Job Interview Advice for College

Winning Job Interview Techniques

common misconception about job interview technique is that it is somehow freestanding, set apart from experience and knowledge. It’s almost as if job applicants have a fantasy image becoming like the con artist played by Leonardo DiCaprio in “Catch Me If You Can” who was able to walk into a job interview and land positions far above his qualifications. Unfortunately, job interview technique does not work like that. Sure there are aspects of delivery and confidence and charisma that come into place, but they are more like the final coat of paint on the automobile than they are the car itself. At the end of the day, the best interviews will be given by those who know the field, the company and the job best, and who have a solid history of success in that job.

As a result, the best way to improve your job interview technique is to learn as much as you can about the job, the target company and specifically what the company is looking for. Once you know what they are looking for, then your goal should be to make sure that you portray yourself as just that. If you are applying for a job that is more or less similar to the current job you have, then you are lucky. You only need to talk about your current experiences and successes. If you are looking to make a career change, or move forward in your career, you will necessarily be talking about experiences and accomplishments that you may not have. In those cases, you need to look into your background and find similar or analogous experiences and results.

More Job Interview Technique Secrets

Your job interview technique will be to convince the interviewer that your results directly mirror the results that he or she wants from the successful job candidate. This is by no means an impossible sale, but it does require a bit more effort than simply describing achieving those exact results. Luckily for you, many of the experiences and results that companies seek can be gained in many different businesses. Many companies look for someone who can deal with the public, who can sell, who can work with detail, who can take leadership, who can research, communicate, write, and so on and so on. As long as you speak about those results, you should be able to convince the interviewer that you have some valuable skills.

The last part of your job interview technique is to make sure that every other aspect of your job interview is spot on perfect. If your experience is a bit off, you can’t afford to lose points anywhere else. Show up on time, wear appropriate clothing, smile a lot, let the interviewer lead the conversation initially, tell your answers in complete sentences and stories with a beginning, middle and end. After the interview, be sure to get a business card from the person you spoke to. Write a thank you note or letter as soon as you return home and hope for the best.