If you’re in the process of looking for work, you may not be a stranger to the face-to-face (or zoom) job interview.

However, regardless of how well you may present on your resume, it is the impression that you leave on the interviewer that can be the critical determining factor in whether or not you get hired. Being unprepared can be just as

To avoid feeling as though you cannot proceed past the interview phase and become a part of the workforce, here are some job interview tips you can employ.

Figure Out What The Employer Is Looking For

If you’ve applied for a job and made it through to the interview stage, it’s pretty obvious that you have something that the employer is looking for. Prior to the interview, go back to the original job description, and review it to make sure you understand what they are looking for specifically. Align your competencies with what they have listed as necessary to the job.

Narrowing it down further can help you address whether or not there may be criteria missing that they have outlined and if so, determine whether or not you can make up for that lacking point. If they are after someone with video-editing skills that you currently lack, for example, is there a way that you can learn that and convey it to your potential employers in the interview?

Build Stories Around The Skills/Experiences They’re Looking For

It’s all well and good to write that you have a particular skill on your resume, or that you worked previously at a certain company, but what employers are looking for is examples of how you’ve employed that skill, or what that experience that you’ve listed has taught you.

If, for example, you were applying for a receptionist role and had listed that you had worked in a jewelry store as an attendant – rather than simply list out your skill of customer service and interaction to the interviewer, you could give them an example of how you employed that skill in a situation that resulted in a positive outcome.

Practice Your Stories And What You’re Going To Say

Rehearsing your job interview can be just as useful to you as a well-crafted resume when getting hired for a position. Try practicing potential questions with a friend, and answer them as you would in a regular job interview. Doing so can help prompt your memory when faced with similar questions, and prevent you from freezing up during the actual interview.

Research The People Who Will Interview You

It’s important to conduct research into the company/organisation that you’ve been offered an interview with, beyond a quick Google search on your phone. Check out the official website to learn more about what they offer in terms of services and products, view their social media, and if possible, have a look at their current and past employees on LinkedIn.

Doing so gives you insight as to who they have employed previously, and what their experience was. Don’t overstep though – sending a message to an employee about what it’s like working for the company might seem like a good idea, but could be construed as intrusive. Use common sense when it comes to researching.