Ace Your Interview Part 2: Tips for a Successful Job Interview as an IT Consultant

In our last blog post a few weeks back, we gave tips for how to prepare for a job interview well in advance. You can click here to go check that one out! In this post, we’ll give tips for a successful job interview, focusing more on the day of the interview. As was the case in the first part of the series, these tips can be applied for getting ready for a job interview as well as a customer interview.

A job interview can be a stressful experience, even if you have prepared for the tough questions in advance. Here are some tangible things you can do to help ease your nerves and be more confident in the interview, to help make your interview a success!

Stay connected

If the interview is conducted virtually, make sure your internet connection is stable and your camera works. Test the meeting link when you receive it. 

Join the meeting from a quiet spot, where outside noise won’t bother you or the people you’re meeting with. 

Stay focused

Having a little downtime before the interview can help you keep calm and focused. Leave your phone out of the room, and give yourself some time to just breathe before the interview. Deep breaths in, longer breaths out. You can even try a breathing exercise or a guided meditation. Even during the interview, if you find yourself being anxious and tense, try to relax your body and breathe a bit deeper. It can help you get a bit more grounded and focus on the situation you’re in.

Showcase your expertise

Prepare to discuss projects you have worked on before. If possible, quantify your achievements and make them tangible. Tell the interviewers about any innovations or improvements you have spearheaded. Give relevant examples. If you work with design, you can even prepare to show some of your projects visually.

Remember: you are in this interview for a reason. Trust yourself and your expertise! 

Preparation can help you feel like this person in your interview! Picture generated with Adobe's Firefly

Do you have any questions?

This question can feel like a trap: what if I don't have any questions, and they think I’m not interested? Usually, that is not the case. In fact, many interviewers understand that the questions you had before the interview might have been answered during the conversation. But if not, this is your chance to ask away! 

However, it is true that asking questions can help demonstrate your interest in the project or the company. You can ask about the company, team, or project, or take the opportunity to ask the interviewer more personal but still work-related and professional questions. For example, you could ask about their experience since joining the company, what their favorite thing about working there is, or something else that gives insight into their day-to-day experience. These kinds of questions not only show your enthusiasm for the opportunity but can also provide you with valuable insight into the company culture. 

Keep calm and carry on!

As the famous British saying goes, try to keep your cool and even if you make a mistake, carry on. For example, if you stumble on your words, just start your sentence again and continue. Making mistakes is a part of life and can even show the interviewer that you’re being genuine and not citing rehearsed sentences that you’ve said a million times in other interviews. It’s ok to be human, after all.

Hopefully these tips can help you prepare and Ace Your Interview!