By Felix C. Veroya
Graduation season is just around the corner and it is timely to share my experience on how to ace your first job interview. Just like any first-time job seeker, I wish I had these tips before taking that first interview. Here are 10 tips to help you increase your chance of getting that first job.
1. Research the role, company & industry. Do some research by looking carefully at the company website, following their social media accounts and googling them to see if you can find any press coverage or even a company blog.
2. List your skills that are most relevant to the role. Think of skills directly relevant to the job role. Prepare these in advance and read them over and over so it becomes natural during the interview. Check also skills that employers want the most.
3. Prepare your own questions. Here are some questions that you can ask.
- What are the most important qualities for the ideal candidate for this role?
- How does the company help employees with career progression?
- How is the team structured and who would I be reporting to?
4. Wake up early on the morning of your interview. Go for a run or hit the gym to wake up yourself and get those endorphins going. Go for a run or hit the gym to wake up yourself and get those endorphins going. Try to eat a bit of brain food beforehand –a bowl of cereal, some fruit, toast and a cup of tea or coffee. Have a chat with a family member or a friend to loosen yourself up.
5. Plan out the interview day in advance. Choose what you are going to wear at least a couple of days before the interview. Choose what you are going to wear at least a couple of days before the interview. Pack your bag with everything you’ll need the night before.
6. Try to stay calm during your interview. Here are some tips to break your nervousness before your interview.
- Smile and give a firm handshake
- Ask a short icebreaker question when you first arrive
- Think about your posture
- Remember that you’re talking to a professional
- Compose yourself
7. Answer opening interview questions concisely. It is advisable to answer questions in two to three sentences. If asked about yourself, do not give too much details only relevant items to the job you are applying for. Remember, create a positive first impression by being smart in answering the questions.
8. Use examples to answer competency – based questions. Answer not just within the bounds of your academic experience but also relate to life outside it like socio civic works and part time jobs or internships. Use the STAR (Situation – Task – Action – Results) approach to ace these types of questions.
9. Handle difficult interview questions confidently. Answer the question directly (avoid waffling and going off on a tangent). Give clear and tangible examples when you can and show you’ve thought about how your current skills are relevant/transferable to the job. As well as talking about your strengths, highlight that you’re keen to continue learning and improving in a new role.
10. Thank interviewers in a follow-up email or SMS. A follow-up email to thank the employer for seeing you and giving you their time is always a good idea and will keep you at the forefront of their minds. If you haven’t heard back from them in two weeks or more, send an email or phone them up to ask for feedback. Even if you didn’t get the job this time, remember that every interview is a learning experience and you’ll only get better and better at it each time you walk into an interview.
Hope these tips can help you out in getting your first job.
“ Smile because success is just around the corner.” – Felix Veroya
Let’s continue to be #significantlybetter job seekers, together!
Do you have questions about Continuous Improvement, Innovation, Analytics, Sustainability, Lifelong Learning or Industrial Engineering? Get in touch with me through fcveroya@asklexph.com.
