How to Improve Interview Skills for Job Success
Important Steps to Take after Every Job Interview
Apr 24, 2009
Thank goodness, the job interview is over and done with. Now the job seeker can put down the pen and paper, kick back, and relax on the living room couch while the employer immediately begins the hiring process. After all, the interview went well and the company was highly impressed by the candidate’s credentials. If only finding a job were this easy!
Indeed, looking for a job is a full-time job in and of itself. The work doesn’t stop after the first interview, or the second, or the third. A successful job search requires constant improvement in a number of areas including resume and cover letter writing, interview preparation, interview thank you letters, and job interviewing skills.
Assessing the Job Interview
The job seeker should take a step back and analyze his or her performance after every job interview. This may seem like a lot of work, but it is an important exercise to help eliminate bad interviewing habits and emphasize effective interviewing techniques that will help get the job. Important questions to ask during the job interview assessment include:
- Did the job seeker properly prepare for the interview (anticipating questions from the employer, having a list of questions to ask them, and printing out the resume and the company’s About page from their website)?
- Did the candidate ask the appropriate questions to gauge the employer and the requirements of the position?
- Did the job seeker respond to the employer’s questions effectively and without awkward pauses?
- Did the candidate’s body language give the impression of a future employee who is confident, focused, capable, and ready to roll up the sleeves and get to work?
- Did the job seeker emphasize the close match between his or her skills and the skills required for the position?
- Did the candidate extend a handshake after the interview and ask to be considered for the position?
The candidate may benefit from writing down questions he or she was surprised by during the interview and coming up with a few good responses. It is also a good idea to perform an assessment of answers to the employer’s questions, identify weak areas, and come up with improved answers that are more focused. The candidate should consider asking a friend to act as the employer for a mock interview.
Bottom Line on Improving Interview Skills for Job Success
Bottom line, assessing interviewing skills after every job interview may seem like a lot of work, but it is most definitely worth it. As time goes on, the job seeker becomes increasingly refined in the art of interviewing. And with a good deal of preparation and practice, the job seeker can go into the interview with the kind of confidence and self-assurance employers are looking for.
See related articles, “How to Write a Job Interview Thank You Letter,” “How to Use Proper Body Language to Get the Job,” and “How to Succeed After a Job Interview.”
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