By Jesse Adame, student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, as part of Heather Nelson’s Service Learning
class.

 

 

Before the Interview

 

Research the Company

The interviewer may want to know what you think about the company and its position in their industry. That is why it’s important to research the company before the interview. In addition, it will help you find out what values the company appreciates the most.

Clarify Your Selling Points

Walk into your job interview with three to four reasons or “selling points” why you think you are the perfect candidate for the job. After researching the company, you should be able to pick your selling points that you believe that the company is looking for. Make sure to make it clear to the interviewer that you are a great candidate for the company and the role available.

Prepare for Common Interview Questions

Interviewers will interview many people and they ask questions to weed out candidates that do not fit in the role. Before your interview, put yourself in the interviewer’s position and think of questions that you would ask. You can Google commonly asked interview questions to get more ideas. Then you can prepare questions for these questions so that you are prepared. Have a friend or family member role play with you and ask these questions. Practice, practice, practice.

Dress Right for the Job

First impressions at job interviews are everything. A good rule of thumb is to dress up just as if you were working in the position you are interviewing for. Quite often, most job interviews call for business attire. Gum and excessive jewelry are some things to avoid bringing to a job interview.

Update and Print a Resume

Before the interview, look over your resume and update anything that has become outdated. Bring your resume will show the interviewer that you are prepared and responsible. If your interviewer references specific parts of your resume, you will be able to follow along with a copy of your own. Make sure to print out several copies because you never know if multiple people would like to learn more about you.

 

 

During the interview

 

First Impressions are Key

Within moments, the interviewer is going to form a first impression of you. Arrive to the job interview early so that you can find the location of your interview. Enter the room smiling and confident and make sure to acknowledge your interviewer and anyone else in the room. The interviewer is searching for someone that could work well with others. Make sure that you are kind to everyone you encounter including the receptionist.

Make Your Selling Points Clear

The interview has officially begun. Listen to the interviewer and make sure to understand the question they are asking. Remember the selling points you picked out before the interview. Try your best to convey these reasons why you should be hire. All the practice before the interview is paying off.

 

 

After the Interview

 

Ask About the Next Steps

Asking the interviewer about the next steps in the interview process will show your interest for the job position. If you forget to ask at the end of interview, you can send an email to the HR department or interviewer.

Send a Thank You Note

It is polite and professional to thank the interviewer after the interview. On top of being polite and professional, it is a great way to express interest in the job position. You can send this note through email or paper. Send a customized email to each person that you talked to in the interview process.

Do Not Give Up

Do not get comfortable after you get one or two interviews. Continue to push through and apply to more job positions. Go to each job interview that you get and apply these techniques. You will get better with practice. In the end, it will benefit you to have multiple job offers to choose from.

 

 

References

Career Sidekick, Wise Bread, Experis

About Omaha Skills Connection:

Omaha Skills Connection is a 501c3 non-profit organization located in Omaha, Nebraska established as a result of the post pandemic era to help bridge the skills gap between education, technology and today’s workforce. Omaha needs an educated, flexible and dynamic workforce in today’s knowledge based economy.  OSC connects talent to opportunity, modernizing employee development for today’s workforce.

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