Ken Termini is a Professional Development Consultant who helps college students use their academic leadership experience to benefit their professional careers. During the interview process, college graduates can usually show prospective employers that they deserve a management or organizational leadership position. Specific questions should be mastered if you want to ace your first interview for an entry-level managerial position.
10 Tips to Ace Your First Interview
Arrive early and dress professionally.
More and more companies opt for remote interviewing procedures in the early stages of the selection process. Whether you have a phone or in-person interview, you must dress appropriately for the job you are applying for. This means a shirt and tie for men, and for women, a nice blouse or professional dress, a neat hairstyle, and limited makeup.
Analyze the entire job description.
Ken Termini feels it is essential to become entirely comfortable with the specific job roles. This way, an applicant will be prepared to discuss how their experience or education is perfect for fulfilling those duties, and it also provides topics that the applicant can use for a Q&A with the employer.
Research the company’s background.
The best interview is one in which you can demonstrate your knowledge about the company. You should know about its products or services but also be familiar with its executive leadership, company culture, and industry position or financial health.
Practice standard interview questions.
The more you practice for a job interview, the more comfortable and confident you will be. Practice alone, naturally talking about yourself and discussing your skills, education, and/or experience. This is also a good time to nail down your posture, body language, and tone of voice—all of which should be proper but relaxed instead of stiff or forced.
Role-play before the interview
Ken Termini suggests that after you’ve practiced alone, ask a friend or family member to lead a few interview sessions. The internet is an excellent resource for obtaining potential questions for a supervisory, managerial, or other business-type job interview. This way, you can practice responding to the most commonly asked questions.
Bring copies of your resume.
If you’re at home or on-site, keep your resume in front of you to prevent stumbling over dates and job duties. Also, if there are gaps in your employment background or educational journey, be prepared to explain why. Employers view those who arrive for an interview without a resume as unprepared – even if you’ve sent a resume previously.
Have examples of relevant experience
Also, having your resume gives you a great way to jog your memory so you can talk about the job position and dates, your duties, and how you helped your department accomplish its daily operations. Remember to keep the conversation positive, refraining from discussing a negative experience or difficult coworkers.
Be ready for personal questions.
Personal questions about one’s life, extracurricular activities, and personal goals are typical in follow-up interviews. Be ready to show that you are well-rounded with hobbies or interests outside the work realm. Be prepared for the question that trips up many novice interviewees, such as “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” or “Describe a time you had to overcome a challenge.”
Ask thoughtful questions
An interviewer will ask if you have any questions. This is not the time to politely decline. Ask about duties associated with the position, opportunities for career growth, and what projects the department is currently working on.
Understand the salary and benefits.
Always ask about the salary range and any benefits or bonuses included with your pay. Refrain from asking when payday is. This question is considered trivial and makes it seem like you’re mainly looking for pay rather than a position. Also, be clear about any probational periods, retirement options, and the company’s healthcare plan.
Ken Termini provided one-on-one interview mentoring through a business he had founded called Career Launch Consulting (CLC). Today, Ken has worked with Lambda Chi Alpha – an international fraternity to develop new content in this area and plans to revive CLC by offering content that national organizations can incorporate into their annual student leadership meetings.
