How To Win A Job Interview

Acing a job interview requires you to be prepared for this event in more than one way. If you want to shine during this part of the process of getting hired, and actually increase your chances of getting the job by a lot, there are a few major aspects to put on your checklist. This is what you should do:

1. Research the company.

This is a very important aspect of getting a job there. Seeing that you have done your homework will make a very good impression to almost any prospective employer. This shows that you are interested in their company, that you are determined to work there and that you will be an effective and reliable player in their team.

Also, if you can grasp any bit of information regarding the person who is going to interview you, who they are, what they like, what’s their position in the company etc, it could give you  quite a head start. Depending on what you find out on this matter, you can create a more focused battle plan for the job interview. Anyway, to find out more about researching a company for a job interview <— click here.

2. Prepare your answers.

Any of the job interview answers that you give can put you a step farther or closer to the job. That’s why cautiously preparing the best answers to the job interview questions you think you will be asked, is vital. Plus, there are quite a few common job interview questions that almost any interviewers ask. For example, questions like “Why should we hire you?”, “How long do you plan to work here?”, “Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?”, are questions that you probably have had to answer before, during previous job interviews. Make sure you provide only what the interviewer would like to hear. Anyway, find out more about the best job interview answers, here: Job Interview Answers.

3. Prepare your questions.

Not asking your interviewer any questions might leave the impression that you’re not interested enough in that particular company. On the other hand, asking ridiculous questions can also be detrimental for you. That’s why along with the answers for the questions you will be asked, you have to prepare questions of your own. And your questions should be based on the research you have done for the company offering the job. 

4. Polish your image.

The first impression matters, therefore you have to take care of your image before presenting yourself to a job interview. Tie your hair or get a haircut and a clean shave, remove piercings, big earrings, hide tattoos, don’t abuse any perfumes or deodorants, dress well. The picture of you that your prospective employer should get, must be as close as possible to the picture of the ideal employee for the position on the line. 

5. Adjust your body language. 

Last but not least, your body language during a job interview is really important. Regarding this subject, you should know that lack of eye contact, lack of expressivity, lack of any smile, weak handshakes, or excessive hand gestures that accompany your speaking, are aspects that can put an interviewer off. Even if you have a great resume and you are very qualified for the vacant position in a company, you diminish your chances to get hired due to poor body language. So, take care of that. 

If you’re applying for any job not just for a job in retail or in customer service, you have to prepare for whatever job interview questions you think you will be asked. In this case, if applying for a job in customer service, you will be asked at least one of the following questions. 

How long do you plan to work here? 

Obviously, in a job like this people usually come and go quite frequently. You’ll have to consider that the company you’re applying for a job at would want you to occupy that particular position for a longer period. Therefore, your answer should incline towards a longer period, a year or two. However, if you know for sure you won’t work there for too long because you’re going to have to move for example, it’s not a good idea to delude the interviewer and tell a lie. If hired, chances are you’re going to need their recommendation when you leave. 

One of the best job interview answers to this question would be: “I would like to work here for a long term period of time, or at least for as long as there are advancement possibilities.”

“What would you do…?” questions.

Employees in customer service have to be prepared for any situation the day will bring. They have to always think on their feet. Any employer would want to know how you can deal with certain situations, and they will ask you direct questions regarding those certain situations. That’s why you should actually prepare yourself for about any situation that you can be faced with if hired on that particular position. 

So, here are a few “what would you do…?” questions, and the appropriate answers. 

Q: What would you do if a customer gets angry? 

A: I would remain calm an polite. Listen carefully what they have to say. Take notes, if the problem is very detailed. Then I would provide the best solution possible to their problem that is in my power. If the problem goes beyond my responsibility, I would specify that the matter will be taken by the management and should be resolved within the shortest time possible.

Q: What would you do if a customer doesn’t pay?

A: First of all, it may be an honest mistake, and the customer just might come back and pay. Everyone makes mistakes. If it was one of the regular customers, I would charge them next time, or notify my colleagues about it. However, in the worst case scenario, if it was one of those clients that don’t pay, I would note the license plate number and notify the manager. 

Q: What would you do if the credit card machine is offline?

A: Apologize, of course, for the inconvenience and offer the best solution - we also take cash and checks, or there’s an ATM machine nearby.

Math questions.

Especially if you’re going to be handling the cash, you should expect at least one or two basic math job interview questions. However, math questions shouldn’t be of extreme concern. But, in certain cases, the interviewer may be sneaky and throw in a trick question, like:

“You have a bouquet of flowers. All but two are roses, all but two are daisies, and all but two are tulips. How many flowers do you have?”. 

The answer for this question is 3 flowers: 1 tulip, 1 daisy, 1 rose. My point is though that you should be prepared for tricky questions like this.