Tag Archive for: interview tips

10 Tips to Relax and Be Yourself When Interviewing for a Job

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Are you feeling nervous about your upcoming job interview? Don’t worry; you’re not alone! A lot of people feel anxious when they’re in front of a hiring manager. However, it’s important to remember that the interviewer is just a person too, and they want to see the real you; don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through.

In this blog post, we will give you 10 tips on how to relax and be yourself during your next job interview. Follow these tips, and you’ll be sure to impress the hiring manager!

1. Don’t forget to breath

Interviews can be nerve-wracking, especially if it’s your first time, don’t forget to take a deep breath and relax. It’s important to remember that the interviewer wants to get to know you, and they’re not looking to trip you up. They’re not looking to trip you up or catch you off guard. They want to see how you think on your feet and how you handle pressure. So, take a few deep breaths and try to relax. Trust that you have the skills and qualifications they’re looking for, and let your personality shine through.

2. Believe in your skills and abilities

It can be easy to doubt yourself when applying for a job, especially if you’re up against some stiff competition. But it’s important to remember that you are qualified for this position and have something unique to offer the company. So believe in yourself and don’t be afraid to show it! Confidence is an essential quality in any employee, and it will show through in your interactions with potential employers. So even if you’re feeling a bit nervous, try to project confidence in yourself and your abilities. It could make all the difference in landing the job of your dreams.

3. Prepare and do your homework

Going into an interview can be nerve-wracking, but there are some things you can do to prepare ahead of time and help ease your nerves. One of the best things you can do is research the company and the role you’re interviewing for. This way, you’ll know what the interviewer is likely to ask, and you can have some thoughtful answers prepared.

Additionally, it’s a good idea to practice your answers to common interview questions aloud. This will help you get more comfortable speaking about yourself and your qualifications. By taking some time to prepare ahead of time, you’ll be more confident and relaxed during your interview, which will increase your chances of impressing the interviewer and landing the job.

4. Be articulate

When you’re in an interview, the most important thing is to be clear and concise in your communication. The interviewer wants to understand what you’re saying, so make sure to speak slowly and clearly. Avoid using jargon or fancy words that the interviewer might not understand. Instead, focus on speaking clearly and confidently. This will help ensure that the interviewer understands what you’re saying and that you come across as a competent, capable candidate. And if you’re not sure if the interviewer understands what you’re saying, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification.

Remember, the goal is to make a good impression and land the job! So take your time, speak clearly, and be your best self.

5. Be an active listener

It’s important to remember that an interview is a two-way street. While you’re trying to impress the interviewer and sell yourself as the ideal candidate for the job, the interviewer is also trying to get to know you better and determine if you’re a good fit for their company. With that in mind, it’s important to listen to the interviewer and be engaged in the conversation. This is your chance to show that you’re interested in the position and that you’re a good listener. So, pay attention to what the interviewer is saying and ask follow-up questions if needed. By doing so, you’ll not only improve your chances of getting the job, but you’ll also make a good impression on the interviewer.

6. Be honest

In any interview, it is always best to answer questions truthfully. The interviewer isn’t looking for a perfect answer; they want to see how you think and how you would handle certain situations. So, don’t try to memorize a response ahead of time; be honest and authentic. If you don’t know the answer to a question, don’t try to make something up – instead, say that you don’t know, but you would be happy to research the answer and get back to the interviewer later. Be confident in your abilities and be humble and willing to learn. This will show the interviewer that you are both competent and coachable, which are both qualities they are looking for in a potential employee.

7. Don’t forget to ask questions

The question-asking phase of an interview is as vital as the answer phase. By asking questions, you demonstrate to the interviewer that you’re engaged and interested in the role. You can also use this time to know more about the company and see if it’s a good fit for you. When formulating your questions, try to avoid yes or no questions. Instead, ask open-ended questions that will give you more insight into the company culture and the day-to-day responsibilities of the role. This will impress the interviewer and help you determine if this is the right job for you.

8. Be positive

It’s crucial to have the right mindset before you even step foot into the interview room. After all, your state of mind will be evident in your body language and demeanor. This doesn’t mean that you should be fake or forced, but it does mean that you should try to put your best foot forward. The interviewer wants to see that you’re excited about the opportunity and would be a positive addition to the team.

So, take a deep breath and remind yourself to be positive and upbeat throughout the interview. Make sure to smile and exude confidence! Of course, it’s also essential to be prepared to answer questions thoughtfully and articulate why you’re the best candidate for the job. But if you can keep your head up and maintain a positive attitude, you’ll be well on your way to nailing the interview.

9. Follow up with a thank-you note

After you’ve taken the time to craft your resume and prepare for your interviews carefully, the hard work isn’t quite over yet. To make a lasting impression, it’s essential to take a few extra steps once the interview is over. First, send a thank-you note to each person who interviewed you. This is just a nice gesture that shows you appreciate the time they took to meet with you. Plus, it gives you one last chance to reiterate your interest in the position.

Secondly, don’t be afraid to follow up with the interviewer if you haven’t heard back from them within a week or two. This shows that you’re still interested in the role and that you’re willing to be persistent. Taking these extra steps can make the difference in landing your dream job.

10. Plan something for after

The interview is over, and you did great! But now what? While it may be tempting to go home and relax, it’s necessary to have something to look forward to on the same day. So plan something fun for after the interview—something you can look forward to, such as drinks with your friends or a marathon of your favorite show. This will help you stay positive and motivated and keep your mind off the waiting game. Plus, it’ll give you something to talk about with your friends or family when you debrief them about the interview. So go ahead and make plans for that post-interview celebration—you deserve it!

We hope these tips help you relax and be yourself during your next job interview! Just remember that the interviewer is just another person, and they want to see the real you. So take a deep breath, be confident, and show them what you’re made of. Good luck!

If you’re looking for a job that will allow you to relax and be yourself, Award Staffing is the perfect place for you! We specialize in finding the ideal match for both our clients and employees, so you can be confident that you’re making the right decision. Visit our current job openings to find your dream job!

4 Ways of Being Honest in a Job Interview

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Being honest and forthcoming is always the best policy, especially when it comes to a job interview. It can be tempting to try and hide certain aspects of your past or exaggerate your qualifications, but ultimately this will only hurt you in the long run. Honesty is one of the most important qualities employers look for in potential hires. If you’re not honest from the start, your interviewer will likely find out eventually. Being honest shows that you’re comfortable with who you are and that you have nothing to hide.

Here are four ways to be honest and forthcoming in a job interview:

1. Don’t fake it

The interview is an essential part of the hiring process, and it’s vital to be honest about your qualifications and experience. Trying to fake your way through the interview can backfire, and you may not get the job as a result. Instead, be confident in your abilities, and don’t try to exaggerate or embellish your skills. The employer is looking for someone who is a good fit for the position, and being honest about your qualifications will help you stand out from the other candidates. With so much at stake, it’s essential to be thoughtful without exaggerating or embellishing your skills.

2. It’s okay to say, “I don’t know.”

Don’t be afraid to admit if you don’t know the answer to a question. It’s better, to be honest than to try to come up with an answer that you’re not sure about. It may be tempting to try to come up with a response to a question even if you’re not sure about it, but this can backfire. Interviewers can usually tell when someone is fudging the truth, which doesn’t reflect well on you.

If you’re honest and admit that you don’t know the answer to a question, it shows that you’re humble and willing to learn. This is a much better quality in an employee than someone who is dishonest.

3. Seek to understand

If you’re ever in a job interview and you’re not sure about something, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Asking questions shows that you’re interested in the job and that you’re willing to learn. Sometimes employers will ask tough questions to see how you handle pressure, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t have all the answers. Instead, take a deep breath and do your best. If you’re still unsure, it’s better to ask a clarifying question than to give a wrong answer. Employers respect honest candidates who take the time to get things right. So next time you’re in an interview, remember to speak up if you’re unsure about something. It might be the thing that sets you apart from the rest of the candidates.

4. Be yourself

The job search process can be daunting, and it’s natural to want to put your best foot forward when meeting with potential employers. However, it’s important to remember that you are interviewing for a role that is a good fit for your skills and experience. Don’t try to be someone you’re not just to impress the interviewer. Instead, be genuine, and let your personality shine through. The interviewer is looking for someone who will be a good fit for the company, and if you’re not being authentic, you may end up in a job that’s not a good match for you. So relax, be yourself, and let the interviewer get to know the real you.

Honesty is the best policy

Following these tips will help you be more honest and forthcoming in a job interview, which will increase your chances of getting the job. If you’re not truthful from the start, your interviewer is likely to find out eventually. Honesty shows that you’re comfortable with who you are and that you have nothing to hide. This is one of the most important qualities employers look for in potential hires, so be sure to practice being honest during your next interview.

If you’re looking for a job, check out Award Staffing. We can help you find the perfect job for your skills and experience. We have a variety of positions available, so be sure to visit our job board today.

3 Soft Skills to Mention During Your Next Interview

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Most job openings list certain criteria the employer is looking for in an applicant, such as years of experience, level of education and board certification. But many applications also include other features they’re looking for in a candidate like strong work ethic, good communication skills, and excellent teamwork. You know how to prove the first set of criteria, but how do you demonstrate good work ethic on a resume?

Soft skills are the personality traits, habits and attitudes that make for a great employee. Just as you need to be able to talk about how your prior job experience directly relates to the job you’re applying for (your hard skills), you also need to be able to talk about your soft skills and why they would make you good at your job.

During your next interview, help the employer understand why you’re a great candidate by preparing examples demonstrating these three soft skills.

1. Communication

No matter your job, you’ll need good communication skills to do it effectively. If you’re a highly-skilled carpenter but aren’t very good at communicating updates to a client or your manager, your skill may cause more problems for an employer than you’re worth. Whether you need to communicate with your boss, your coworkers or customers, communication is critical.

How to demonstrate: Communication comes in a variety of forms, mainly written, verbal and by phone. Think about previous job experience and when communication played a key role. Maybe you worked in a restaurant and had to accurately communicate with diners and chefs about meals, or perhaps you did some public speaking about your job at local events. Think about experiences you can point to and how your success demonstrates your communication skills.

2. Work ethic

Every employer wants to hire someone with a strong work ethic, even if it isn’t directly mentioned in the job posting. Having a strong work ethic means you come to work on time, focus on your tasks, stay organized and complete your work. This seems like the bare minimum for doing a job well, but employers will want to know they can trust you to do your job.

How to demonstrate: Come prepared with examples of your commitment to your past jobs. Maybe you had a client who needed something done fast and you were able to stay organized and get the project done. Perhaps you’ve earned an award like “Employee of the Month” demonstrating how you go above and beyond in your job. Think of times when your boss was able to depend on you and you delivered.

3. Teamwork

As with communication, even jobs where you’re working solo will likely require some level of teamwork. Managers want to know that you’ll get along well with other employees and that you can work together to achieve a common goal. They don’t want to hire someone who will prevent work from getting done because of personality conflicts.

How to demonstrate: Employers may ask you directly in an interview for examples related to teamwork with prompts like, “Tell me about a time when you and a coworker didn’t see eye to eye but got the job done.” Virtually everyone has a story about not getting along with a coworker, so it shouldn’t be hard to come up with an example and, most importantly, to list what you did to finish the job and what you learned from the experience.

At Award Staffing, we’re here to help you find your future by connecting you with awesome employers. Visit our website today to learn more about how we can help.

5 Reasons Why You Don’t Hear Back After an Interview

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It’s a typical scenario in the job searching process; once the interview is over, it feels like complete silence on the part of the hiring manager, and silence is the last thing you ever want to hear. Sometimes a lack of feedback doesn’t necessarily mean that you didn’t get the job. Here are five typical reasons you don’t hear back after an interview:

1. Other Candidates are Being Interviewed –

Depending on the scheduling, the interviewing process might not be done in a single day, or even in a week. If that job you are interviewing for requires multiple interviews, it can take even longer. In most scenarios, individuals aren’t informed of the results of an interview until all of the interviews are complete, no matter of how well it went.

2. Multiple People Are Involved In Make The Decision-

If you have ever interviewed with a group or had numerous one-on-one interviews, then the hiring decision is most likely made by a group of people, not a single hiring manager. That means that every person interviewing has to provide feedback on each candidate to come to a group consensus. Depending on the number of interviews, and the schedules of every interviewer, this process might take weeks before a final candidate is selected.

3. Work Delays Their Decision –

Most hiring managers also have regular job responsibilities and duties that they must complete in their day-to-day roles. If something urgent happens after your interview is complete, they most likely will turn their attention to that issue – delaying the hiring process.

4. More than One Qualified Candidate –

Sometimes a hiring manager’s decision comes down to more than one qualified candidate, and selecting between more than one great candidate isn’t always easy. If either person could perform the job, fit into the company culture, and provide long-term value – this makes the decision much more challenging.

The hiring and onboarding process is costly to businesses; this puts hiring managers under pressure to make the right decision. When two job candidates seem to be an ideal fit, getting to a point where a confident hiring decision can be made can take longer than most people realize.

5. You Are Not a Final Candidate –

Not every company notifies job candidates that were not selected for a job. While this is often frustrating, it is common practice. Don’t let this keep you down, take some time to reflect on what went well with your interview and then continue your job search.

If you are looking for a new job opportunity in Minnesota, and want the Twin Cities top staffing professionals to help you with your job search, Award Staffing is here to help. Contact us today and see what current job openings we have open today!

Don’t Think Details Matter in an Interview? Think Again

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If you’re interviewing for jobs, you likely have been told the “correct” answers you should give so as not to mess anything up for yourself. However, you might want to rethink some of that advice if you want to stand out in your interviewer’s mind. Here’s how to avoid giving vague interview answers:

Disguising a Strength as a Weakness-

Everyone knows that they’re “supposed to” disguise a strength as a weakness. However, everyone does this, so this answer is no longer relevant! To stand out, try giving a weakness you used to have; you can combat the negative stigma by telling them how you overcame it. This will show that you are honest, self-aware, and willing to try hard to fix your mistakes.

Not Being Specific about the Company-

If you aren’t specific enough about why you want to work at that company, you are hurting yourself in your interview. It’s easy enough to go into an interview and tell the interviewer that you want to work at that job because you want to make the world a better place. It’s harder (but much more impressive) to tell the interviewer that you want to work at that job because you admire the C.E.O. for the work she did while in Africa two years ago. Being specific about the job shows that you care.

Selling Yourself Short-

Don’t be vague about your skills, interests, or work history. Doing so means that you are selling yourself short, which is never good in an interview. You want to be specific with examples about what you are good at, because you may find that your interviewer is interested in using you for multiple skills.

If you are looking for a new job opportunity, whether short-term or long-term, contact Award Staffing. Our team of hiring professional located in Bloomington, Chaska, Crystal, Delano, Maplewood, and Ramsey Minnesota are here to help you find you your next new job!

Interviewing for Jobs in Minnesota – Here is How

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A great interview is just like any other accomplishment; it won’t happen without some real planning and hard work. At Award Staffing we have highlighted some of the interview prep skills that can make the next interview the best.

Review the Job Posting-

This cannot be overstated: the company knows exactly what they are looking for, and they state it clearly on the job posting. Review the job post. List point by point every experience and skill they are seeking. Go over your own experiences and how they make you a great fit, so all of this is fresh in your mind when you walk in the door.

As Dana Leavey puts it, “try to remember what’s most relevant regarding specific clients you’ve worked with, types of projects you’ve worked on, similar companies you’ve worked for, and anything else that’s pertinent to the role.”

Research the Company-

Google is your friend, and so are social media sites like LinkedIn. Do your research before your interview. See what this company has done to get in the news. Find out what you can about the people who work there, what kind of background and skills they bring to the table. Look for points of similarity and points of difference and be ready to discuss them in the interview.

Take The Next Step Beyond Your Resume-

When they ask about information that is on your resume the last thing you want to do is just quote the resume.  Share specific examples that illustrate the information on your resume.  Be prepared to talk and give the interviewer the extra layer of knowledge they are seeking.

Listen to The Interviewer-

Don’t be so focused on what you have to say that you don’t hear what you’re asked. An interview is the first date. You need to pay attention, listen carefully and ask detailed follow-up questions. This makes the interviewer see you as someone who is interested and gives you a chance to find out more about the position.

Don’t Ask for A Job; Offer to Help-

The company didn’t put up a job post because they were hoping to give someone a salary or a cool place to hang out from 9 to 5. They put up a job post because they need to hire a new person. Find out what they need and discuss the ways you can produce the work they require. This attitude can get you out of the interview on just the right note.

As Lam Nguyen says, “it’s then up to you to make your final selling pitch by summarizing what the position is and what you bring to the table. Don’t forget to find out the next steps for the interviewing process. The follow-up item you want to leave in your interviewer’s mind is, “This is the right candidate. I’m ready to make an offer.”

If you’re looking to make your next interview your best one ever, contact Award Staffing. We have offices located in Bloomington, Chaska, Crystal, Delano, Maplewood, and Ramsey Minnesota to help you with your job search today! We will be able to help you find a new job opportunity that lets you take advantage of your abilities and prepare you to turn the interview into your dream offer.

5 Easiest Job Interview Tips + Tricks

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A great job interview is just like any other accomplishment; it won’t happen without some real planning and hard work. At Award Staffing we have highlighted 5 of the easiest job interview prep skills that can make the next interview the best.

1. Review the Job Posting:

This cannot be overstated: the company knows exactly what they are looking for, and they state it clearly on the job posting. Review the job post. List point-by-point every experience and skill they are seeking. Go over your own experiences and how they make you a great fit, so all of this is fresh in your mind when you walk in the door.

As Dana Leavey puts it, “Try to remember what’s most relevant regarding specific clients you’ve worked with, types of projects you’ve worked on, similar companies you’ve worked for, and anything else that’s pertinent to the role.”

2. Research the Company:

Google is your friend, and so are social media sites like LinkedIn. Do your research before your interview. See what this company has done to get in the news. Find out what you can about the people who work there, what kind of background and skills they bring to the table and what they care about. Look for points of similarity and points of difference and be ready to discuss them in the interview.

3. Take The Next Step Beyond Your Resume:

When they ask about information on your resume the last thing you want to do is just quote the resume. Share specific examples that illustrate the information on your resume. Be prepared to talk and give the interviewer the extra layer of knowledge they are seeking.

4. Listen to The Interviewer:

Don’t be so focused on what you have to say that you don’t hear what you’re asked. A job interview is like a first date. You need to pay attention, listen closely and ask follow up questions. This makes the interviewer see you as someone who is interested and gives you a chance to find out more about the position.

5. Don’t Ask for A Job – Offer to Help:

The company didn’t put up a job post because they were hoping to give someone a salary or a cool place to hang out from 9 to 5. They put up a job post because they need to hire the right person for the job opening. Find out what they need and discuss the ways you can produce the work they require. This attitude can get you out of the interview on just the right note. As Lam Nguyen says, “It’s then up to you to make your final selling pitch by summarizing what the position is and what you bring to the table. Don’t forget to find out the next steps for the interviewing process. The follow-up item you want to leave in your interviewer’s mind is, “This is the right candidate. I’m ready to make an offer.”

If you’re looking to make your next job interview your best one ever, contact Award Staffing. We will be able to help you find a new position that lets you take advantage of your abilities and prepare you to turn the job interview into your dream job offer.