Insights / Career Advice
10 Ways to Be the Perfect Candidate
Practical interview tips covering research, attire, questions to ask, and etiquette to help job seekers stand out as strong candidates.
Research the company and interviewer beforehand, dress professionally, and prepare thoughtful answers and questions that reveal your character. Make eye contact, avoid interrupting, and show genuine interest through actions like requesting a tour. At the end, ask about next steps and restate your interest. If working with a staffing agency, communicate only through your agency representative, not the hiring company directly.
Overview
Have as much knowledge about the company and interviewer as you can find. Make sure you understand the company culture. If possible, work a comment about the company into the greeting. It is okay to say something like, “When I walked into the building, I could sense a positive vibe.”
Be ready with answers to questions that may be more creative than the usual milk toast of “where do you see yourself in five years?” An interviewer wants to know how you think and who you truly are.
Ask for a tour of the company. Be respectful and curious. Shake hands and ask questions. Show you are interested.
If you share a meal, put on your best manners. Show consideration of others. Try to keep the conversation flowing.
Put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes. Think of why certain questions are asked and what the interviewer might hope to hear. For example, when an interviewer says, “Tell me about yourself?” she will listen for your behavioral competencies and confidence. The smart reply is to succinctly tell of achievements that will set the tone for the interview.
Ask the right questions, ones that give you the chance to reveal your style and character, such as: “I value working with team members, but I have to admit I sometimes like to take the lead, too. Will there be opportunities for both these roles in this position?”
Wear appropriate attire for the interview. Look polished and professional regardless of how the culture says is office attire. The right appearance suggests you care about the impression you wish to make.
Be certain to make eye contact when you speak and don’t interrupt the interviewer even if you think you know what he/she is going to ask.
At the conclusion of the interview, ask about next steps and reiterate that you want the job.
If an agency is submitting you as a candidate, make sure to work only with the agency representative. Do not contact the hiring company directly as this may put your results in jeopardy; it tends to show disrespect and other negative traits.
Frequently asked
How can I show I've researched a company before an interview?
Have knowledge about the company and interviewer, understand the company culture, and work a genuine observation into your greeting, such as noting a positive vibe you sensed when walking into the building.
What should I do if a staffing agency submitted me as a candidate?
Work only with the agency representative and do not contact the hiring company directly. Doing so may jeopardize your results, as it can appear disrespectful and show other negative traits to the employer.
What should I do at the end of a job interview?
Ask about next steps in the hiring process and reiterate that you want the job. This shows continued interest and helps clarify what to expect moving forward.
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