According to the American Staffing Association’s ASA Workforce Monitor – Winter 2023, 70% of Americans prefer in-person job interviews over video or phone interviews. Although many job seekers prefer to work remotely or hybrid, most prefer to make their first impressions in person.
Advantages of In-Person Interviews
In-person interviews provide many advantages over video or phone interviews:
- Non-verbal cues help communicate your personality. You can gauge the work environment and how you and the interviewer feel about each other.
- Face-to-face communication helps build rapport with the interviewer. Personalizing the interview helps you focus on details about the interviewer to help determine your comfort with the work environment.
- Minimal interruptions help you focus on the conversation.
- Potentially meeting with several interviewers saves time scheduling conversations over several days or weeks.
As a result, you should practice mastering in-person interviews before your next job search. Using these proven best practices can help you find your next opportunity.
Implement these best practices to master in-person interviews and help secure your next opportunity.
Research the Company
Use the company’s website and social media pages to learn all you can about the organization. Areas to focus on include:
- Company mission, vision, and values
- Videos of a day at the office
- Employee testimonials
- Photos of company events
Conduct an online search for recent news about the company. Look for articles and press releases that provide insight into current company events, the industry, and competitors. Use your findings to determine how you could help overcome company challenges in the role you desire.
Find websites with company reviews. See what current and former employees have to say about working for the organization. Use your findings to determine whether the work environment would be a good fit for you.
Practice Answering Interview Questions
Use the job description to determine the job duties, responsibilities, and qualifications. Then, develop answers to questions about your relevant knowledge, skills, and experience. Also, prepare to answer any questions about your employment gaps or other irregularities in your resume.
Include relevant stories when answering each interview question. Focus on demonstrating your experience and problem-solving skills.
The STAR (situation, task, action, and result) method is commonly used to develop interview-related stories:
- Situation: Describe the challenge you faced.
- Task: Explain your role.
- Action: Detail the steps you took to overcome the challenge.
- Result: Explain what happened after you took action.
Write Down Questions for the Interviewer
Prepare role- and company-related questions to ask the interviewer. These questions show engagement in the conversation and interest in the role. They also help determine whether the role is a good fit for you.
Follow Up
Email a thank-you note to each interviewer within 24 hours of the conversation:
- Thank the interviewer for their time.
- Include three main topics discussed and your three main qualifications to jog the interviewer’s memory.
- Restate your interest in the role and how your skills and experience would help you excel.
- Let the interviewer know you look forward to hearing back soon.
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