It is a tough feat to interview for companies that are 800+ miles away. How do you even prepare for those types of interviews? That is the same question I had a few months ago when I started submitting my applications. In this post I invite you to take from my interview experiences and learn a thing or two as I did during this long process.
I lived in Kansas City during my years at college and while I loved Kansas City I felt my place was closer to home, closer to my family. So I began my job search around December by applying for positions in Minneapolis, Fargo, and Bismarck. For the first few months I didn't get many responses to my applications. Even though that was rough, I knew that my application would get looked at more seriously towards March and April. Throughout the spring semester I was able to practice my interview skills over the phone since I wasn't able to make it to first round interviews in person. I admit I wasn't very good at first, but I learned how to present myself over the phone more accurately after the first few interviews. So what exactly did I learn over the past few months?
Do Your Research
You all have probably learned this one by now, but it really does help. Do your research on the company. What all do they do? Are they involved in the community? Do they have benefits? How big or small are they? What does the position you applied for entail? The research will better prepare you for any questions they ask you about their company. It'll also help you figure out what your role in the company will be and how you will fit into it.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Practices makes perfect. While we have all been taught this phrase throughout our lives, especially pertaining to sports, it does help to practice for interviews. What I found helpful was to write out questions I thought the interviewers would ask and answer them in bullet points to make sure I touched on the main subjects. I also had this out during my phone interviews. They didn't always have the same questions I had written down but I usually found a way to work in my answers in a different way. At first my interviews were rough but I took each interview as practice and eventually I got better at talking about myself and how I could fit into the company.
Smile, It Looks Good & Sounds Good
Believe it or not when you smile it does change your voice and the interviewers can often hear your smile through the phone. It will let them know that you are enthusiastic about the interview and the job opportunity.
Ask Questions
Always ask questions. I have learned this shows that you are really interested in the company. Some interviewers are even impressed when I ask them questions. My three go to questions are:
Why do you like working at XYZ Company?
How will you determine success for this position?
Is there room for advancement with this position?
Along with these questions I also asked questions that pertain to the discussion we've had. Doing this helps you understand the company a bit better as well as understand their culture. I love learning about a company's culture because I know I work best in collaborative, family-like companies. When interviewers answer the question "Why do you like working for XYZ Company?" I am able to determine if I would be able to fit in and enjoy working there.
Not only did these tips prepare me for phone interviews but they also helped me prepare for in person interviews. By the time I actually was able to do an in person interview I knew how to convey my personality and my experiences well enough that I was no longer nervous for the interviews. The many phone interviews I had helped me land a wonderful opportunity working for an engineering firm. Armed with these tips you will be able to kick butt in interviews and let your personality really shine. If there is one thing to leave you with here, as cliche as it is, it is to remind you that practice makes perfect!
Do you have any tips for phone interviews or in person interviews? Comment your experiences and thoughts below!
I lived in Kansas City during my years at college and while I loved Kansas City I felt my place was closer to home, closer to my family. So I began my job search around December by applying for positions in Minneapolis, Fargo, and Bismarck. For the first few months I didn't get many responses to my applications. Even though that was rough, I knew that my application would get looked at more seriously towards March and April. Throughout the spring semester I was able to practice my interview skills over the phone since I wasn't able to make it to first round interviews in person. I admit I wasn't very good at first, but I learned how to present myself over the phone more accurately after the first few interviews. So what exactly did I learn over the past few months?
Do Your Research
You all have probably learned this one by now, but it really does help. Do your research on the company. What all do they do? Are they involved in the community? Do they have benefits? How big or small are they? What does the position you applied for entail? The research will better prepare you for any questions they ask you about their company. It'll also help you figure out what your role in the company will be and how you will fit into it.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Practices makes perfect. While we have all been taught this phrase throughout our lives, especially pertaining to sports, it does help to practice for interviews. What I found helpful was to write out questions I thought the interviewers would ask and answer them in bullet points to make sure I touched on the main subjects. I also had this out during my phone interviews. They didn't always have the same questions I had written down but I usually found a way to work in my answers in a different way. At first my interviews were rough but I took each interview as practice and eventually I got better at talking about myself and how I could fit into the company.
Smile, It Looks Good & Sounds Good
Believe it or not when you smile it does change your voice and the interviewers can often hear your smile through the phone. It will let them know that you are enthusiastic about the interview and the job opportunity.
Ask Questions
Always ask questions. I have learned this shows that you are really interested in the company. Some interviewers are even impressed when I ask them questions. My three go to questions are:
Why do you like working at XYZ Company?
How will you determine success for this position?
Is there room for advancement with this position?
Along with these questions I also asked questions that pertain to the discussion we've had. Doing this helps you understand the company a bit better as well as understand their culture. I love learning about a company's culture because I know I work best in collaborative, family-like companies. When interviewers answer the question "Why do you like working for XYZ Company?" I am able to determine if I would be able to fit in and enjoy working there.
Not only did these tips prepare me for phone interviews but they also helped me prepare for in person interviews. By the time I actually was able to do an in person interview I knew how to convey my personality and my experiences well enough that I was no longer nervous for the interviews. The many phone interviews I had helped me land a wonderful opportunity working for an engineering firm. Armed with these tips you will be able to kick butt in interviews and let your personality really shine. If there is one thing to leave you with here, as cliche as it is, it is to remind you that practice makes perfect!
Do you have any tips for phone interviews or in person interviews? Comment your experiences and thoughts below!