The dreaded job interview. It’s the ultimate test of your professional character. And like any test, in order to achieve the best results, you should probably do some studying. Being socially adept and well-spoken only gets you so far. Doing an interview the right way requires preparation, research, and practice to perfect.
And while this is so, many articles you find on the web are written by people who already have had established careers and experience for decades. But what about us, the millennials? To get the best advice about what to do for our generation, you should probably follow some people who’ve been there and have done it.
Here are the top 10 interview preparation tips from millennials.
“We are no longer in an age where there’s one simple dress code. Your attire depends on the organization itself, as well as the career.” – Michelle Ioannou
If you’re not sure how to dress on that interview, checking out this simple guide will give you some ideas on what you should wear on that crucial day. Ioannou breaks down your dress code into different industries, and stresses the fact that dressing the part plays a big role on first impressions.
One of the most important steps before you get an in-person interview is that dreaded phone screen. Jay Balfour gives you some crucial advice on how to handle that phone call so you can go onto the next steps in the hiring process.
Ryan Kahn shows us the importance of self marketing in today’s digital world. Your digital image is most likely the first thing employers will see, so it’s important to take the initiative to market and brand yourself. You can seamlessly apply talking about yourself to talking about your skills to a potential employer.
“No one actually met Jenny Foss the Human that day; they met her awkward alter ego, Jenny Foss the Robot.” – Jenny Foss
While I always stress preparation and research, some people do take it to an extreme. Over-preparation and building unneeded anxiety can also derail your efforts. Foss gives some tips on how you can balance preparation with confidence in order to nail that interview.
“This means that the day before your interview, your outfit should be picked out and cleaned, your resume should be updated and printed, and you should already know the route you will be traveling.” – Devon Karbowski
Nothing is more stressful than having to rush right before your interview because you forgot some of the crucial things that are needed for every interview. This tiny piece of advice will save you from being late, and reduce the amount of stress the day of.
The shameless self-promotion. This gets on the list because behavioral interview questions are so prevalent in so many industries that it’s important that you understand them. For some, the questions are no-brainers, but for those who are often confused on this portion of an interview, these tips are crucial.
“It’s important to know that during an interview, there are certain questions an employer cannot ask. In fact, it’s illegal to do so.” – Kristina Brandt
You should always know your rights, especially when it comes to employment. This is unique to preparation as it doesn’t have so much to do with landing the job, but knowing your legal rights on a job interview. You need to know what questions you aren’t obligated to answer, and whether an employer is doing something illegal by asking you certain questions.
“Even if the market is tough right now, it’s very likely there’s something you’re doing—or not doing—to lessen your chances of getting hired.” – Jayson Demers
If you’ve been on a bunch of interviews but never got called back to fill the job, there’s a good chance you are doing something very wrong. Read these tips by millennial Jayson Demers to get a better idea of what you might be doing wrong on those interviews.
2. The New Secrets to Rocking Your Skype Interview
“If you’re going to be doing a lot of interviewing—or really want to make an impression at a high-stakes meeting—consider creating a mini-studio at your place. “ – Scott Dockweiler
As everything goes digital, it’ll be more common for your first interview to be over Skype. It’s a cheap and quick way to allow an employer to see how you are, without having to meet in person. This becomes especially useful if you are located far away from the employer. Scott Dockweiler gives some awesome tips on things you should do to make sure that your digital interview goes over smoothly.
“After the initial introductions have been made, solidify your stellar first impression by making a connection with the interviewer. It doesn’t have to be something big—just a commonality that will get your foot in the door and start your conversation out on a this-just-might-work kind of vibe.” – Katie Douthwaite Wolf
This is a key aspect of an interview that many people forget. The interviewer sitting across from you is a person, just like you, and you need to be able to connect with them in order to stand out above everyone else. Many times candidates are too wrapped up in the questions and the environment that they forget that they are merely having a conversation with a person.
If you’re a millennial who fears the next interview, many of these tips will be invaluable to you. Take time to learn from other peoples’ past mistakes and have a sound strategy when going in on that interview. Preparation lets you avoid instant failure.
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