Tips for a job interview

The interview day has arrived: you’ve prepared your resume, carefully chosen the clothes you’re going to wear, paid attention to your body language, and now it’s time for the interview questions. So, how do I respond? ... I don’t know much about this topic, I had issues in my previous job, gaps in my work experience, and I haven’t held stable jobs. These are some of the concerns that come to mind when you have to face a job interview. How do you deal with these types of questions, which are often tricky to answer during an interview? In today’s article, we’ll give you some tips to help you address these kinds of questions in a job interview.

For a successful interview, it’s important to understand the job description correctly. You must be very clear that job descriptions reflect the company’s talent needs. Similarly, it’s essential to recognize that you can be the solution to these talent or job needs.

Keep in mind that most interviewers or Talent Acquisition professionals use a methodology called STAR in interviews. Therefore, it’s important to research and practice your interview using this approach. Likewise, traditional companies use another method known as competency-based interviews, so I encourage you to do a mock interview with qualitative feedback from an expert or career coach.

Here are some of the concerns you may face in a job interview:

1. You find it difficult to talk about the reasons why you left your previous job

• There’s no need to go into details. Your answers should be brief, concise, and to the point. 

• Don’t speak negatively about your former employer, colleagues, or job in general. 

• One of the best ways to handle this topic is to focus on your plans and projects for the future. Align your decisions with your professional and personal development, as well as the interests of your potential future employer. 

• Some of the most common and valid reasons for leaving a company are company restructuring, relocation, or seeking personal and professional growth because your current company doesn’t offer further development opportunities.

2. The position you're applying for requires certain technical skills, and you're not sure you can answer all the questions

• It’s impossible to know everything, and it's okay not to know something. The key to answering these questions is in how you respond and the attitude you display. 

• When you hear the question, don’t panic. Breathe and take your time to think of a measured response. 

• Instead of simply saying “I don’t know,” try phrases like: “...This topic is not my strong suit, but with my experience, I can commit to getting up to speed on this quickly and delivering the best service to the company…” or “I don’t have experience using this tool, but I’m committed to training myself as soon as possible.” 

• Stay optimistic, focus on highlighting your strongest skills, such as problem-solving, and your eagerness to learn and be a part of the company.

Just like in life, our career paths are not always a straight line. There will be ups and downs, but the important thing is to learn from the experience and overcome all situations, coming out stronger. Additionally, the key to a successful interview is how we communicate effectively and assertively with the interviewer and the confidence we project to our future employer. Before the interview, practice your responses to potential questions you know may come up, and walk into that opportunity with optimism and confidence!