Answers to Your Most Important FAQs on Interviews

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4 years ago

You’re all ready to start your upcoming job search. But do you know the answers to the most common FAQs on interviews?!

Answers to Your Most Important FAQs on Interviews

What are the Types of Interviews?

There are three main types of interviews that you will encounter on your job search:

You are probably most familiar with behavioral interview questions, which focus on how you have approached business issues in the past. The idea is that your past actions may inform how you would approach them in the future. They tend to start with, “Tell me a time when….”

For a list of key behavioral interview questions, check out this post.

The second type of interview is a competency-based interview. This type of interview focuses on your skills and technical expertise. In this type of interview, you are tested on whether you have the right skills for the job.

Lastly, another type of interview is a case interview. This is where you’re given a hypothetical business problem and asked how you would approach it. It’s often used for management consulting or strategic roles in which you are responsible for identifying solutions for complex business issues. Here is a great resource for you that explains case interviews and how to approach them.

You may have experienced an interview that combines all these of these types of interview questions. Whenever I interview a candidate, I do use a mix of each of these to ensure I get a complete understanding of the candidate.

2. Does the interview actually matter?

Yes! Your resume and cover letter are both critical, as is your reputation. That said — I guarantee you — that if you bomb the interview, you will not get the job. If you’re not prepared or don’t share your experiences effectively, you will not receive an offer. So, yes, the interview matters.

3. What is the biggest mistake to avoid in an interview?

I’ve seen interview candidates make many, many mistakes in my 15 years as a hiring manager. You can see many of them in this post.

The one I see most often is over-confidence. Yes, it’s important to convey a sense of confidence that you are competent and successful. However, not conveying humility as it relates to what you’d need to learn in a particular role may signal to the interviewer that you may be resistant to feedback. So, be confident but also aware of where you need to grow.

4. I’m shy, am I destined to always do badly in an interview?

No, not at all! We’ve discussed common mistakes introverts make in interviews but I guarantee that introverts and shy people do perform very well in interviews.

That said, shy and introverted interviewees will want to be sure to practice a lot, spend extra focus on ensuring they talk about their contributions and impact effectively, and prepare for small talk.

5. If I mess up during the interview, is it game-over?

Not necessarily! Even after the interview, you still have the chance to write a post-interview thank-you note. You can use this to summarize a strong case that your qualifications are optimal for the role. So, even if you weren’t compelling in person, you can drive home key messages in the follow-up note.

6. What if I have a gap in my resume/career?

You might find yourself with a gap in your work history, either to a job loss or a break. It can make job candidates nervous about how to address this if asked in an interview.

If you have a gap in your experience, you should definitely not try to hide it. Be transparent and recognize that you had a gap (you don’t need to give details as to why).

Then share what you did with that time off to enhance your skills. For example, if you took a few years off after having children, you can describe how you used the time to lead volunteer projects at their preschool which enhanced your planning, budgeting, and communication skills.

If you want to learn more about how to address in your resume, check out our Create a Standout Resume course!

7. What should I wear to the interview?

If you’ve read about what the most powerful women wear, you’ll know the importance of wearing a blazer to look professional and polished! Be sure to wear one!

If you have other FAQs about interviews, email me at MrsTypeA@MrsTypeA.com.

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