An interview is your time to shine and let employers know about your experience, abilities and goals. Feeling nervous about the interview process is completely normal, and the best way to calm these nerves is by being prepared. One new approach to ensuring that you stand out from others is via skills matching. In this post, we’ll help you get ready to crush a job interview!
Do your research.
Learn about the company by spending time on its website and social media profiles. Look for third-party content such as stories in the media too. You can learn a lot from these resources, which is valuable in your interview. As you explore what the organization is all about, you gain an understanding of the culture and environment. This research helps you develop questions to ask during the interview.
Another important aspect of this research is that it uncovers clues about the skills and attributes that the company seeks in its employees. You’ll be able to further align your capabilities with what the business needs.
Focus on your achievements.
You don’t need decades of experience to highlight what you’ve accomplished. Any aspect of your career journey can be part of this conversation. Be sure to emphasize the challenges you were able to overcome and the projects that you completed. Depending on where you are in your career, these examples can come from school, internships or previous positions.
Talk about big wins that you feel make you a great candidate for the position, emphasizing specific skills and abilities. This is where the approach of skills matching comes in.
Many employers have adopted skills-based hiring. This method of recruiting aligns skills to job requirements, and companies have begun to care more about your abilities and aptitude than if you have a specific degree. Use this to your advantage if you don’t have the “ideal” education for the industry.
Set aside time for a practice run.
Another great way to calm your nerves is to practice responding to common questions and develop anecdotes that showcase your value. Be sure you’re always tying this back to your skills and the role. You don’t need to rehearse it until it’s perfect because you want it to be natural and fluid. Taking the time for some practice rounds alone or with friends is a must to crush a job interview.
Relax and be kind to yourself.
It’s normal to get anxious about job interviews. Keep in mind that this is just a conversation to see if it’s a mutual fit for you and the company. You’re interviewing them just as much as they’re evaluating you. It may be easier said than done, but try to relax. Do some quick breathing exercises before the call or appointment to settle yourself. And don’t forget to be kind to yourself. No one, even the interviewee, expects you to be perfect.
Keep developing your skills and know which ones are in demand.
Finally, an excellent piece of advice you’ll appreciate throughout your career journey is to keep developing the skills that will lead to your work-life goals.
Skills development directly ties to you having more control over your career path and navigating your way with less friction. If you don’t take these crucial steps and develop a plan of action, your career uncertainty will take its toll on you, which could cause depression and anxiety. Your professional life impacts your emotional well-being. So, make a plan, develop the skills and set that goal.
The skills you need and those that will set you up for success may change over time. The skills that are in demand will change as well. All these things pave your journey to finding fulfillment professionally and personally.
Crush your job interview with pepelwerk!
Helping you along the way is the purpose of pepelwerk. We designed our app to help you reach your earning, learning and working goals.
You’ll appreciate this new way of finding jobs. There are no resumes or applications! Instead, the platform leverages artificial intelligence to match people to jobs. You can also take assessments to find the right career path, get advice from advisors and mentors, and access learning opportunities.
Get started today by creating an account.
