Job Interview: Practice Interview Tips and Techniques

When you get that call, email, or letter inviting you for a job interview, your joy is always cut short by the nervousness that follows. Serious, unsettling questions engulf your mind. What if I fail? What if the interviewer doesn’t think im suitable? Will I underperform? These are all genuine questions. In this blog, we will discuss the right practice interview tips.

After all, this is a life changing moment.  Most of us tend to prepare for the job interview immediately after you get the invitation. This is a good thing because you can prepare with a particular target in sight.

There is another way, however. Interviews are largely similar in a way. The questions the expectations and the methods used are the same. It is possible to practice for a job interview even before you get an invitation. This makes sure that you are ready, and when the time arrives the flow of adrenaline in your system is significantly reduced.

Practice Interview Tips

There are many tips one can use before an interview. I will highlight the few most important ones.

1. Always perform your research

There are numerous things that one needs to research about before you go for a job interview. Information is power, and having it might prove to be the most powerful secret weapon one can have during a job interview. Try to find out everything there is to know about a potential employer, the company, its culture, employees in this company, its negative side as well as the positives. Always yearn to know more about a company you desire to work for even when you have not submitted an application.

So, where do you find the right information about all this?

There are places one can find information on all that is needed. One of them is online. The internet and social media is an amazing place. All you need to do is search for that Facebook page, Instagram profile, or twitter name. Posts from the company will always give you the right information, but the real minefield is the comments section or the customer care section that deals with complaints. There will always be that inevitable question; why should we hire you? These sections give you an overview of the common challenges the company is facing. Solving these challenges become your personal ambition, and when the moment comes, and you get that interview invitation from your dream employer, you feel confident and ready.

2. Keep your papers updated and in order

This is very crucial. We should all develop a habit of reminding ourselves about what is contained in our papers. Papers that need regular updating should be given priority. Every update comes with fresh information. Sometimes you are ambushed by that job application you sent and forgot about. The employer decides to give you a chance and invites you for an interview abruptly. If your papers are not updated, you might end up finding yourself in a very awkward situation and wind up losing that dream job. Practice on how to relay the information on your papers to the interviewer flawlessly.

3. Practice how to answer questions

Knowing the common interview questions and their answers are not enough. Practice how to answer them. Create a conversation in your head on the interview. Have a picture on how you expect the interviewer to ask the questions. Replay this scenario regularly. Have someone to roleplay with on how the interviewers pose their questions. Once you familiarize yourself with the process, the actual day gets easier.

Common Interview Techniques

As stated earlier, the methods of conducting interviews are almost the same in all places. The variations are very few. This makes techniques very common.

• Creating a strong impression within the first 15 minutes

There is a popular belief that the employer decides your suitability for the job within the first 15 minutes of meeting you. They then spend the rest of the interview trying to affirm their decision. Though not necessarily accurate, there is some truth in it. The impression you create immediately after meeting the interviewer can significantly harm or boost your chances of getting the job. The interviewer spends so much keenly observing you immediately after you step inside that room.  Your posture and demeanor make for a great study. There are a few things you can practice even before you get an invitation for a job interview. When in a room with someone in a superior position, sit when you are asked to. Always keep an upright posture.  These might prove to be very beneficial when you go for the interview.

Related: 1 Week After Interview And No Response

• Use nonverbal cues to perfection

Giving the right answers during an interview might not be enough land the job. Sometimes the right candidate is determined based on fine margins. The smile, a firm handshake or eye contact communicate so much to the interviewer. Sometimes people have the belief that you can fake these nonverbal cues and get away with it. With the right interviewer, this might prove to be hard. Practicing these nonverbal cues with people that you interact with can be the only way to produce them naturally during an interview. It is very important to avoid overdoing them. It might convey a message of being nervous. The employer needs a confident individual who is up to the task — sending a message of being nervous harms your chances of getting the job.

• Pick the proper dress code

If you are not comfortable with something, do not wear it. Some of us love to preserve that unique dress or suit for the special interview occasion. Even if it is a brilliant idea, it might have unforeseen negative effects.

Wearing something you are comfortable in boosts your confidence immensely. It might be very embarrassing to keep on checking or having a feel of whatever you are wearing during the interview.

• Always be punctual

If you are ever late for appointments and meetings, there is a great possibility that you will also be late for the job interview. This is a crucial determining factor. There is no excuse for being late when going for a job interview. It sends all the wrong signals and hurts your chances of getting the job greatly.

Common Job Interview Questions & Answers

Below you can find a list of common job interview topics. Each link will direct you to an article regarding the specific topics that discuss commonly asked interview questions. Furthermore, each article discusses why the interviewer asks these questions and how you answer them!

1. Accomplishments
2. Adaptability
3. Admission
4. Behavioral
5. Career Change
6. Career Goals
7. Communication
8. Competency
9. Conflict Resolution
10. Creative Thinking
11. Cultural Fit
12. Customer Service
13. Direct
14. Experience
15. Government
16. Graduate
17. Growth Potential
18. Honesty & Integrity
19. Illegal
20. Inappropriate
21. Job Satisfaction
22. Leadership
23. Management
24. Entry-Level & No experience
25. Performance-Based
26. Personal
27. Prioritization & Time Management
28. Problem-solving
29. Salary
30. Situational & Scenario-based
31. Stress Management
32. Teamwork
33. Telephone Interview
34. Tough
35. Uncomfortable
36. Work Ethic