Created by CakeResumeBefore starting to prepare for a job interview, you need to know what type of interview it is so that you can be well-prepared. There are many types of interviews that serve different scenarios, depending on what employers are looking to assess such as behavioral interview, case interview, competency-based interview, group interview, panel interview, etc. In this article, we'll take a closer look at walk-in interviews, which are open to the public as part of events like a hiring event or a job fair. By understanding how it works as well as what to wear to an open interview, you might find yourself getting hired on the spot.Table of Contents:What Is an Open Interview?How Do Open Interviews Work?What to Bring to an Open Interview?5 Open Interview TipsKey TakeawaysWhat Is an Open Interview?An open interview, aka a walk-in job interview, takes place when a candidate meets with the hiring manager without having to go through a formal selection process which typically include ones that the appointments need to be made. However, you may need to wait for your turn, as in an open interview, there are other candidates also attending for the same role. In general, employers like this type of job interview because they can easily tell whether or not you’re interested in this job. They can also get to know “the real you” quickly, not just the professional side revealed through the usual application. Interviews on the spot are especially ideal for mass hiring such as hiring for salesmen or call center associates. As a candidate, you will likely feel less stress when joining a walk-in interview compared to other interview types. Especially for those with limited or no work experience, it's hard for you to compete with experienced professionals if you all go through a formal recruitment process.How Do Open Interviews Work?The process of open interviews is simple: all of the applicants who’re interested in the same job will show up at the same time, place, and get interviewed on the spot. The company will schedule one at a specific date and time. Applicants can bring their resumes, cover letters, or portfolios with them on that day. Just like an informal meet-and-greet session, walk-in interviews are quite brief and can take place either in a group or individually. After that, ideal candidates may be offered the job or proceed to a second interview at a later date.Two most common scenarios in interviewing on the spot include: During a block of time: Walk-in interviews are held for seasonal employment or by companies looking to fill multiple vacancies of the same role at once.At a hiring event: This event is a special opportunity for you to meet employers face to face as they are in town for a short period of time, specifically to hire. They normally specify what they expect from you during open interviews prior to the event date such as:How early should you show up for the interview?What to wear to the open interviewWhat documents will you need to show hiring managers?What to Bring to an Open Interview?Whether or not it's required to present necessary documents to employers, it's highly recommended to do so in a walk-in interview. This is to help employers gain a clearer picture and ensure the accuracy of the information you’ve presented, while also evaluating if you're an ideal candidate. Also, aside from a pen and notepad for taking notes, the following are the important documents you must bring with you to the open interview.Resume/CVServing as job application documents, both resume and CV is a tool to briefly introduce who you are, summarize your work experience, and highlight your professional skills. What to include in a resume/CV: Personal information (full name, phone number, email address, etc.)Career goals personal statementEmployment historyEducationTechnical soft skillsOthers (certifications, languages, references, etc.) Note that in some countries like the U.S. and Canada, CVs are used only for academic applications such as academic jobs and research fellowships. Check out this article for more info! Having a top-notch resume/CV, using the best free resume builder, will help you catch up on the competition and secure the job, especially when you don't have a lot of time to express yourself during a walk-in interview. However, the question is how to make it stand out among a bunch of applicants showing up on that day. Here are 5 tips to increase your chances of getting hired on the spot with a strong resume/CV: Add figures and resultsInclude some endorsementsPut your hard skills into focusExclude irrelevant information like personal details and part-time jobsAvoid black-and-white design with only text📚Further reading:Resume Format Guideline: 10+ Resume Formats And Free Templates To DownloadCover letter Even though a cover letter is not always required to send along with a resume/CV, you should consider submitting them together. A resume/CV states the facts - who, what, when, and how, whereas a cover letter provides additional information to impress employers better, including: Why are you interested in this job?What do you know about the company?How have you acquired substantial knowledge, experience, and skills during your career?How will these help you in the new role?What value will you bring to the potential employer? Normally, you will need to tailor your cover letter for the specific job, but it’s impossible to do so prior to an open interview. Don’t panic - a compelling self introduction and summary of your qualifications will pique the hiring manager’s interest from the beginning. Portfolio There are certain careers where you will likely be asked to present a portfolio, such as: ArtistModelPhotographerWriter / Content CreatorGraphic DesignerWebsite DesignerInterior DesignerVideographerUX/UI DesignerFashion Designer A professional portfolio is an excellent way to showcase your works to employers while demonstrating what you are capable of. It’s recommended to prepare both a hard copy and a digital file to present in your open interview. Have a hard time crafting one? Let we be your portfolio maker’s best friend. Additional documents To support your candidacy, consider showing any of the following documents if you have one: Reference letter from previous employersCertificateWork samplesEducational transcripts, if you're looking for internshipsLetter of recommendation from your professor diploma, if you're a fresh graduate💡Pro tip:For all documents mentioned above, you should bring multiple copies instead of showing the digital files at your walk-in interview. If hiring managers are interested in knowing you more, they may want to keep one for further reviews.5 Open Interview TipsEach type of job interview requires different tactics and strategies. We've put together a list of useful tips for nailing multiple types of traditional interviews in this article. Now, let's dig deeper into acing your open interview at the next job fair! 1. Dress properly First impressions matter. There are many studies indicating that your appearance says more about you than you can imagine. Though walk-in interviews are more casual, keep in mind that what to wear to an open interview should present yourself in a professional manner and leave a good first impression. In general, appropriate attire for job interviews includes nice pants and a plain shirt with a collar for men. Showing up in a suit is not quite a good idea for such casual events as open interviews.For women, be careful with your makeup, jewelry, and strong perfumes. You’re at a hiring event, not a concert or festival. 📚Further reading:What to Wear to Job Interviews - Full Guide [+ examples]2. Show up early for the walk-in interview For all types of job interviews, you should be there 10-15 minutes before the start time according to career experts. Punctuality is one of the keys in open interviews because there's a line of applicants waiting to be interviewed by hiring managers. Therefore, you should arrive as early as you can. 3. Research the company Doing so will help you learn about what the company does and what they’re seeking in a candidate. Showing your knowledge about this part can also make you stand out from the crowd. Nowadays, you can find any information regarding the company on Google. Also, company websites and social media profiles are the go-to platforms to get an insight into their day-to-day operations and organizational culture. 4. Prepare for common interview questions Interviews on the spot may be shorter than traditional interviews and it is very likely that you’ll be asked common interview questions such as: Tell me a little bit about yourself.What are your greatest strengths?Where do you see yourself in five years?What about this role interests you?Why should we hire you? 💡Pro tip:Before attending an open interview, practicing your answer to common interview questions can make you feel more confident and comfortable during an actual interview. Besides that, it's important to prepare some questions to ask employers at the hiring event. Doing so will promote a positive dialogue and also help you decide if the role is right for you. What to ask employers during a walk-in interview: Can you tell me more about the day-to-day responsibilities of the role?What are the biggest challenges of this job?What skills do you value the most?Is overtime expected?How would you describe the company culture?📚Further reading:50+ Good Questions to Ask in a Job Interview (Interview Hack)5. Send a thank you email after the open interview Demonstrating your professionalism puts you one step closer to being selected for the job. Especially when you didn’t perform well in your walk-in interview, a sincere thank-you email might make employers reconsider and offer you a second chance. This is also a great way to remind them once again of your qualifications and follow up after the interview. 📚Further reading:Guide to Writing The Best Thank You Email After an InterviewKey TakeawaysLet's sum up what we’ve discussed in this article! What does an open interview mean?An event where applicants have the chance to speak with an employer without having to go through an initial screening process as usual. Are open interviews worth it?Yes! You can get hired on the spot if doing it right - be confident, proactive, professional, and well-prepared. Even if you can’t, you can learn a lot from attending a job fair and having an on-spot interview with hiring managers. How early should you show up for an interview?Around 10-15 minutes. As a sign of professionalism, punctuality helps draw you as a reliable and trustworthy employee. Also, you will have more time for your preparation when showing up early. Get recruiter-ready in minutes. Our AI resume checker reviews your resume for common pitfalls and suggests targeted improvements.Get Recruiter-Ready--- Originally written byMay Luong---

Created by CakeIn this article, you'll read about:What is a Mock Interview?Benefits of Mock InterviewsDifferent Types of Mock InterviewsHow to Prepare for Mock InterviewsJob interviews are tough, and despite all the practice interview questions available, you can never really tell what the interview will be like. Interview format, formality, length and processes can vary greatly between companies and jobs. To face the unknown and nail your interview, your best bet is practicing interview questions in a mock interview. Mock job interviews can help you prepare answers to common questions, improve your speaking skills and give you confidence. What is a Mock Interview?A mock interview involves practicing interview techniques and answers to imitate a real-world job interview. Essentially, a mock interview is playing ‘pretend’ in a simulated environment, in order to help a job applicant to practice and prepare for the actual interview.Similar to an actual interview, a mock interview can be conducted in various ways, in-person, via phone, and through zoom.Benefits of Mock Interviews💡 Help reduce stress Job interviews can be stressful, especially when there's an elaborate interview process or you’re interviewing for your dream job. A mock interview helps you become familiar with the atmosphere of a real job interview, so by the time you’re interviewing, you won’t feel as stressed. Getting your stress out by doing mock interview practice ahead of time can help you feel level-headed and think clearly in the real thing. 💡 Help refine answers to behavioral questions Job interviews will discuss your employment experience, education and technical skills, which have straightforward answers. However, behavioral questions involving problem solving, overcoming challenges and interpersonal dilemmas can be difficult to answer on the spot. Practicing behavioral questions in a mock interview can help you refine your answers so they answer the question appropriately. Include behavioral questions in your mock interview preparation to avoid feeling caught off-guard during real interviews. 💡 Provide constructive feedback A job interview seems like a straight-forward discussion of your experience and potential for the role; however, your answers, tone, presentation and speaking skills can contribute to your evaluation as well. Doing a mock job interview can help you identify flaws in your answers, as well as work on aspects of presentation. You only get one shot at a real job interview, so use as many mock interviews as necessary to perfect your interview skills! 💡 Boost your confidence Interviews can be overwhelming and high-pressure situations. Likewise, you might be interviewing for an ambitious role and feel imposter syndrome creep in. By having practice interviews, you will feel prepared and relaxed, boosting your confidence. Interviewers will pick up on your mood and body language, so feeling confident is important! Different Types of Mock InterviewsNow you’re convinced that you should try a practice interview, try reaching out to one of these places to assist: 📍 School career center Your school career center should be able to provide you with resources or opportunities for mock interviews. Likewise, you might be able to get industry-specific advice to include when preparing mock interview questions. Your school career center might hold group mock interviews for students, or individual sessions. However, these resources might be limited; you might be only allocated one opportunity to conduct a mock interview with their staff. 📍 Career coach or career counselor If your school's career center does not have a counselor on staff or you are no longer a student, there are many places online or at your local job centers where you could reach out for a mock interview. Career coaches are well versed in many different careers, and can help you move both upwards and laterally in your ideal career. Career coaches will also help you with selling yourself, adjusting your resume and improving interpersonal skills through mock interviews. However, career coaching is a career in itself, and therefore you will probably have to pay for coaches’ mock interview services. 📍 Online interview practice programs If you would like a more dynamic approach to practice interviews, you can try finding an online mock interview program. Many of these mock interview programs are more industry-specific and can be done in group sessions, for example, mock coding interviews for software engineers. Online mock interviews can be great if you need last-minute preparation; however, the advice might focus more on your answers and less on your speaking and interview skills. 📍 Family members and friends You might want to practice mock interviews with people you feel comfortable with; in this case, family and friends would be the best option. Mock interviews with family members and friends can help you practice without judgment, are free, and can give you interesting perspectives from people with different careers. However, you might not take your mock interview as seriously if you are prone to joking with friends, and your friends might not give you honest feedback so as to not hurt your feelings. How to Prepare for Mock InterviewsChoose the right mock interviewerChoose a professional settingProvide the mock interviewer with adequate informationPrepare for all types of interview questionsReview interview criteriaTake notesDress in formal interview attireFilm your mock interview✏️ Choose the right mock interviewer Make sure you do practice interviews with someone who has experience with job interviews themselves. Choosing someone who has relevant industry experience, has interviewed for many jobs or has the career you would like for yourself can make your mock interviews seem realistic. This is where career coaches, counselors and practice programs have an advantage, as they are trained and experienced in interviewing. Make sure whoever you choose is willing to be serious enough for a realistic job interview simulation, and won’t joke around or break character during the practice interview. ✏️ Choose a professional setting It's important to simulate the environment for a job interview during your mock interview. Interviews can make people tense and nervous, especially if it is a one-on-one interview, so getting used to the setting is important. If you are using a more casual method for mock interviewing, such as your friends, family or a school career counselor, make sure you simulate a real job interview environment with the setting. Sit at a desk in a quiet room or area without distractions, and avoid libraries, coffee shops or crowded areas to practice your mock interview. ✏️ Provide the mock interviewer with adequate information To make sure you simulate the real job interview as closely as possible, provide your mock interviewer with the company, the job posting and your resume. This gives the interviewer context and can help them come up with common and uncommon questions to practice with. This way you practice your answers and anticipate unusual questions in your practice job interview that could come up during the real one. ✏️ Prepare for all types of interview questions It’s important to practice a realistic structure in your mock interview and be thoroughly prepared. Include all types of interview questions, like general interview questions, role-specific questions and company-specific questions, during your practice interviews. Mock interview preparation can involve doing research on the role, company, technical skills, problem solving and career path. Picking tough questions to practice during your mock interview will make the real interview feel easy! ✏️ Review interview criteria Re-read the job posting and make sure you can use their criteria to sell yourself as their ideal candidate. Additionally, if your interview invitation details the interviewing process, make sure your mock interview reflects this. For instance, you might have an HR interview, a managerial one, or a technical one. Each focuses on different aspects of your skills and traits and assesses you by different criteria. Plan your mock technical interviews accordingly. ✏️ Take notes During your mock interview, you might find that there are questions that you have trouble answering, or you might forget certain interview etiquette. When you identify a problem area in your mock interview, make notes of it so you can strengthen your answer in the real interview. Likewise, you might ask your mock interviewer to make notes too, so you have feedback from a different perspective. ✏️ Dress in formal interview attire When simulating a job interview, it's important to practice every aspect of one – down to your outfit. Job interviews can be stressful and nerve-wracking, and the last thing you want is to be distracted by your clothes! Try and identify how you react under pressure during your mock interview and dress accordingly. For instance, avoid wearing clothes that cause overheating, make too much noise or are too distracting during your mock interview. ✏️ Film your mock interview If you do not have the opportunity to practice multiple mock interviews, you can film your practice interviews to review later. Filming your mock interview means you can review tone, posture, nervous habits and your answers so that you can improve upon them before the real interview. You could also send your mock interview to a career counselor or friend for the feedback! 🔑 Key Takeaways:A mock interview is a great way of handling the stress of a job interview in advance. Being prepared for the range of questions and atmosphere of a job interview can make you seem confident, something interviewers look out for.Mock interview preparation should simulate a real job interview, so having the right setting, interviewer and discussion points is important. Since you landed an interview, you already meet the requirements for the role – build up your confidence in mock interviews and land your dream job!With Cake, you can easily create a resume online, free download your resume in PDF, and utilize ATS-compliant templates to create a resume. Land your dream job, create your resume online (free download) now!Create resume--- Originally written by Bronte McNamara---

The high salary and great demand for engineers have attracted numerous job seekers. However, do you know what the popular job interview questions for engineers are? Besides the technical test, general questions will also be asked during engineering interviews. Here are the ten most common job interview questions for software engineers collected and compiled through global job seeking experience, sharing from managers and human resource database.Further reading:9 Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Applying for a Job in IT Top 10 Software Engineering Interview Questions1. What do you know about the company?Why do you want to join us?The company would like to know if you have done any homework: familiarize with their products, corporate culture and working environment. If you aren't able to answer these questions accurately, it implies that you do not know this company and do not attach importance to this interview. Presumably, the interviewer is not going to be impressed with you!TipsDo proper online research or ask friends around you in advance for preparation. Prior to the interview, imagine yourself as businessman ready to propose an idea. The interview process is like negotiating about a cooperation case. You need to prove that you are well-prepared and qualified, with a sincere attitude.2. What's the most challenging project you've participated in? What was your role in the project? What were the difficulties and how did you overcome them? This is a “must-asked” job interview question for engineers. It helps interviewers understand your contribution to your past projects, how you dealt with pressure and how you overcome problems.ReminderWhile you are promoting and marketing yourself, remember not to exaggerate or be dishonest. After all, the industry circle is not big and it can be very easy to ask around.Although not every engineer has to deal with clients in person, when it comes to promotion, it is often considered as one of the most critical factors. Interviewers want to know about your emotional stability, how you deal with stress, and how you handle customers.3. Please share the most difficult technical problem you've faced till date, and how you solved it.This is similar to the previous question, but it is more technical. Employers want to know how familiar you are with programming software, and what kind of resources/methods you use to solve problems.4. Do you have experience of handling difficult clients? How did you deal with them? What kind of different strategies will you adopt now?Although not every engineer has to deal with clients in person, when it comes to promotion, it is often considered as one of the most critical factors. Interviewers want to know about your emotional stability, how you deal with stress, and how you handle clients.Points to include in your answer : How did you listen to clients' opinions / criticism?How did you propose solutions?How did you convince the clients and finally achieve your goal? Remember that the focus here is "how you solve problem and persuade customers". Do not complain about how unreasonable the clients’ requirements are, or wrongly focus on discussing technical problems.5. How do you get access to the latest technology?Software technology is evolving with each passing day. As a software engineer, it is necessary to keep up with the latest technology. The purpose of this software engineering interview question is to know whether you continue to learn and upgrade yourself during your spare time.The best way to handle this question is to be truthful. Answer “yes’ if you do and “no” if you do not, do not lie. Otherwise, it would cause negative effect if you are found lying.Template for answering this question : I am currently learning … technology/programming language/software.I learn it through … method/platform/channel (e.g. online course, books, cram school,project challenges,etc.).Mypurpose of learning this new technology is to … . If it is required to learn any new technology for the job position, I am very willing to put effort into it. 6. Have you developed or learned any new skills last year?This interview question is similar to the previous one, except that this one is broader. The previous question is more focused on programming/technical aspects. However, this question is more about non-technical skills that can be helpful to the position, such as management skill, foreign language ability, sales ability, and etc. Tips for people applying for management position :It can be a plus to show your knowledge on Management. It indicates that you are ambitious about the position and are well-prepared.Although the question is very broad, do not talk about skills that are not related to the position. For example, “I am learning harmonica recently”. Unless the interviewer is also learning, otherwise he/she will not be interested.7. What technologies/software/packages are you most familiar with?The purpose of this software engineering interview question is to understand your practical ability and your degree of familiarity with a technology. There are not many ingenious ways to respond to this. Answer what you know about the technology with examples to substantiate.Further reading:Software Engineer Resume : Do's Don'ts of a Perfect Engineering Resume8. What is the coolest code you have ever written? Which portion of it are you proudest of?Why?This question is evolved from the previous question. In addition to your degree of familiarity with coding, interviewer also wants to know about your creativity. The key to this question does not lie in your skill level, but whether you can come up with code or solutions that no one else has thought of.9. What role do you play in a team? When team member refused to cooperate, how would you handle the situation?Software engineers often need to cooperate with other people to complete a project. Hence interviewers want to know how you work within a team, what role you will play when the team is in difficulty, and what are the contributions you will make.For manager position:You can place emphasis on "leadership" and "guidance". Provide examples of how you can inspire and lead the team to overcome difficulties. For non-managerial position:You can place emphasis on how you can assist the team during operation. As a collaborator, how you can help leaders lead the team to success more smoothly.Key points to mention while providing examples:1. What kind of team were you in?2. What role did you play?3. What problems and challenges did your team face?4. What solution did you propose? 10. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?The interviewer wants to know about your future career plan. There is basically no right or standard answer to this question, but the general direction is: do not mention about career change. No company would be happy to see their employees keep switching jobs.ReminderIt is better to first understand the future career development of the job. Do your research on the industry trend and forecast, to work out a plan in accord with market trend and personal goal.Apart from well-rehearsed answers, body language is also an important factor during job interview! How to crack positive body language?Read More

Created by CakeIn this article, you’ll learn: What is a Case Study InterviewHow to Prepare for a Case InterviewCase Study Interview Questions ExamplesAs you might be aware, there are many interview styles out there. You better be prepared for most of them to increase your chances of success. Some job positions will want to put your skills to the test by bombarding you with case study questions during the interview. For example, most consulting positions such as IT services and management will require you to show specific skills and experience using case study interview questions. Employers like case interviews because they are a challenging way to analyze a potential candidate’s abilities. Learn how to prepare for case study interviews to better your chances of landing your dream position. What is a Case Study Interview?Unlike traditional interview questions, case study questions and answers put you in a hypothetical role where you have to analyze a problem as if they already hired you for a position. A case interview presents a task you will be working on if hired. Therefore, it provides you with insights into what to expect from the job and the employer with insights into your skills. During a case study interview you have a limited amount of time to come up with a logical solution for the case study questions. The best case study interview prep is to first learn about the process of a case interview.A case study framework usually looks like this:The interviewer will brief you about a business-related scenario. They might even hand you some material to go over.You will have to examine the information and present a solution for the case and answer follow-up case study questions. Be sure to understand whether they expect you to solve a problem, make a recommendation, assess a potential decision, etc.Once you know the objective of the case study question, organize your approach thoroughly. Explain your decisions and factors you’ve taken into consideration when you present them to provide a better insight into your thought process. We can move on to the skills employers look for during a case study interview now that you have a better idea of what case study questions are. ✅ Ability to structure a problemYou should do your best to organize your ideas, no matter what your approach to the case study questions is. They want to know if you are able to make sense of a problem when you face one.✅ Logical reasoning skills Another purpose of case study interviews is to assess your logical thinking. In most cases, there is more than one possible answer. Recruiters will care as much about your thought process as about your answer. Other than showing an organized answer, you need to show a sensible one. Tackle the problems in an order that makes sense. For example, you cannot start by issuing the long-term problem without coming up with logical short-term steps. Detail your decisions to let the recruiter know why you want to proceed in a certain way to solve the case study question. ✅ Analytical skills Case study interview questions also aim to check your ability to interpret data and analyze a problem.✅ Ability to draw a conclusion from the data This skill goes hand in hand with analytical skills. You will use those skills to come up with a solution for the case study question. Recruiters like when candidates utilize the data they have to back up their proposals in a case study interview. It shows a much more thoughtful process and it highlights your potential as a candidate. ✅ Communication skills To be honest, this skill is as important as the skills mentioned above for case study interviews. It will not matter how analytical your process was nor how logical your answer is if you cannot communicate your ideas regarding the case study questions clearly to the interviewer. It is more than giving articulate answers to the case study interview questions. Use positive body language and treat the interview as your client while explaining your proposal. How to Prepare for a Case InterviewCase interview preparation involves several important steps. You need to do your homework before heading out for the interview. The more you prepare for different scenarios the better. Here are some tips on how to prepare for case study interviews. 💡 Research the format There are different case study interview types out there. Research what is the preferred case study framework style for the company you are applying to if possible. If they use more than one framework for case interviews, ensure you’re ready for all the different possible situations before going into the interview room. Remember that frameworks for case interviews are not static, so be ready to listen attentively and adapt accordingly. 💡 Learn what the company looks for in the candidateEvery position requires a different set of skills. Moreover, companies look for individuals who will fit with their corporate culture. They will also evaluate such skills during the case study interview. Be ready to be tested for adaptability, confidence, logical thinking, analytical skills, communication skills, and more during the case interview.💡 Prepare answers to interview questionsYou can never be too prepared for a case interview. Try to get ahead and prepare for possible questions to improve your chances of causing a positive impression. Emphasize key elements in your answers if you take the time to put together appropriate responses for different case study interview questions. If you were given statistics, ensure to use them to support your plans. During the actual interview, do not be afraid to ask for more information. As long as you clearly state why you need it, the recruiters will be okay with it.💡 Rehearse with different casesThe best thing you could do is to practice as much as possible given the plethora of business cases used for interviews. Checking case interview examples and samples or having mock case interviews with friends can help you feel more prepared for the real deal. Case Study Interview Questions ExamplesHere are some examples of case study interviews that you can study to prepare for your upcoming case interview.❓ Case Study Interview Questions and AnswersQ: Let’s say that a new competitor is entering your client’s market. What would you recommend for them to do?💡Tip: A case study interview question like this one aims to test your judgment. Ask the recruiter to provide all the necessary information. Never rush to answer a case interview without a clear path. Sample answer: “If the company has not done a SWOT analysis, I would start by suggesting one. With the analysis done it would be easy to understand what makes the company or its products unique. It is important to also decide if the competitor will try to compete using a pricing strategy. That way the company can prepare and reinforce their cost strategy.” Q: Your client wants to launch a new product in their existing market. How would you assist them with their initiative?💡Tip: This is a product management case study question. You might have to analyze some data beforehand. Take a deep breath and don’t be afraid of numbers. More often than not, they will hide the answer to solve the case study question and create a positive impression. Sample answer: I would start by asking them the market data. It is vital to understand how saturated the market is and how different the product they intend to introduce is. After that, we would need to understand how the product supports the company’s strategy. If it does not, we would have to work on realigning it. In my opinion, working on a comprehensive positioning strategy would allow the company to succeed.” Q: Your client is considering investing in a different market to diversify their risk management strategy. What would you recommend to them?💡Tip: For this consulting case study example, recruiters expect you to demonstrate your industry knowledge. A way to tackle this case study question is by thoroughly explaining the area you recommend and why you selected it. Sample answer: “Given the state of the market, I suggest investing in AI. Every big company is moving towards it and the potential has not been tapped yet. The company could later integrate AI applications into the hardware they produce. It would give it the edge against competitors.” Q: Two potential partners want to work with the client. However, given budgetary limits, they can only partner with one. How should they decide?💡Tip: For this case study question, a comparative analysis is in order. Present logical reasons when you decide to select one of the options. Back your case interview answer with numbers if possible. Sample answer: “Let’s start by analyzing their market shares. Company A is the leader in the market. However, their sales have slowed, and company B has been a rising star for the past three years. I feel company B is a better fit in terms of the corporate culture. As a startup, they share our philosophy. For the longer run, and given the potential sales, I suggest working with company B.” Q: Your client has been fighting for market share in a country for years. However, the local brand has remained the clear victor, and it has become impossible for them to keep competing. What would you recommend?💡Tip: A business case for interviews like this puts your managerial mindset on the spot. You would be situating yourself in a very influencing position when answering this case study question. Be clear, precise, and analytical to provide a structured answer. Sample answer: “Given that the competitor has decided to stay in their country instead of expanding abroad. We could offer them a joint venture. We could give them control of our product in their country and be their exclusive distributors worldwide. We could expand the market as the product expatriates are already exporting it.” ❓ Case Study Interview ExamplesOther than revising the sample case study questions and answers we provided, you can also look at the following examples of renowned companies that specialize in case study interviews:McKinsey Case Interview Examples Talbot Trucks case interview (McKinsey Website)Conservation Forever case interview (McKinsey Website)Electro-Light case interview (McKinsey Website)Bain Case Interview Examples FashionCo case interview (Bain Website)Associate Consultant Mock case Interview (Bain Website)Coffee Shop Co. (Bain Website) Deloitte Case interview Examples Architecture Strategy: Federal Finance Agency case interview (Deloitte Website)MedX: The Smart Pill Bottle (Deloitte Website)Talent Management: Federal Civil Cargo Protection Bureau (Deloitte Website) BCG Case Interview ExamplesChateau Boomerang case interview (BCG Website)Driving Revenue Growth case interview (BCG Website)The Australian Wine Industry case interview (BCG Website) 🔑 Key Takeaway:Remember, case study interviews will put all your skills to the test. From the analytical and logical ones to your communication skills. The best way to prepare is to research the case study frameworks the company you ambition to work for uses. Prepare answers for different case study questions they might ask and rehearse your interview skills. Practice these case studies to increase your potential of obtaining the job you always wanted. Feel free to browse around their websites to look at more consulting case study examples. The more you study, the easier it would be to stand out during your case interview. With Cake, you can easily create a resume online, free download your resume in PDF, and utilize ATS-compliant templates to create a resume. Land your dream job, create your resume online (free download) now!Create resume--- Originally written by Roger Rene Ortega Figueroa ---

Created by CakeIn this article, we will cover:What Is a Behavioral Question?How to Answer Behavioral Interview QuestionsDos and Don’ts for Answering Behavioral Interview QuestionsBehavioral Interview Question ExamplesIn addition to the questions about work experience, most interviewers will also ask you several behavioral interview questions (a.k.a BDI or BBI interviews). These behavior-based interviews are non-technical and focus on how you react and behave in a professional setting. Thus, hiring managers can get a much better understanding of you as an employee. Keep in mind that behavioral interview questions are different from situational ones. BBI interviews require you to share concrete examples of difficulties or situations you have dealt with in the past. Situational-based interview questions, on the other hand, are designed to see how you would behave in a hypothetical situation. What Is a Behavioral Question?Let’s dig deeper into the concept of this interview technique! Behavioral job interview questions are generally concerned with a specific situation in the past, inquiring about the following information: How did you react or responded to that issueWhat action did you take to handle thatWhat result did you achieve eventually Oftentimes, interviewers prefer to ask these kinds of questions in order to assess how you conduct yourself in a professional environment and what your skill level is. Therefore, your answers to these behavioral interview questions demonstrate your strengths, skills, and abilities as an employee. How to Answer Behavioral Interview QuestionsThe secret of performing well in behavior-based interviews is knowing how to address STAR behavioral questions. The STAR technique for interviews allows you to provide a clear, concise, and specific response by using real-life examples.Below are the key 4 elements in the STAR methodology for interviews:SITUATION - the context of an event, problem, or challenge you encountered at workTASK - the tasks and responsibilities you were in charge of in the last positionACTION - the steps you took in that context to resolve the issueRESULT - the outcome of your actionsFurther reading:STAR Interview Method: Definition, Tips, and ExamplesDos and Don’ts for Answering Behavioral Interview Questions✅ 5 Dos: #Dos 1: Think before answering to show your prudence. Especially for STAR behavioral questions, you need some time to recall the memory and arrange your points logically. However, make sure you don't pause for more than 60 seconds before giving your answer. #Dos 2: Walk the interviewer through your process of thinking.Your response to the behavioral interview questions should present your thought process behind a difficult choice or in a tough situation, including how critical thinking skills are applied to determine your options and find the right solution. The interviewer can, thus, understand you better and make a more accurate assessment of your strength. #Dos 3: Organize your ideas, which demonstrates your critical thinking skills. It means that all the points in your answer should be laid out in a logical and well-structured way. #Dos 4: Keep your answer brief, less than 2 minutes long. In order to do this, you need to review both the required qualifications and your skills carefully before the interview. #Dos 5: Ask for clarification if you’re not clear about the question. Below are some polite ways to ask the recruiter or hiring manager to repeat their questions: Excuse me, could you please repeat that?Excuse me, would you mind repeating that last question please?Sorry, I didn’t quite catch that, can you ask again, please? ❌ 5 Don’ts: #Don’ts 1: Don’t say “I can’t think of any” even though you don’t know how to respond. Instead, stay calm, professional, and try saying something like: “That’s an interesting question. Could you please give me a few minutes to think it over?” #Don’ts 2: Don’t lie or make things up, which could give you a bad reputation in that company and potentially the industry you want to work in. Keep in mind that the employer will figure it out if you were lying eventually once you start training and working for them. #Don’ts 3: Don’t talk about irrelevant things such as: Relationship woesFinancial statusFamily plansPolitical affiliationReligion Even though sometimes the interview you're going to have is a lot more casual than other interviews, the golden rule is to keep the conversation strictly professional and straight to the point. #Don’ts 4: Don’t ramble, if you don't want it to reflect that you're not good at handling stressful situations. Sometimes, the hiring manager may ask you behavioral-based interview questions about how you perform under pressure. If you say you work well under stress but constantly ramble during the interview, it will show you up. #Don’ts 5: Don’t mention too much about other people. Instead, focus on your own ideas, actions, and achievements. That way, you can fully convey your skills, abilities, and contribute to the team. Behavioral Interview Question ExamplesIn this part, you will find examples of behavioral interview questions with answers for 10 different roles and professions. These will help you prepare for a behavioral interview better. Nursing Behavioral Interview Question and AnswerSoftware Engineer Behavioral Interview Question and AnswerConsulting Behavioral Interview Question and AnswerProject Manager Behavioral Interview Question and AnswerCall Center Behavioral Interview Question and AnswerData Analyst Behavioral Interview Question and AnswerFinance Behavioral Interview Question and AnswerAccounting Behavioral Interview Question and AnswerTeamwork Behavioral Interview Question and AnswerLeadership Behavioral interview Question and Answer 💡 Nursing Behavioral Interview Question and Answer Q: Being a nurse means you have to look after a lot of patients at the same time. What have you done to deal with stress at work?A: As a registered nurse having almost 9 years of experience, I totally understand the high-stress nature of my work. I make sure I get enough sleep, eat healthy food, and exercise regularly to maintain my physical and mental health. That way, I can ensure I’ll be there to help patients and families for years to come.There was a time when 30 victims who got severe food poisoning were rushed to the ER ward late at night. The hospital was not running at full capacity, and I had to rally everybody who knew how to manage such inflammation. It was a tough time for all of us, but we pulled through smoothly. 💡Software Engineer Behavioral Interview Question and Answer Q: Explain a situation when you disagreed with a coworker.A: In my last role at MasTech, one of my team members suggested a method of coding for our new project. After checking it out, I found it a bit risky and inefficient. In that situation, I had a meeting with him where we each laid out our plans for the project and the coding method we found most practical and effective. After the discussion, we both understood each other’s concerns and decided to bring our suggestions to the rest of the team, asking for their opinions. That experience has taught me well how to come to a mutual decision as a group. 💡 Consulting Behavioral Interview Question and Answer Q: Please share a time when you had to work with multiple clients at the same time. Could you manage this situation well?A: Last summer, I had to work with four different clients at the same time. In this situation, I not only assured them that they were a priority, but also managed their expectations about my availability due to other job responsibilities. To organize and prioritize my task for each client efficiently, I used a project management tool for both my computer and cellphone. I also set up a regular online meeting with each of them to reassure them that their projects were all on track. These allowed me to track my progress and any deadlines I need to meet, ensuring that I fulfill my clients' needs. 💡 Project Manager Behavioral Interview Question and Answer Q: Have you ever had a project that did not meet the deadline? How did you deal with it?A: Earlier this year, I was working on a software development project with a client. As they suddenly requested to add a certain feature to their customized software, we might have missed the deadline. As the project manager, I met with my team to estimate how much time we would need to add the feature and complete the software. After that, I presented my client with the new plan. They agreed on a later deadline and were happy with the outcome in the end. 💡 Call Center Behavioral Interview Question and Answer Q: Give me an example of a time when you successfully resolved a problem in the call center.A: Last Christmas, when I was working as a call center representative at Vile Hotels Resorts, I had to deal with a difficult customer on the phone. She was a guest at our resort and did not feel happy with her stay.The very first thing I did is make a sincere apology for her unsatisfactory experience and tell her that I would report all the issues to the higher-ups. Next, I gave her a discount for her next stay and asked for her home address to send her a gift basket. I was told by the receptionist that she likes our hotel's sweets.After 30 minutes of talking, she felt better and decided to delete the bad review she had written on our Facebook page. 💡 Data Analyst Behavioral Interview Question and Answer Q: Tell me about the most difficult data analysis project that you’ve ever handled. How did you get over it?A: The most difficult project was on traffic fatalities. My tasks were to estimate how many traffic facilities would be built in the next 10 years and figure out what factors would influence them.This project was very challenging because I couldn’t access the state-level crash fatality records for each year within the last decade. So, I researched the current situation and any relevant data that I could find, and did my predictions. 💡 Finance Behavioral Interview Question and Answer Q: Have you ever failed to do a sales report accurately?A: During the 5 years of working as a financial analyst, that never happened to me. I would say I have found the best way to produce accurate financial reports, which is to enlist the help of industry-designed software tools. I'm most familiar with Qvinci and Balanced Scorecard to evaluate a company's current financial situation before analyzing more specific areas. 💡 Accounting Behavioral Interview Question and Answer Q: What's the biggest mistake you've ever made at work?A: That happened when I had to prepare a client's tax return but I didn’t include his tax-exempt interest. As a result, he earned more than we had estimated. According to federal law, we needed to file an amended tax return otherwise we would risk being audited or penalized. As soon as I realized it, I immediately corrected this oversight by preparing an amended tax return reflecting tax-exempt interest. My client understood the situation and was still satisfied with the service eventually. 💡Teamwork Behavioral Interview Question and Answer Q: Can you tell me about a time you had to work with someone completely different from you?A: I always enjoy working with new people even though there might be some differences or conflicts sometimes. At Vietcetera, I once worked with a particularly young graphic designer on a new podcast channel.I was in charge of ideation and content creation, as well as ensuring the quality of social media graphics. As he never worked in the creative industry before, he didn’t know a lot about the strategies we used.Every day I tried to teach him something about the industry and the company in general, and we also spent some time going over the top popular podcast channels at the moment together. In the end, he surprised me by how much of a fast learner he was and our project was well-received by both the company and the audience. 💡 Leadership Behavioral interview Question and Answer Q: Describe an instance where you had to perform a task that you had no previous experience with before.A: In my previous position at iStyle Beauty Clinic, my manager asked for a one-month leave due to her medical condition. The director asked me to fill in as the interim manager. I was first quite uncertain and unconfident since I hadn’t been trained to be a manager yet.Despite that, I decided to take on a new challenge. The first thing I did was to gather the team and inform them of the situation. Especially, I was very open about my lack of experience and expected them to be open about giving feedback when possible, too. I performed managerial duties, such as delegating work, motivating employees, planning team building activities, with the help of the director in the first week.As a result, we managed to get through the month without any problems, and my boss commended me for doing a great job. I was then promoted to manager at the end of that year.With Cake’s resume builder tool, resume templates and resume examples, you could showcase your best qualifications to land your dream job. Try making a resume online (free download) now!Create CV--- Originally written by May Luong ---

Created by CakeIn this article, we'll discuss:Why Recruiters Ask “What Are Your Strengths” Interview QuestionHow to Answer “What Are Your Strengths” in a Job InterviewDos Don’ts When Answering “What Are Your Strengths”How to Know Your Strengths“What Is Your Greatest Strength” Answer SamplesAlong with “Tell me about yourself”, the “What are your strengths?” interview question is one of the most commonly asked questions, regardless of position and industry. The reason is that through an interview, employers expect to find out if you are a better match for the position than other candidates, and asking you to describe your strengths is the most straightforward way to do so. When answering this question, sharing your own strengths for a job could come off as bragging or too modest, if not practiced properly. Therefore, this article shares what strengths to say in an interview, along with some of the best answers for “wWhat is your strength?”, to help you prepare for your next interview.Why Recruiters Ask “What Are Your Strengths” Interview QuestionInterviewers ask this question in job interviews mostly to explore the following 4 things about you. To know your skills/ability. Recruiters are most interested in whether what you’re good at matches well with the responsibilities you have to take on if you get the position. Knowing about what you consider to be your greatest strength will allow them to decide whether or not you are more fitting for the role than other interviewees. To know how you can add value to the company. If you hear the question “What strengths would you bring to our company?”, it becomes more apparent that they want to know the immediate picture of how you will help the company. Those who can answer this question realistically also show that they are serious about the job, and have thought about the responsibilities and how they can contribute through the applied position. To know your communication skills. How you respond when asked “What are your strengths?” will show whether or not you possess on-the-spot, quick-thinking skills, which will be reflected in your response’s structure and flow. For example, recruiters will see if you answered the question clearly, or whether your response is backed by proof or real examples. To know your personality. Interviewers want to know whether you are confident and self-aware by asking you what your strengths are. Many researches have shown that those who indicate confidence performs better at their job, which is obviously preferable for recruiters. On the flip side, those who brag too much about themselves will be labeled as self-centered and unable to work well in a team. How to Answer “What Are Your Strengths” in a Job InterviewBelow are the steps to help you come up with the best answer to this question. Step 1: Identify your own strengths. The most simple way would be to ask yourself, “What are my strengths?”, but more detailed methods will be listed in the ‘How to Know Your Strengths’ part below. The key is to identify and list out several of your top strengths and narrow it down to the 5 strengths you think are most relevant to the job you’re applying for. Step 2: Connect them to job requirements. You are not advertising yourself as the number one candidate in the world. Therefore, remember to look for keywords in the job requirements and connect the strengths you possess to those, informing the recruiters that you are indeed fit for the role. Step 3: Select one or two relevant strengths. When talking about your strengths for a job interview, select one or two strengths that are most significant and needed for the position you’re applying for. It’s better to explain the one or two strengths in detail, than weakly listing out several. Step 4: Provide specific examples and/or details to back them up. Explaining your own strengths will sound very similar to bragging if not backed by evidence. To make a more direct connection between your strengths and the job, describe the impact you have made in your previous role. It’s even stronger if there is solid, accountable proof like statistics or certifications. Dos Don’ts When Answering “What Are Your Strengths”In the following, we share what to do and what not to do when answering the commonly asked “What is your biggest strength?” interview question. Hopefully, you will know what are “good strengths” for a job interview and have a better idea of how to answer “What are your strengths?” that will work in your favor. 💡Be assertive. You want to advertise yourself and be confident in your own strengths, but not to the point of bragging or worse, fabricating strengths just for the sake of passing the interview. 💡 Be specific. Be as specific as you can when sharing your strengths for a job interview, especially if it’s stronger with a specialization. For example, saying that you specialize in “motion design” is better than saying “design”. 💡 Be relevant. Pick out strengths that are needed and important, and will bring value to the position. Start from the posted job description and identify keywords in the ‘job requirements’ section. 💡 Keep your answer under 2 minutes long. Keep in mind to keep your answer to “What are your strengths?” within 1-2 minutes. Recruiters will possibly hear dozens of responses to the same question, so keeping it short and impactful is definitely the best way to go. 💡 Practice until it sounds natural. After strategizing your response with the 4 steps mentioned above, practice until it stays within 2 minutes and sounds “unscripted”. Think of this as a presentation about yourself, and go over the “script” until you’re familiar and ready for follow-up questions. ❌ Don’t be too modest. Be clear and confident about what you’re good at, instead of undermining your own strengths to the point of showing the recruiters that you are unmotivated for the job. ❌ Don’t choose strengths that don’t stand out. Refrain from picking out strengths that are too general, or applicable to all positions. As an example, writing emails and scheduling meetings are skills necessary, but not special in a marketing team leader position. ❌ Don’t give too many strengths without proof to back them up. Anyone can say that they have good teamwork, communication and leadership skills. What differentiates a valid and invalid response is whether there are the greatest strengths’ examples, such as previous related experience to support that it is indeed true. Remember “Quality over quantity.” ❌ Don’t give irrelevant answers. You might be tempted to share skills you excel at, but make sure that it will bring value to the position. A case in point, programming skills are critical for a programmer, but not an English teacher. ❌ Don’t memorize your response like a script. As much as you prepared for this “What is your greatest strength” interview question, you are eventually still talking about yourself. Memorizing and staying too true to the “script” will make you sound like you don’t know about yourself, potentially giving off the vibe that you’re unconfident and under-prepared. How to Know Your StrengthsIf, after asking yourself, “What are my strengths?”, you are still unsure of what to share, here are 3 ways to find out your own strengths. 💭 Go over your resume carefully again. Your resume is, in a way, a summary of your experience. Revisit the things you did, whether related or unrelated to the applied job. For an accountant, ‘volunteering for a stray dogs sanctuary for 7 years’ might look unrelated, but it might mean that you stay loyal to your own principles and are emotionally stable, for example. 💭 Ask your friends and/or family. This is actually the most straightforward method to find out about yourself, as you might be biased or even blind to your own traits or behavior. For instance, the people around will know that you are a compassionate person, without you even being aware of it. 💭 Reflect on analyze your past achievements. If you have any, this is the most accountable example to share with the recruiters. Look back at your past achievements, but focus on ‘what strengths you need to have’ in order to achieve it. It’s impossible to achieve something without utilizing your strengths, so you just have to think backwards to find it. “What Is Your Greatest Strength” Answer SamplesBelow are some sample answers for “what is your greatest strength” interview question. “What Are Your Greatest Strengths” Sample Answer for FreshersInterviewer: “Why should we hire you for this position? What’s your strengths?”Sample answer: “I pride myself in being able to quickly adapt to change. I was the MC for several university-wide events during the past 4 years, and together with my MC partner, we had to improvise and change up the schedule to ensure the event went smoothly from both the audience and committees’ point of view!” “What Are Your Greatest Strengths” Example Answer for TeachersInterviewer: “What is your greatest strength? Are there examples of how you applied those strengths in your previous experiences?”Sample answer: “I completed a one-year training program from X training center in visualization. I am good at explaining complex processes, concepts or groups of ideas to elementary students. I was the lead curriculum designer for Y school, where my team redesigned the Biology teaching style into a more visually engaging one. Our students’ average score for Biology increased from 67 to 84 in one year.” “What Are Your Greatest Strengths” Example Answer for Nursing ProfessionalsInterviewer: “What do you consider to be your greatest strength?”Sample answer: “I tend to be calm and collected at all times, even in emergencies. I was head nurse for X hospital’s emergency room for 4 years, where we have had minor to major cases enter the room during midnight. Dr. James has also acknowledged my quick decision making skills critical to providing correct first-aid. I also brought his recommendation letter here, for your reference.” “What Are Your Greatest Strengths” Sample Answer for Civil Service ProfessionalsInterviewer:“What are your greatest professional strengths?”Sample answer: “I maintain a really good physical and mental condition. During the last 3 years, I served as an officer at the police station in the neighborhood town. We took turns for midnight patrol shifts, and 90% of the number of robbery cases were caught by my partner and I. Most of my colleagues reported that the robbers were so fast that they often lost sight of them.” “What Are Your Greatest Strengths” Sample Answers for a Call Center InterviewInterviewer: “What do you consider to be your greatest strength?”Sample answer:“I have had 8 years experience as an administrative assistant, where I helped customers who explained their problems via phone solve those problems. I have dealt with myriad types of customers, from those who talked in circles, those who shouted to those who spoke in inaudible voices. These experiences definitely helped me hone my active listening skills and patience, if you will.” “What Are Your Greatest Strengths” Sample Answers for a Software Engineer InterviewInterviewer: “What is your greatest strength? Examples from your past projects would also be helpful.”Sample answer: “I am highly specialized in technical communication to those without background in software development, as well as leadership. One of my 8 projects was for a very big supermarket chain, whose name is confidential. The team was 2 months behind on that project led by the previous leader. Our CTO then gave me the opportunity to lead the project, from where I started reshaping how our team and the client communicated. I succeeded in solving the internal and external miscommunication and managed to lead the team to finish the project on time.” “What Are Your Greatest Strengths” Sample Answers for Business Development SpecialistInterviewer: “What strengths would you bring to our company?”Sample answer: “My previous managers have acknowledged my sales pitches and negotiation skills. In my past role as a market growth director, there was a client very important for our market expansion strategy. My colleagues have contacted them twice, but they refused to accept our order agreement proposal. I identified what the client wanted that my previous colleagues had missed, negotiated from there, and succeeded in acquiring partnership with the client.” “What Are Your Greatest Strengths” Sample Answers for Accountant Job InterviewInterviewer: What are your greatest professional strengths?”Sample answer: “I am an Accredited Tax preparer (ATP), as well as International Accredited Business Accountant (IABA) from ACAT. I also finished Oracle Enterprise Taxation Management 2 Essentials Certification recently. Even though I only have 2 years experience in tax accounting, I am confident that my taxation skills will contribute to your company.” “What Are Your Greatest Strengths” Sample Answers for Website DesignerInterviewer: “Why should we hire you?”Sample answer: “What differentiates me from my peers is my flexibility in designing websites from clients. As I graduated with a degree in graphic design from X University, I am familiar with the basic principles of website design, as well as the technical aspects when realizing my design. This allows a high flexibility in matching whatever requests made by clients.” “What Are Your Greatest Strengths” Sample Answers for IT ProfessionalInterviewer: “What do you consider to be your greatest strength?”Sample answer: “My strength lies in my familiarity with all types of security issues, thanks to my 13 years experience as the head facility for a certain multinational company’s headquarters. My team has encountered several black hacking and data breaches in the past, but we were all able to solve it without much issues.” 🔑 Key Takeaway:Through this article, you have learnt how to identify and choose good strengths for an interview, how to generate your own “what are your strengths” interview answer, with sample interview answers for different roles at the end. Keep in mind that there are no “perfect” strengths for a job, so research more on how to answer “what are your strengths”, make connections with the job description and most importantly, practice for maximum results, you can do it! With Cake, you can easily create a resume online, free download your resume’s PDF formats, and utilize ATS-compliant templates to create a resume. Land your dream job, create your resume online (free download) now!Create Resume--- Originally written by Evelyn Peng---

You have won half of the battle and earned yourself an interview, and you straight away begin listing your best and necessary qualities and skills. However, your well-rehearsed answers are not the only important thing to consider in your interview preparation,your interview posture also matters.“ Nonverbal communication has been shown to carry between 65% and 93% more impact than the actual words spoken ”Most of expertsWhy is Body Language Important to an Interview?This shows that “how to say” is more important than “what to say”. An effective body language can helps you give positive impression to the interview. By looking at candidates body language, the interviewer can reveals whether the candidate is nervous, confident, focus or bored.Interview Body Language Do's and Don'tsYour HandshakeAn interview almost always begins with a handshake, and will be your interviewer’s first impression. Your handshake is likely to be the only moment of physical contact you have with the interviewer, so a firm, confident shake is likely to make you more memorable.A hand grip that is perceived as too light can send a message that you’re not assertive enough and not confident in yourself. A study from the Journal of Hand Therapy revealed that compared to people aged 20-23 in 1985, individuals who are 20-34 today generally have a significantly weaker grip and pinch strength.A weak person will often take the bottom part of the handshake, exposing their wrist in what is considered a physically weaker position. To be dominant in a handshake, and demonstrate an alpha personality, place your hand on top of the clasp.If you don’t want to come across as arrogant, simply go in straight and firmly shake up and down for a mutual handshake, and remember to look them in the eye and smile briefly.Your PostureIt is important to sit up straight during your interview, as it is seen as a sign of intelligence, confidence, and credibility. Experts say to sit tall as if string is connecting your head to the ceiling.Lounging on your chair can make you appear disinterested, and slumping forward with shoulders hunched can make you appear weak and lacking in confidence.Keep your arms and legs uncrossed, to stop yourself looking guarded and defensive, and lean forward slightly when you want to indicate interest. Communications expert Karen Friedman, says: “Arms crossed signal defensiveness and resistance. When they’re open at your sides you appear more approachable.”If you are feeling brave, mimic a high power position usually adopted by super confident people, and put your hands behind your back, grasping a wrist with the other hand.Your GesturesDo you usually speak with your hands playing a huge part, and worry that you need to play it down during an interview? As long as you are not pointing and flinging your arms in their faces, continuing as normal will feel more natural and will show what you feel passionate about.To demonstrate confidence, you may choose to adopt a ‘steepling’ gesture with your hands, where you bring your hands towards your chest and press the tops of the fingers together. It will remind you not to gesture too often, and make you look assertive and professional.Your Eye ContactAuthor Heidi Grant Halvorson in her book No One Understands You And What To Do About It, explains that maintaining eye contact is an effective way to convey that you’re trustworthy, as the very first thing people will try to decide about you when they meet you is whether they can trust you.This doesn’t mean staring at your interviewer until your eyes water and they feel deeply intimidated, but it means maintaining regular yet not persistent eye contact to show interest and honesty. Think about how you usually make eye contact when chatting with a friend, and go from there.Your SmileSocial psychologist Dr Nancy Henley found that women smile in 87% of social encounters, while men only smile 67% of the time. A blank expression could make you appear unapproachable or uninterested, yet giving yourself face ache from over-smiling could make you look fake.So where do you draw the line? The key is to start and end all conversations with a smile, and smile when necessary throughout the conversation. Smiling is contagious, and will immediately create a positive environment, leaving a lasting impression on your interview.Add an agreeable nod in with your smile every so often, when the interviewer is dominating the conversation, to express that you understand what they are saying, and are listening fully.Ensure that your body language not only affects other people’s perception of you, but also changes your own feelings of self-assurance and power.Interviews are a daunting experience, and it is best to go in there feeling as powerful as possible by enforcing these techniques before you even enter the room. It is now time to showcase the best ‘you’by showing your confident body language at the interview.

Created by CakeIn this article, you'll learn:How to Write a Follow-Up Email After an InterviewTips on Following Up with a Recruiter after InterviewFollow Up Emails After an Interview – ExamplesInterview Follow-Up Email Template Job searching has never been an easy task, especially in this day and age where competition is high and candidates have to find ways to stand out among the pool to become more noticeable. With job application processes now becoming lengthier and recruiters having more tasks at hand, following up with a recruiter is one of the best ways to ensure you stay in touch and updated during a job searching process. Many candidates however seem to struggle with how to follow up with a recruiter after a job interview, finding it difficult to communicate clearly without sounding too demanding or desperate. Below is a guide that will help you with your follow-up email to recruiters, with explanations to why your message to a recruiter may have been missed, principle steps to consider when writing a follow-up email to a recruiter and some samples and templates you can refer to while drafting your own.How to Write a Follow-Up Email After an InterviewWrite a clear subject line.Start with personal greetings and a sincere thank you.State the purpose of your email.Reiterate your interest in the position.Highlight your strengths.Wrap up with a professional signature and contact details. Here are some steps to consider when writing a follow-up email after an interview. 🖋 Write a clear subject line. Communicate clearly about the key message you are trying to send across. The subject line is the first thing recruiters will read when scanning through an inbox; hence it is crucial to make sure your subject line for your follow-up email to a recruiter is concise and eye-catching. 🖋 Start with personal greetings and a sincere thank you. Always make sure to write your post-interview follow-up email with a professional and respectful tone. Beginning the first line of your follow-up email to a recruiter with “hope you are doing well” is far more likely to make a recruiter want to respond than just a “hi”. Ending your post-interview follow-up email by sincerely thanking the recruiter for their time and effort will also show that you are a respectful candidate who understands how to communicate a request professionally. 🖋 State the purpose of your email. This will be the content of your first paragraph after the greetings. Be clear and concise about the purpose of the follow-up email for the job you applied for. Say why you have emailed the recruiter after an interview, what it is the job role you have applied for, when did the last interview take place and what actions you are hoping them to take. Again, remember to stay professional and respectful in your tone. 🖋 Reiterate your interest in the position. Emphasize how passionate and excited you are about this job opportunity in your follow-up email to the recruiter. Remind the recruiter what attracted you to apply for this role in the first place and how this interest has continued. You want to leave an impression that you are an enthusiastic candidate who is eager to take on the job and join the team in your post-interview follow-up email. 🖋 Highlight your strengths. Apart from showing your passion and excitement, remind them again why you are the perfect fit for the job and what your strengths are! Recruiters are often dealing with a sea of talented candidates and they would likely interview a few before making comparisons among the interviewees and finalizing a decision. In other words, use the chance of your post-interview follow-up email to remind them why they should hire you. 🖋 Wrap up with a professional signature and contact details. Just like every other professional email that you write, you want to finish a follow-up email to a recruiter with a lovely touch of personality and professionalism in your signature. Make sure to include your preferred contact details so the recruiter can reach you easily after reading your post-interview follow-up email. Tips on Following Up with a Recruiter after InterviewNow that you understand the importance of writing a follow-up email to a recruiter, take a look at some extra tips for writing your follow-up email after an interview. ✨ Keep it concise. The average time a recruiter takes to read an email is about 10 seconds, which means you need to catch their attention in just a few words of your post-interview follow-up email. When writing your follow-up email to a recruiter, make sure to keep the contents concise and easy-to-read. Recruiters that work in a busy HR team will not have time for lengthy interview follow-up emails, especially if they have other more urgent tasks to deal with. ✨ Be professional. The number one rule for any business-related email is to be professional. This is no different for your post-interview follow-up email. Make sure the word choice and tone are professional, but feel free to add a personal touch (within reason of course) - it is always nice to see something more human among a sea of cold business emails. Staying professional in your follow-up email to a recruiter will also leave a positive impression, making it more likely for them to get back to you. ✨ Proofread your email. Proofread, proofread, proofread. Just as with all types of writing, proofreading should always be taking place at the end of your post-interview follow-up email. It may seem time-consuming but taking the effort to go over your follow-up email to a recruiter will show that you can pay attention to detail and understand the importance of checking over for mistakes. A post-interview follow-up email full of spelling mistakes or grammatical errors can undermine your chance of getting the job. ✨ Choose the right time to send your email. When to send your follow-up email to a recruiter will depend on the stage of the job application you are currently at. There are no hard and fast rules here, but don’t wait for too long to follow up with the recruiter after an interview. Generally leaving two to three days between messages and never sending a follow-up email to a recruiter over the weekend are good guidelines to follow. If you are looking to send a thank you email after an interview rather than a follow-up email to a recruiter, you can contact them straight away, should you wish. ✨ Chase up again if you still don’t hear back. The general guideline here remains to stay polite and professional. Not being demanding in your post-interview follow-up email will indicate to a recruiter that you respect their priorities and know how to communicate well. However, in the case that you have not received a response after your first follow-up email to the recruiter, consider sending a second follow-up email after an interview two to three days later. After you send out a second interview follow-up email, don’t overthink the situation and stress yourself. It is acceptable to send a post-interview follow-up email and a second interview follow-up email, but it is recommended to leave it there. In the case that you do not receive a response to your check-in emails after the interview, take it as a learning experience and move on to the next job application. It does not matter how polite or timely your message is, some businesses may choose not to respond as they receive hundreds and thousands of applications for each job opening as well as follow-up emails to the recruiter – it is their choice which you must respect. While it can be difficult to be in this situation, the best action you can take is to remain persistent and never take a lack of response from recruiters to your post-interview follow-up emails personally. Follow Up Emails After an Interview – ExamplesBelow are some examples of how to write effective follow-up emails to a recruiter that gets results. Five fundamental principles that all emails share include: Clear and noticeable headings and subheadingsMost important message(s) at the topSection text appropriatelyUse plain and simple-to-read languageEnsure consistent formatting throughout Take a look at these interview follow-up email samples below. We hope these will get you started on writing your own. ✉️ Interview Follow-up Email Sample Subject line: Follow-up on Interview for the Assistant Manager PositionDear John,I attended the interview for the position of assistant manager at your company on Jan 20th 2022, but have yet to receive any feedback or updates on the next steps of the process.I understand that you must be busy and that the recruitment process may take some time, but I would greatly appreciate it if you could let me know when I can expect to hear the outcome of your discussions and learn if my application is being taken forward.Please do not hesitate to contact me at any point should you have any questions.Best regards, Harry ✉️ Sample Second Follow-up Email after an Interview Subject line: Follow-up on Interview forthe Assistant Manager PositionDear John,I thought I would check in as during the interview, you mentioned that your team would be making a final recruitment decision for the assistant manager position by Mar 1st 2022.Please kindly let me know if you have an update on my application and if there are any additional details I could provide you with to facilitate the hiring process.Thank you again for your time and consideration, hope to hear from you soon!Best regards, Harry ✉️ Sample Follow-up Email to a Recruiter after No Response Subject line: Follow-up on Interview forthe Assistant Manager PositionDear John,I am following up on an email for the job that I sent on Feb 15th 2022. Please could you kindly review the email and let me know if my application is being taken forward as soon as possible?If you would like to discuss my application further please do not hesitate to contact me.I look forward to hearing from you.Regards, Harry ✉️ Sample Follow-up Email after a Phone Interview Subject line: Follow-up on Interview forthe Assistant Manager PositionDear John,Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today. I really enjoyed learning more about your company and the assistant manager position.It was great to learn that you share my approach to the fashion industry, and I particularly liked the way you shared about the projects you were involved in upon joining Branda Co.I’m looking forward to meeting you in person and discussing the position further. Please find my CV and cover letter attached below as discussed.Hope to hear from you soon regarding the next steps!Sincerely, Harry ✉️ Interview Feedback Email Sample Subject line: Follow-up on Interview forthe Assistant Manager PositionDear John,Thank you for taking the time to interview me for the assistant manager position.I appreciate you informing me of your decision to go with a different candidate and I am grateful for the opportunity to be considered.While it is a shame I am still very much interested in working for Branda Co. If any other positions that match my skill sets come up please do not hesitate to contact me.I admire your professionalism and knowledge of the fashion industry. If you have time, could you kindly provide me with some feedback on my interview performance and job application? I’d especially be curious about where my skills could improve.Thank you again for your time and consideration, hope to hear from you soon!Sincerely, Harry Interview Follow-Up Email Template Subject line: Follow-up on Interview for [Position] Dear [Recruiter’s name], Thank you for taking the time to interview me on [date], it was a pleasure to speak with you and learn more about the [job title position. I was very particularly interested to learn about [something about the company that interests you]. I am very excited about the prospect of [career objective]. Please kindly advise on the next steps and whether there is anything you require from me in the meantime. I look forward to hearing from you. Best regards, [Your name]🔑 Key Takeaways: Now that the importance of writing a follow-up email to a recruiter has been established, start writing one now if you are currently job searching! Make sure to follow the steps and tips given in this article when drafting your own post-interview follow-up email, and feel free to use the samples and templates included above. We wish you the best of luck in writing your job interview follow-up email and your job searching process!With Cake’s resume builder tool, resume templates and resume examples, you could showcase your best qualifications to land your dream job. Try making a resume online (free download) now!Create CV--- Originally written by Wayne Chang---

Created by CakeIn this article, you will learn about:How to Prepare for a Job InterviewTips on How to Prepare for a Successful InterviewJob Interview Dos and Don'tsCommon Interview Questions and AnswersYou have a job interview coming up, and what will you do to prepare for it? In this guide, we will show you how to prepare for an interview as well as provide helpful job interview tips and interview skills. Interviews play an integral part in the hiring process. From the perspective of job seekers, job interviews allow you to learn more about the role and the company so that you can decide whether that job aligns with your career path. The employer, meanwhile, conducts interviews to determine if your skills, experience, and personal traits meet the job's requirements and if you fit in with the company’s culture. As a job seeker, there are several difficulties you may often encounter during a job interview, including:Enter the interview with little preparationDon't know about the employerLack basic interview skillsAsk the wrong questionsDon't know how to answer questionsHow to Prepare for a Job InterviewIn this part, you will learn about the interview guidance that can be applied to different situations.Step 1: Do a thorough research of the company.Step 2: Know who the interviewer is.Step 3: Know your motivation.Step 4: Prepare answers for common interview questions.Step 5: Outline your answers in bullet points.Step 6: Prepare questions to ask the interviewer.Step 7: Pay attention to your voice and body language.Step 8: Do mock interviews.Step 9: Update and print your resume/CV for the interview.Step 10: Send thank-you notes. Step 1: Do a thorough research of the company. The very first step to prepare for a job interview is to have a clear understanding of the company you may work for, including: Products/servicesCompany mission and valuesClientsCompany culture By doing thorough research of the employer, you can be certain that this is the environment you enjoy working in. Additionally, you can give employers a clear answer in case they ask you to share some knowledge about the company. Step 2: Know who the interviewer is. It's important to know who is going to interview you because interview questions may vary depending on the interviewer’s job role. If you're going to have an interview with the recruiter or HR staff, you're likely to be asked to briefly share your educational background and experience. They also prefer to know about your personality to see if you are a cultural fit. Meanwhile, the potential manager expects to hear more about your professional experience, achievements, and career objectives. Step 3: Know your motivation. Employers would like to hear a more thoughtful answer that makes you stand out from other candidates. It means that you have to show them why you want to work with them and what values could you bring to the company, and also convince them why you're the best fit for the role. Step 4: Prepare answers for common interview questions. An important part of preparing for a job interview is to think about what employers may ask you. Check out the list below for the most frequently-asked things by recruiters and hiring managers: Educational backgroundJob responsibilities in the former rolesProfessional accomplishmentsStrengths and weaknessesCareer goalsWork environment preferences Having answers prepared in case these common questions are asked during the interview could save you in case you suddenly cannot come up with a good answer on the spot, and could also make you seem prepared and interested in the job. Step 5: Outline your answers in bullet points. After you finish preparing answers for common interview questions, write down a simple outline of what you plan to say for each question in bullet points. Memorizing the complete answers line by line not only is impractical but also does you a disservice. The interview is likely to notice the unnatural way you talk when you try to remember the lines you memorize. Choose to list the main points to remind yourself of the answers instead. Step 6: Prepare questions to ask the interviewer. As mentioned earlier, interviewing is a chance for you to sniff out whether the job and the company align with your career objective. Thus, feel free to bring up questions to ask the hiring manager, for example: How many people are there in the team at the moment?What's your favorite part about working here?Does the company plan to expand the business or develop any new product in the coming year?What is the biggest challenge I might face when starting the job? Especially when you’re preparing for a job interview for a remote position, you might want to ask about the working time and employee benefits. 💡Note: The questions to ask hiring managers should not be about information mentioned in the job description, otherwise they might think that you haven't reviewed it carefully. Step 7: Pay attention to your voice and body language. Regarding your tone of voice, try to speak clearly and match your interviewer's volume. Therefore, they can hear everything you say well and be sure you're interested in this position. Body language is also an important factor in a job interview that may make or break your chance. The perfect body language includes eye contact, hand gestures, and a smile. That's why you should prepare for a job interview by practicing with a partner. Step 8: Do mock interviews. The best jobs interview tip is mirroring an actual job interview, especially if you're a fresh graduate. As the saying goes, “practice makes perfect.” Doing a mock job interview will help you practice what to say and do, minimize your weaknesses, and boost your self-confidence for the actual interview. Step 9: Update and print your resume/CV for the interview. Even if you're not required to bring a resume/CV to the job interview, keep in mind that hiring managers might not have a copy of it on hand. They are busy and there might be a lot of candidates for a single role. Bringing a printed copy of your resume/CV could also show that you are prepared. Step 10: Send thank-you notes. Many of you may overlook this step but this is considered among the most successful job interview tips. A thank-you email after the interview reflects your respect, appreciation, and professionalism toward the hiring manager and team. It also shows that you're truly interested in working for the company. Tips on How to Prepare for a Successful InterviewIn addition to general interview guidance, you might find specific job interview tips for different situations as shown below.​​How to prepare for a phone interviewHow to prepare for an online interviewHow to prepare for a second interviewHow to prepare for a panel interviewHow to prepare for a case study interviewHow to prepare for a group interviewHow to prepare for a technical interviewHow to prepare for a promotion interviewHow to prepare for interview for freshersHow to prepare for an informal interview 💡 How to prepare for a phone interview Confirm the phone number and scheduled time.Provide additional contact information in case the call drops.Know who will be calling you.Find a quiet spot to talk.Eliminate distractions.Take advantage of being unseen (i.e., wearing comfy clothes, having a list of interview prep questions and answers in front of you). 💡 How to prepare for an online interview Confirm the scheduled time and the link to the online interview.Provide additional contact information in case the video call drops.Find a spot that is quiet and has a strong Internet connection.Dress professionally.Test the Internet connection.Create good lighting and sound.Log on at least 10 minutes before the interview. 💡 How to prepare for a second interview Learn about your interviewers.Review notes from the previous interview.Prepare for more in-depth questions.Prepare more questions to ask the interviewer. 💡 How to prepare for a panel interview Review the job posting carefully.Practice great body language and eye contact.Prepare many questions to ask the hiring committee.Practice role-playing with your peers to boost your self-confidence.Research the individuals who will join the interview. 💡 How to prepare for a case study interview Research the company and the position thoroughly.Think about potential questions that might be asked.Prepare for the answers accordingly.Don’t defend your solution at all costs.Learn how to manage time effectively. 💡 How to prepare for a group interview Arrive ahead of schedule.Prepare an impressive self-introduction.Learn to listen and observe.Try to answer first and speak confidently.Avoid interrupting the competitor(s). 💡 How to prepare for a technical interview Make sure you clearly understand the tools and skills required for the role.Learn from relevant books and digital publications.Do regular practice.Prepare a relevant project to talk about in the technical interview.Don’t hesitate to ask for clarification if you don’t understand the question/problem.Take the time you need but not too long. 💡 How to prepare for a promotion interview Talk with your supervisor/mentor.Look over your experience and accomplishments in the field.Talk about how you have improved.Focus on the past reviews on your work performance.Convince them of the contribution you will bring to the organization. 💡 How to prepare for interview for freshers Talk with your professor, mentor, or people who are more experienced.Have your CV and cover letter polished.Know which company and position you’re applying for.Follow the dress code.Demonstrate strong communication skills.Maintain a great attitude.Show gratitude. 💡 How to prepare for an informal interview Run through your educational qualification, professional experience, and accomplishments.Don’t speak too freely.Ask what the recruiter is looking for in a good candidate.Be prepared to outline your strengths and key skills with key examples.Prepare relevant documents to show the interviewer such as work samples and portfolio.Job Interview Dos and Don’ts✅ Dos Double-check interview details Make sure you confirm with the recruiter or interviewer regarding the following information:Date and time (especially time zone if you are not located in the same region with the interviewer)LocationLink to the online meeting (if you're going to join an online interview) Dress appropriately. It's important to follow the dress code because it reflects your professionalism and a positive personal image. For women, this will be a blouse and dress pants or a statement dress. For men, a suit jacket and slacks with a shirt and tie are appropriate. Prepare a reference list. Simply put, this is the list of the people who can prove your credentials and qualifications for a job. If you have a list of references, be prepared to provide it to prospective employers. Also, don't forget to contact your references for permission prior to the interview. ❌ Don’ts Don’t forget to clean out your bag or briefcase. You're going to look unorganized and unprofessional if you have to open your bag and rummage inside for a while. Just bring the essentials such as resume/CV, cover letter, pens, phones, wallets, and keys. Don’t overlook interview etiquette. Improper interview etiquette will leave a bad impression and, at worst, cost you the job.Let us give you some examples:Arrive late.Greet the interviewers with their first names.Forget to turn off the phone ring.Interrupt the interviewers.Don’t pay attention to what the interviewers say. Don't forget to plan your route in advance. Being late is one of the most common mistakes in a job interview. If you are going to have an in-person interview, make sure you have checked the way to get there. It's recommended you arrive at the location of your interview at least 15 minutes ahead of your scheduled appointment. Common Interview Questions and AnswersIn this part, you will find examples of 15 common interview questions and a sample answer for each. From the examples, you can get an idea of how to prepare for interview questions in advance. Q1: Can you tell me a bit about yourself?Q2: What is your greatest strength?Q3: What is your biggest weakness?Q4: Can you share about your greatest professional achievement?Q5: Tell me about a challenge you’ve faced at work, and how to deal with it.Q6: Why are you leaving your current job?Q7: Where do you see yourself in five years?Q8: How did you hear about this position?Q9: Why did you want to apply for this job?Q10: Why should we hire you? Q1: Can you tell me a bit about yourself? “I’ve been passionate about [the field] since I was a kid. I studied [your major] at [your college] and have [number] of years of experience in [your areas]. My responsibilities include [job role 1], [job role 2], [job role 3], etc. I would say I am [soft skill 1], [soft skill 2], etc.I am looking to further develop my [hard skill 1] and [hard skill 2] as a [position] in a [your favorite work style] environment.” Q2: What is your greatest strength? “My greatest strength is that I’ve always been detail-oriented in my work. To me, it’s not only about having a sense of responsibility but also something I enjoy doing. I would say I'm highly observant and able to pick up on minor details or changes that others often overlook.” Q3: What is your biggest weakness? “Sometimes I focus too much on the details so it turns out that I spend too much time figuring out the finer points. I’ve been striving to avoid unnecessary perfectionism as it may affect the whole team's process and ability to meet the deadline. To adjust this, I try to refocus on the bigger picture and set more realistic goals.” Q4: Can you share about your greatest professional achievement? “My greatest professional achievement occurred in my previous position as a/an [position]. I have successfully [what you have achieved] with an increase/a decrease of [a figure] in [the problem]. At the company year-end party, I was awarded [the prize].” Q5: Tell me about a challenge you’ve faced at work, and how to deal with it. “It was when I was working as a [job role] at [company name]. I noticed that [describe the issue] which reduced productivity and/or annual revenue. At that time, I took the initiative to [what you have implemented] to help [the purpose of your plan]. [Period of time], the result was [result 1], [result 2], etc.” Q6: Why are you leaving your current job? Below are some examples of positive reasons for leaving a job: I’m looking for a new challenge and a job with better career growth opportunities.I feel like I'm ready to take on more responsibility and develop more new skills.The company I worked for went out of business.I wanted to work in a different industry as well as in a new work environment.I believe I've progressed as far as I can in the latest role. Q7: Where do you see yourself in five years? “In the next five years, I would still be working in the same field. I'm always passionate about [your job area] so this is the career I want to pursue. However, I want to explore and develop skills in [new area 1], [new area 2], etc. I also hope to [your expectations in your career] because [the expectation you've just mentioned] is one of my core career goals.” Q8: How did you hear about this position? “I was looking actively for jobs and found your job posting on [the name of the job board or career website]. The job description looks exciting and mentions some great opportunities that I have been looking for to work towards my goal.” Q9: Why did you want to apply for this job? “I see this opportunity perfect for me due to my educational background and work experience. It allows me to utilize my existing skills and further develop new skills. It is alsoa way to contribute to a/an [adjective to describe the work environment] company/industry that I always want to work for.” Q10: Why should we hire you? For this question, check out these examples for different roles and professions.With Cake, you can easily create a CV online and download your CV’s PDF format for free. Land your dream job and create your CV online (free download) now!Create CV--- Originally written by May Luong ---

Created by CakeIn this article, we will cover:How to Decide What to Wear to Job InterviewsTips on Choosing Interview OutfitsInterview Outfits for WomenInterview Outfits for MenInterview Outfits for Different JobsJob applicants need to consider several dimensions, such as resumes, cover letters, what to say during the interview, whether they should follow up after the interview and many more. Among those, many overlook the interview dress code. However, first impressions matter. Think twice about your job interview clothes. Your job interview attire says more about you than you may imagine. Job interview outfits heavily influence how you come across to recruiters. It allows employers to see how well you understand the role and company culture. Additionally, it shines a light on how professional you are. Finally, your interview attire can even boost your confidence. As they say, “Look good, feel better.” How to Decide What to Wear to Job InterviewsFocus on what to wear to a job interview. After all, no matter how great your resume is, if you fail to impress recruiters, your chances of landing that dream position might get slimmer. 🎯 Reread the interview invitation and see if it’s specified. Always double-check the interview invitation to be sure that you are not missing anything important. Look out for anything regarding the required interview attire. Some companies let job seekers know what their interview dress code is. For example, many start-ups and tech companies inform applicants that business casual outfits are acceptable in the interview. Re-reading the invitation can help you save money or even save you from awkwardness. 🎯 Do research on the company and its culture. If the invitation does not include information on the required job interview outfits, you have to put on your detective hat. The internet will be your best friend to research what professional interview attire fits your interview best. Check the company’s website, LinkedIn, and even Instagram. You can get some insight into the type of outfits their employees usually wear. If you see that the employees don’t wear full suits or dresses on the majority of the posts, it indicates that wearing business casual attire for the interview should be ok. However, if you still feel too lost as to what to wear, ask the recruiter for some advice (unless the job listing says otherwise). You can use the following template to ask about the job interview clothes they recommend. Email Subject: Inquiring for the dress code for the [Job title] interview.Hello [Hiring manager’s name],I will have the pleasure to meet your team on [Date] to be interviewed for the [Job title] position. I am preparing for the interview. I wanted to ask you - what is the recommended dress code for your company?I am very interested in this position. Therefore, I would like to make sure that I fit in. Thank you for your time and help.Regards,[Your name][Your contact information (Phone number, LinkedIn profile)] 🎯 Understand common business attire and choose a suitable style. You will not need to follow a formal dress code for an interview all the time. Depending on the position and the interview, you have to consider choosing one of the following job interview outfit styles. Casual: the most relaxed interview dress code Clothes have a relaxed fit (but not baggy!), yet casual interview outfits should be polished and clean-looking. For women, think of dark-colored slacks or jeans and dressy tops. You can wear a couple of sober-looking accessories too. Casual interview shoes for women include small heels or flats. Casual interview attires for men also include dark jeans or chinos. A nice-looking collar shirt (even a short-sleeved one or a Polo) can improve your look. If you want to accessorize a bit, go for a wristwatch. Casual Smart: slightly more put-together than casual When it comes to casual smart interview attire for women, button-ups are always a good choice. So are silk pants, chinos, and even flowy skirts. Alternatively, you can choose a sleeved sheath dress. You can mix them with flats, oxfords, and small heels. A casual smart interview dress code for men requires a step up. That is why chinos, slacks, or dress pants are great. You can pair them with a tucked-in button-down shirt. Try some leather shoes and a matching belt. Business casual: elevated but still not fully formal Business casual interview outfits are one of the most common styles for interviews. Therefore, a smart option for you. A business casual interview dress code for women includes tailored clothing, dress pants or knee-length skirts (pair them with tights) in neutral colors. Button-up shirts paired with a casual blazer are game, too. Regarding shoes, you can wear dark-colored closed-toe flats and pumps. Business casual interview outfits for men are neutral colored. Chinos, khakis, and dress pants are good options. Match them with leather shoes and calf-length matching socks. Pair light-colored button-down shirts with sports coats or dark-colored blazers. Business Formal: the most professional-looking interview attire, usually for high-level position interviews. When it comes to formal interview clothes for women, tailored pantsuits, dark-colored knee-length skirts (with tights), and tailored jackets with matching blouses or shirts are some of the best choices. Similarly, two-piece suits are the best option for formal interview clothes for men. Solid ties and cufflinks are great complements with polished leather shoes and matching socks. 🎯 Try it out the night before. Even if the outfit looks perfect on paper, you should always try on your job interview outfits the night before to avoid unpleasant surprises. Check your outfit under good lighting to spot any imperfections while you still have time to fix them. After confirming everything looks neat, take the time to hang it again nice and tidy so that you do not have to iron before your interview. Tips on Choosing Interview OutfitsNo matter which type of outfit you have to go for, the following tips can help you elevate your look and guide you to choose the perfect job interview attire. ✅ Choose the right color/pattern. You have to choose what type of clothes to wear, but you also need to select what color to wear to an interview. If it is a traditional position, the best colors to wear for an interview are neutral (blue, gray, black, and white). However, you can use colors to express yourself if your job is in a more creative field (but do not go overboard). When it comes to patterns, plain designs tend to be better for interviews (yes, even for a tie or a handkerchief!). Avoid busy patterns (such as animal prints). ✅ Be careful with jewelry and cologne. Making a good impression is more than choosing the right job interview clothes - your accessories and complements can make or break your outfit. Avoid strong colognes - you do not want to overwhelm the recruiter with a way too sweet smell. While jewelry can enhance your interview attire, it can be distracting if it is too flashy. For men, watches, cufflinks, and wedding bands are ok. Women can wear tasteful earrings, a thin necklace, or a bracelet. ✅ Dress the same way for video interviews as for in-person interviews. As of lately, working from home has become more popular. In the same fashion, companies are interviewing online more often than before. What to wear for a zoom interview? Well, we think you should treat it as any other formal interview. Just because you are in your house, it doesn't mean you should stop dressing to impress. Think of virtual interviews as face-to-face ones. Consider everything you wear carefully (except for perfume; you will be ok if you feel like spraying the whole bottle). ✅ Wear comfortable outfits for job interviews. Yes, you want to look your best in your job interview outfit. However, never forget that being comfortable is equally important. For example, avoid wearing too many layers if you live in a hot area. You do not want to become a human oven - the interview is stressful enough. If you are not comfortable with your interview attire, it will show. ✅ Know what not to wear to an interview. Tank tops, strapless tops, graphic t-shirtsShorts, short skirtsDistressed jeansSports shoes, flip/flops, and open-toed shoesRevealing shirts (avoid those that show your belly, such as crop tops)Colorful socks, wacky tiesFlashy colors, animal print patternsHeavy perfumes, excessive make-up, too many accessoriesHats, headphones, beaniesTry to cover any improper tattooInterview Outfits for WomenThere are many outfits for interviews that female interviewees can choose from depending on the position. Look at the following examples to understand the different formal dress codes for women for interviews. 💡 Formal interview attire The business formal dress code for interviews for female interviewees is quite strict. You have to put a lot of effort into formal interview attire. A light-colored button-up shirt works perfectly with a pair of matching navy pants and blazer. We recommend a pair of closed-toe mid heels. You can wear a plain-colored tie to add some tone. Buttoned Shirt and Tie|Blazer and Pants|High Heels|Source: Unsplash 💡 Casual job interview attire for women The options are more relaxed for women's casual interview attire. You can wear a dark-colored pair of well-fitted jeans, a lighter nice blouse, and closed-toe flats. Keep your accessories small and simple.Purse |Blouse|Shoes|Jeans|Source: Unsplash 💡 Zoom interview outfit As we mentioned earlier, a zoom interview attire is not too different from a face-to-face interview. Consider the color of your clothes so that you do not get absorbed by the background. You can select a bolder color plain buttoned shirt. You should wear some matching pants and shoes to complete the outfit.Blouse | Pants | Shoes |Source: Unsplash 💡 Summer interview outfit Summer interviews have a more flexible interview dress code for females. Thanks to the season, you can wear brighter colors and breathier fabrics. You can match flowy colorful skirts with sober colored tops. For shoes, you can go for mid heels or even flats.Blouse | Skirt | Shoes |Source: Unsplash 💡 What to wear to a part-time job interview Female interviewees can wear smart casual interview outfits for a part-time job interview. Wear a neutral color pair of dressy pants or a skirt, and match them with closed-toe shoes. Choose a lighter color for your top and wear a nice pair of earrings to complete your outfit.Blouse | Earrings | Shoes | Skirt |Source: Unsplash 💡 What to wear for an interview for female teenagers It might be hard for a young woman to know what to wear to an interview. Thankfully, you are allowed to wear a more colorful option. Pair pastel-colored button-ups and shoes with a dark-colored pair of pants. You can even carry a bag that matches your outfit.Purse | Blouse | Pants | Shoes |Source: Unsplash Interview Outfits for MenAlthough the interview dress code for male interviewees makes you have fewer choices, you can still find what best to wear to an interview as men based on the nature of the position. 💡 Formal interview attire As a man, you have limited options of what you should wear to an interview. You can wear a dark-colored suit and pants. Use a light button-down shirt to contrast. Make sure that your belt and shoes are the same color to add further spark. Wear a plain tie to complete the look.Tie | Suit |Source: Unsplash 💡 Casual job interview attire for men If you are wondering what to wear to a casual interview, you can go for a pair of light-colored pants and a neutral tone button-up shirt. You can complete the look with a pair of leather loafers and a tasteful watch.Loafers | Watch | Pants | Shirts | Source: Unsplash 💡 Zoom interview outfit A Business casual look would work wonderfully if you're considering what to wear for a video interview. You can even go for a full suit look and leave the tie out for this one. You can wear computer glasses to protect your eyes from the screen glare.Suit |Glasses | Shoes |Source: Unsplash 💡 Summer interview outfit Consider the temperature in this case. Avoid wearing too many layers. A light-colored buttoned shirt (Even a short-sleeved one would work), neutral-colored khakis or dressy pants, and matching leather shoes and belt should be fine.Shoes | Belt | Shirt | Pants |Source: Unsplash 💡 What to wear to a part-time job interview Given its casual nature, when considering what to wear to an informal interview, khakis and chinos always do the job. Pair them with some suede shoes and a classy-looking sweater.Shoes | Pants | Sweater |Source: Unsplash 💡 What to wear for an interview for male teenagers Teenagers wonder what to wear to a first job interview. A dark-colored pair of jeans work perfectly with a plain neutral-colored polo shirt. To elevate the look, you can wear a nice watch. You can even wear some subtle sports shoes if you don’t own fancier shoes (try neutral colored ones).Watch | Pants | Shirt | Source: Unsplash Interview Outfits for Different Jobs✨ What to wear to a retail job interview As long as it is not a managerial position interview, you can wear smart casual or business casual interview attire. That is closed-toe shoes, no sneakers, collared shirts (even polo shirts), or dressy blouses. Chinos, slacks, and skirts are all ok, too. ✨ What to wear to a teacher interview Given the business casual nature of the interview, you want to look professional. Suits are always a great option. Matching a simple and sober top with a blazer or cardigan also works. Button-downs and pants are a great combo, too. ✨ What to wear to a nursing interview This is also a business casual interview. Women can wear neutral-toned skirts or slacks with a blazer, flats or small to mid heels are good, too. Men should go for a suit and perhaps even a tie to complement the style. Match your shoes and belt and make sure it is a well-fitted outfit. ✨ What to wear to a bank interview Wear professional interview attire to bank interviews. Men should go for buttoned collared shirts, matching belts and shoes, and a tie. A suit would be the perfect complement. Women can also wear suits with either slacks or skirts. A neutral-colored dress with a blazer is also a good option. ✨ What to wear to a bartender interview Even if casual interview outfits would be perfect for bartender interviews, avoid a simple look. Check what the bartenders in your area wear and level up the game a bit. Collared polo shirts and blouses are a good idea. Black pants are also a safe bet. Wear something comfortable in case they want to see your skills in the interview. ✨ What to wear to a gym interview You might wonder what to wear to such a casual job interview. If you are required to perform some exercises during the interview, you can wear a neutral tracksuit. However, if it is a formal meeting, you can go for khakis and a light-colored top. ✨ What to wear to a receptionist interview It does not require a full suit. However, consider wearing business casual outfits for the interview. For women, dresses, buttoned shirts, blouses, skirts, and slacks, are ok. Men should go for khakis, slacks, a buttoned shirt, and a blazer that would do the job. ✨ What to wear to a hostess/barista interview Keep your job interview outfits on the casual smart side for barista/hostess interviews. Try an all-black slick look. Button-ups with black slacks, dressy pants, or a skirt for women. Wear some black leather shoes to complete the look. ✨ What to wear to a flight attendant interview For this job, professional interview attire is the most common one. Full neutral-colored suits with light-colored buttoned shirts (Wearing a tie is a good idea). Women can choose between slacks or a pencil skirt. Make sure your outfit matches the color schemes the company usually follows.With Cake’s resume builder tool, resume templates and resume examples, you could showcase your best qualifications to land your dream job. Try making a resume online (free download) now!Create CV--- Originally written by Roger Rene Ortega Figueroa---