How to Wow Your Interviewer

You are going to have a tough time wowing your first interviewer because you do not have much experience taking interviews, and interview experience will help you get a job. If you interview very well, you are more likely to get a job than if you are more qualified or even more suitable for a job. Do not underestimate how tough it may be to get a job from the interview stage, and do not be afraid to rehearse and practice prior to your interview.

Practicing and rehearsing

Let us clarify this a little. Practicing and rehearsing means looking on the Internet for possible interview questions and figuring out what you may say. Do not figure out what you are going to say word-for-word because even a good actor will have trouble spouting rehearsed lines without breaking the rapport or flow of the interview.

Rehearse and practice in a way that ensures you are not caught off guard by a question. There is nothing more embarrassing than not having an answer for a question and shrugging your shoulders or making excuses. Do not memorize your responses, just practice giving them off the top of your head and it will work out much better for you during your interview. Do a little research beforehand to find a few good responses to the classic interview questions, and remember that you do not have to be original because everybody else will try to be original (so, ironically, you don’t have to).

Go for jobs you actually want

There is nothing more powerful than wanting a job for something other than the money or filler. If you actually want to work for the company, then it will come through in your interview. You will also find that many of the qualities you need in order to get the job will appear on their own. Even the things listed in this article will manifest on their own without you trying too hard.

There is nothing a new employer likes to hear more than the fact you really want to work for the company. To find out that you have a certain ambition within the company and that you have a burning desire to work there. All of this can be achieved by going for jobs that you actually want. If you go for a job you are not that keen on, then do not be surprised if you do not get the job.

Find out whatever you can about the job and the company

They will probably ask you what you know about the company, and the worst answer is to say “nothing” or “I don’t know.” Find out a little about the company and the job you are applying for. The more you find out, then the more you have to reply to the question.

Ideally, you should start by replying with a quick rundown of what the company does and any other key information that customers and potential clients should know. Then move on to the job in hand and describe the job you expect to be doing. Do not simply quote the advert you applied to because most of the other interviewees are going to do that.

Figure out why you want the job because you will be asked

Another classic question is “Why do you want the job?” If you are honest, then you will be more convincing, which is why it is a good idea to actually want the job and have a burning desire for the job. If you do not have a burning desire for the job, then you are going to have to lie.

There is an episode of Buffy in season six where she works in the double-meat palace. The manager asks her why she wants the job and she says it is because she needs the money fast, and the manager does not react. She then says it is because she wants to be part of the double-meat team and he smiles as if a key just unlocked his brain from its slumber. It may sound like a generalization, but what happens on the episode is a melodramatic example of what happens in real life.

In other words, the interviewer has already decided “why” you should want the job. He or she is just waiting for you to say the right thing. If you already have a burning desire for the job, then mostly anything you say about wanting the job is going to be correct. If you do not really want the job (you just need it), then you need to lie, and you need to do what Buffy did and keep it short. Keep your answer short and it is harder to spot the lie.

Why do you want the job? Because my friend worked here and said it was good, because I think there is a career here for me, because I always wanted to be part of the team but I was not qualified, etc…

About the author:
Cindy Bates works as a freelance writer and editor at Bestessaytips. She used to write articles and share her knowledge and experience in the educational sphere.