Four Ways by Author Jeffrey Harvey for Passing Any Interview
Preparation is necessary to pass an interview. No matter what kind, a job interview, college interview, or a STEM interview, doing your homework is essential and decreases anxiety and stress. The more prepared you are, the more confident you are about yourself.
Even a simple Google search can put you in the right direction. Information like areas of interests and expertise, values and goals, key players in the organization, and key roles of the company are just a few aspects that can give one a know-how about the place and company.
Jeffrey Harvey is a professional engineer who has worked in the STEM business for over 25 years and published STEM Secrets for Interviewing, which provides readers with tips and feedback on acing interviews.
He presents four ways of passing any interview.
1. Know the Job Description
The majority of the candidates don’t go through the job description before the interview. They look at the job title and blindly apply. Some may feel the need to check the job description a few minutes before the interview.
Some never do.
Before the interview, make notes on the specific skills that the company needs and prepare whatever questions you can come up with about the role. An interview should be a conversation – not a one-way communication. Instead of answering all the questions, engage with the interviewer. Make sure your questions stick to the job description and demonstrate your interest in the vacancy by convincing them you are the right fit.
2. Link Your Strengths and Personality To Opportunities Within the Company
Try to link your strengths to the company and the role by using keywords that resonate with them. This will show enthusiasm when answering questions about what makes you a good pick. Every interviewer wants a candidate who demonstrates why they would be a suitable part of the team. This even gives fresh candidates priority over experienced candidates.
This connection between your strengths and how they can benefit the company is very important. If built, there is no stopping you from impressing your employer.
3. Answer Questions Relevantly
When responding to interview questions, it is important to address them efficiently. Avoid veering off the topic; it will give the impression that you do not have a clear answer or are struggling to provide one. It may even be perceived as your not having understood the question. Never answer with the infamous I don’t know, because it’s not something the interviewer wants to hear.
Having the ability to answer behavioral-type and problem-solving questions gives you a competitive edge over other candidates. These questions aren’t easy to understand and require a little brainstorming, and the interviewer knows this. What they want to see is how you respond to them.
Stop panicking and think before you speak. Stay calm and focused.
4. Show the Interviewer that You Can Adapt to the Situation
Another trick interviews often use when asking questions such as if you could be a celebrity, who would you be and why?
Here, interviewers want to observe if a candidate can think outside the box. The best candidates approach the question as if there is no box. The answer doesn’t matter here, but how you think, respond, and act toward it matters.
These were a few tips provided by Jeffrey Harvey, and if you want to get into more details, get yourself a copy of STEM Secrets for Interviewing. Master your skills with Harvey’s book and ace whatever interview you sit down for!
