Interviews are incredibly stressful, but it is important to remember that interviews are all about selling yourself to a potential employer and no one knows you better than you know yourself. Armed with that knowledge and these best practices, you can have a successful interview.
Conduct Thorough Research On The Employer
Always spend time researching a potential employer before an interview. Make sure you understand exactly what they do, what they are known for, what the market has said about them and how their work compares to relevant industry data and trends.
Practice Important And Common Questions
To put your best foot forward, you need to be relaxed and confident during your interview. The best way to achieve that is s to practice answering common interview questions like:
- Why do you want to work here?
- What do you know about us?
- What is your greatest strength?
- What is your biggest weakness?
- Tell me about a conflict you’ve had with a coworker. What was the outcome?
Prepare Thoughtful Questions of Your Own
The questions you ask the interviewer can be just as important as the answers you give. Thoughtful questions indicate that you are interested in the job and can reinforce your fitness for the role. Consider questions like:
- What types of engineers succeed here?
- Why is this role currently open?
- What is the management style of my direct supervisor?
- What are the expectations of the new hire for the first 30, 60 and 90 days?
Position Yourself As The Ideal Candidate
You know that you are a great candidate but you have to illustrate that to the interviewer and you can do that by using verifiable anecdotes and real evidence of your value. When answering questions, make sure to highlight the skills and experience the company is looking for as stated in the job description and, whenever possible, use quantifiable and verifiable data to prove that you truly are the right engineer for the job.
Ask About Next Steps
You always want to end the interview by asking the hiring manager what comes next. A great way to do that is to ask whether they have any objections based on what they have heard from you or if they require any further information from you. Then, ask about the timeline for the next step, and if you’re feeling bold, ask for the job directly.
Are You Looking For A New Engineering Job?
If you are an engineer seeking new opportunities to grow your career and you’re ready to work with a professional recruiter, contact the engineering recruiting experts at Selectek today.
