Job interview: 12 tips on how to master it?
After a successful application, you are only one last step away from your dream job: the interview.
Afraid of making a blunder or doing the wrong thing? We have summarized 12 tips for your next job interview and tell you the most common whoops.
How do I prepare for the job interview?
Thinking positively is good, but it takes more than that to really convince in a government job interview. With the right preparation, you will bring more self-confidence and give yourself a clear advantage over other candidates. Do you really want this job? Well, then don’t leave the interview to chance and think about it in advance. This checklist will help you:
| getting there | Where is the company located? |
| Dress code | How do I want to present myself? |
| documents | What documents do I need? |
| Research | What do I need to know about the company? |
| Interview | What can I prepare for? |
| salary | What is my desired salary? |
| Questions | What things would I like to know about the company/job? |
Dress code: jeans vs. suit
Your overall appearance is essential to making a good first impression. Clean, neat clothing and a neat haircut are therefore a must.
Depending on which company you are applying to, it does not necessarily have to be a suit with a tie or a white blouse, or a black blazer.
It is important that you feel comfortable and that your clothing is a signal that “this conversation is important to me ”. If you are unsure, it is better to dress a little smarter than too casual.
15 common interview questions
To answer the following questions, we’ll give you our professional tip #1: Be honest & authentic. Because lies in an interview make you blush, usually appear insecure or even worse: the HR manager immediately notices them.
If you don’t want to answer a very personal or critical interview question, that’s perfectly fine. To avoid possible misunderstandings, we recommend always addressing such a situation directly.
You should prepare well for these questions:
- Can you introduce yourself?
- Why are you interested in this particular job?
- What do you know about our company?
- Are you ready to continue your education?
- Why should we choose you?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses? (It is best to prepare five of each with justification).
- Why did you choose this field of study or school education?
- In your opinion, which of your previous experiences (also at school) are relevant for this position?
- Experienced professionals: What things should definitely change when changing companies? | Young professionals: What is particularly important to you in your job?
- How do you deal with stress or conflict situations?
- Are you willing to work overtime? If so, to what extent?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
- What motivates you?
- Tell me about a wrong decision you made. What was the impact and what did you learn from it?
- Soft Skills: How do you deal with criticism? How do you behave when an important project threatens to fail? Do you prefer to talk or to act? What is your role in group work?
Do I have to print out my application documents?
Lost, forgotten, misplaced, or untraceable – such whoops happen to the HR manager, the HR manager with application documents (such as CV, letter of application, certificates, etc.) extremely rarely. Nevertheless, as a candidate, you should be prepared and still (!) take your documents with you in printed form. Even if they’re not needed at the end of the day, you’re showing the company you’re prepared just in case.
Notepads and ballpoint pens are also useful for noting down important points. This will underline your interest in the job and will help you remember the details discussed later. But always keep your attention on the other person and don’t use the notepad as a protective shield.
12 tips for the job interview: How to behave correctly
- Be honest & authentic
- Treat everyone in the company as if they were your interviewee
- Try to stay calm despite your nervousness
- Greet your counterpart politely
- Convey confidence with your body language
- Answer in several complete sentences
- Find a balance between speaking and listening carefully
- Show interest in your future area of responsibility
- Ask questions to the employer
- Find out about your future colleagues
- Ask when you can expect feedback
- Smile & maintain comfortable eye contact at all times
What should be considered in a video interview?
Apart from functioning technical equipment, a quiet, undisturbed place for virtual conversation is the most important requirement. Choose your outfit as if you were in a face-to-face interview, be yourself, and don’t let technical problems unsettle you (this can always happen).
No-gos in the job interview
“The conversation went well. Why did I get rejected again?” It is not always possible to explain a rejection after the interview. Sometimes it’s the little things that make the difference in a decision.
However, you should definitely avoid these obvious stumbling blocks :
- show up late
- Address your desired salary at the beginning
- show no interest in the job
- complain about former employers
- immediately inquire after the holiday
- tugging nervously at your clothes
10 possible questions for the employer
- What tasks await me in this position?
- Who is my direct manager?
- What are your expectations of me?
- How would you describe the corporate culture?
- What challenges will I face?
- What does a typical working day look like?
- Which employees/departments will I mainly work with?
- How long does the onboarding phase last?
- Is a trial day possible in the company?
- Why is the position vacant?
What happens after the interview?
Phew, finally done. The conversation went well – so far, so good. But what’s next?
- The company promises to get in touch.
If no one has contacted you 3-to 4 days after the agreed deadline, you should actively ask whether a decision has already been made. Be proactive, call the company directly and stick with it, even if you’re put off for another week afterward.
- You should report after x days.
If you cannot make a decision within the agreed deadline, be open and ask for a little patience. After 4 days at the latest, you should call the employer, otherwise, someone else could already be sitting in your place.
The company guaranteed you the job immediately after the interview? Wait with your fixed commitment. Go inside yourself, talk to friends and family and get in touch with your employer 1-2 days after the interview.
Be sure to take the time you need to make this important (perhaps long-term) decision.
can I get the job The 9 most common reasons for rejection
From the moment you enter the room to the moment you say goodbye: First impressions stay in your memory the longest. But is a friendly smile and a positive attitude enough to convince the person you are talking to? no, It’s not that easy after all. This list shows the most common reasons why someone is sent home early after a job interview:
| Wrong requirement profile, lack of professional competence |
| distant, reserved in the interview |
| no interest in the company / the job position |
| unpleasant first impression |
| speaks negatively about past employers |
| unpunctual (and least of all sees this as a problem) |
| does not admit his own mistakes and weaknesses |
| lies to cover up uncomfortable issues |
| doesn’t let you speak, talks incessantly |
Keep in mind, All these rules also apply to got Selection for Armed Force Jobs.
The subsequent second impression is almost as important. In the conversation, the challenge lies in finding a comfortable middle ground between speaking and listening – neither the candidate nor the employer should conduct a monologue.
However, keep in mind: The probability of being convincing after a bad first impression in an interview is very low.
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