8 ways to improve your chances of getting a job

Published 1:30 am Sunday, October 1, 2017

4 ways to improve your chances of getting a job

You managed to get a job interview. But don’t start celebrating just yet. It’s not enough to get your foot in the door; you also have to make the right impression when you interview. From wearing the right clothes to making eye contact with the hiring manager, small gestures can have a big effect on your career prospects. Here are eight interview tips from the pros to help you land the job and take the next step down the road to success.

Dress the part:An impeccable appearance will boost your confidence, according to Wendy Green, corporate coach and author of “50 Things You Can Do Today to Boost Your Confidence.” Prepare your interview attire days in advance. Also, make sure your outfit is dry cleaned and ready to wear. Dress in a manner that is appropriate for the role for which you are interviewing, ensure that your hair is tidy and clean your fingernails. Keep jewelry, visible tattoos and piercings to a minimum.

Research the company and role: What type of person is the company seeking? What skills should that person have? Do your research about the company and the role you’re seeking before the interview. This will help you come up with questions to ask during the job interview. Lots of free job-hunting apps have great background information for you to use.

Prepare insightful interview questions: It’s important to prepare questions to ask at an interview. Your questions reflect your interest and knowledge. But don’t ask questions that can be easily researched, such as the organizational mission statement. Instead, show interest in the interviewers by asking questions such as “What is your favorite part about working here?” and “What does the typical day-to-day look like for someone in this role?”

Know your interviewers: Find out the names of your interviewers ahead of time and research their areas of expertise. To really knock an interviewer’s socks off, when responding to one participant, refer to another by name. For example, “To follow up on my response to Carol …” Remembering names is a difficult skill to master but one that leaves a lasting impression.

— GOBankingRates.com