer know what your goals are. A month should be enough time for you to get to know the company’s systems, procedures and culture. For the next 30 days, you should be using your skills and talent to fulfill the job requirements to fit in the role. In the 90-day outlook, you should be helping to meet the company’s goals.

Getting hired requires more than just sending out resumes. Go the extra mile and exert a little more effort to increase your chances of finding the job you’ve always wanted.

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Alan Carniol

Alan is the creator of Interview Success Formula, a training program that has helped more than 80,000 job seekers to ace their interviews and land the jobs they deserve. Interviewers love asking curveball questions to weed out job seekers. But the truth is, most of these questions are asking about a few key areas. Learn more about how to outsmart tough interviewers by watching this video.