Are you tired of hunting for the right position? Have you been invited to lots of first interviews, but you’ve never gotten the call? You need to improve your interview strategy. Job searching is always more successful when you are a next-level interviewee. We’re here to give you our top three tips on next-level interviewing.

When Small Talk Isn’t So Small

An interviewer chatting about the weather isn’t always trivial. Small talk can actually be an impactful lead-in to your interview. Dismissing any topics, even during small talk, can reveal a stubborn personality or standoffish tendencies. A great interviewee knows exactly how to nail small talk.

It’s all about keeping things simple, making a quick connection, and knowing when to talk and when to listen. Topics should be light, you should be engaging at all times, and be sure to practice active listening. Everyone you come into contact with matters during the interview process, so be sure to show a friendly face to each individual you encounter from the moment you enter the building.

Get On Their Level

One quick way to cement yourself as an energetic and well-suited candidate is to match up with their energy. Whether you’re meeting with the hiring manager or a CEO, you want to show your enthusiasm for the position. Strategically matching the voice level, the speed of speech, and overall energy will show the interviewer you are the right pick. Business owners have told us that some applicants don’t get the job because the candidate didn’t show enough interest or enthusiasm. Mimicking an interviewer is a subtle trick that subconsciously shows them you are both on the same page.

Prep for Scenarios

Any interviewer looking to assess your professional behavior is going to ask specific behavioral interview questions. You need to be ready for these, and the best way to do that is to have scenario answers prepared before you enter the meeting. There are many resources that can help you prep for specific questions that interviewers typically ask. Here are a couple of questions you’ll want to have an answer for:

• How do you handle conflict with your supervisor?
• Can you give us an example of a success in your previous workplace?
• Would you describe a time you experienced stress in your position, and how you handled it?

If you can equip yourself with thoughtful answers before you attend your interview, you’ll be able to keep a cool head and maintain confidence throughout the process.

Find Your Next Job with Davis Staffing – a Top Staffing Agency in Chicago

If you need to find a new opportunity that suits your skills, contact the professionals at Davis Staffing. We employ Chicago’s best candidates in a variety of roles, and can help place you in the perfect position as soon as today! As a top staffing agency in Chicago, we can give you the tools to impress a recruiter, and we can help you find the listings you need access to. Visit our website to learn more.