Top Interview Tips: Common Questions, Nonverbal Communication & More | Indeed

Summary

In this insightful video by Indeed, viewers are guided through the intricacies of job interviews, from start to finish, highlighting the importance of preparation and body language. The video stars Anya, a recent business administration graduate, as she navigates an interview for a project management position. Key tips include maintaining good posture, engaging everyone with respect, preparing for common questions, and more. With practical advice on how to deal with nerves, make a great first impression, and follow up professionally, this video is a must-watch for job seekers looking to improve their interview game.

Highlights

• Interviews can make or break an opportunity, so being prepared is crucial! 🙌
• Anya sets an example with her attentive posture and respectful demeanor. 👍
• Calming nerves through deep breathing can make a big difference. 🌬️
• Remembering names in small talk helps build rapport with the interviewers. 🤝
• Align your past experiences with future goals when discussing your skills. 🎯
• Leave negativity at the door; focus on growth and achievements instead. 🌱
• Engage with your interviewer by mimicking their posture to build rapport. 🔄
• Prepare thoughtful questions to ask your interviewer and stand out. 🌟
• Send a follow-up email to thank them for their time and make a lasting impression. 💼

Key Takeaways

• Start your interview prep early and pay attention to your body language! 🙋‍♂️
• Respect everyone you meet; they could influence hiring decisions. 👥
• Practice breathing techniques to stay calm and collected. 🧘‍♀️
• Engage with interviewers by remembering and using their names. 📛
• Prepare answers for common interview questions and practice honesty. 🎤
• Avoid negative comments about past employers and focus on learning experiences. 🧠
• Have a list of thoughtful questions for your employer to show interest. ❓
• Always follow up with a thank you email to leave a lasting impression. 💌

Overview

Job interviews can be overwhelming, but with the right preparation and mindset, they can also be your ticket to career success. In this video, Indeed walks us through a full interview scenario featuring Anya, a fresh business graduate. From understanding when the interview actually starts to knowing how to engage effectively through eye contact and respect, every second counts. Anya's experiences serve as a valuable example of what to do—and what not to do—during an interview.

Nonverbal communication is a silent yet powerful player in interviews. From your posture to your breath, everything sends a signal to your potential employer. Anya highlights the importance of greeting everyone authentically and maintaining eye contact, showcasing her as a courteous and attentive candidate. Her breathing techniques underscore the importance of staying calm and collected, even when the nerves kick in. These subtle but crucial elements help create a positive impression.

No interview is complete without asking some insightful questions of your own. Preparing for common questions and avoiding negativity about past employers can paint you in a favorable light. Anya's journey emphasizes the power of relating past experiences to future goals, focusing on personal growth over complaints. And, of course, no interview wraps up until the follow-up email is sent, underlining your eagerness and professionalism. All these takeaways make the video a handy guide for job seekers.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction to Interview Tips This chapter provides an introduction to interview tips, focusing on how interviews can be a critical component of the job search process. It aims to help readers prepare by examining and analyzing the components of a successful interview from start to finish. Throughout the chapter, the author includes advice on body language, etiquette, and strategies for answering common interview questions. Key topics include the timing of when an interview truly begins, managing nerves, and the appropriate timing for follow-up after an interview. The chapter draws a parallel to athletes using science and data for improvement, suggesting a methodical approach to interview preparation.
• 00:30 - 01:00: Job Science Introduction and Meeting Anya This chapter introduces the concept of job science, focusing on how it applies to job seekers. We meet Anya, a recent graduate with a major in business administration who is currently interviewing for an entry-level project management position. The transcript emphasizes the importance of good posture during an interview, such as keeping the head up, pulling the shoulders back, and avoiding slouching.
• 01:00 - 01:30: First Impressions and Managing Nerves The chapter focuses on the importance of making good first impressions and managing nerves during an interview. It emphasizes that the interview process begins the moment you enter the building and interact with everyone, from security personnel to receptionists. Maintaining eye contact and treating everyone with respect is crucial, as feedback might be sought from anyone you encounter. To manage nerves, it's recommended to stay calm by taking deep breaths before entering, holding it for a count of three, and then slowly breathing out.
• 01:30 - 02:00: Making Introductions and Small Talk The chapter focuses on the art of making introductions and engaging in small talk. It emphasizes greeting people authentically, recommending the use of the person's name immediately upon meeting them to aid memory retention. The chapter also suggests preparing a few current topics or events to ease the flow of small talk conversations before delving into deeper questions.
• 02:00 - 02:30: Answering Common Interview Questions The chapter focuses on answering common interview questions. It highlights the unpredictability of interview questions but suggests that candidates can prepare by practicing answers to frequently asked ones such as 'Why do you want to work here?' and 'What makes you unique?'. The chapter provides a scenario where an interviewer asks, 'Tell me a little about your experience and what you'd bring to this role.' This query aims to understand what makes the candidate stand out. The chapter emphasizes the importance of being honest and suggests taking a moment to pause and think about how one's past experiences align with the new role.
• 02:30 - 03:00: Personal Experience and Constructive Responses In this chapter, the speaker shares personal experiences that highlight their organizational skills and inclination towards project management. From a young age, they have been the organized individual in their family, which they believe naturally led them to a career in project management. They express a love for team building and ensuring everyone is included. The speaker hints at providing constructive responses, suggesting a positive approach towards discussing past experiences without negativity.
• 03:00 - 03:30: Body Language and Nonverbal Cues The chapter emphasizes the importance of demonstrating personality and individuality in job interviews. It suggests that rather than focusing solely on past job roles, candidates should highlight what they have learned from past experiences. An example is given where a candidate mentions leading a team to complete a project ahead of schedule, which not only addresses the question but also showcases personal attributes. The chapter also highlights the significance of body language; practicing polite and confident demeanor, mimicking the interviewer's posture subtly, can help in fostering a connection. Overall, the emphasis is on being oneself and letting one's personality come through in interviews, reinforced by aligning verbal responses with nonverbal communication cues.
• 03:30 - 04:00: Asking the Interviewer Questions The chapter 'Asking the Interviewer Questions' emphasizes the importance of being prepared to ask questions in an interview. It advises candidates to have a list of questions ready for their employer. This preparation allows candidates to engage meaningfully with the employer, as if they are already part of the team. It's crucial to maintain presence and minimize distractions, such as unnecessary movements, to make a good impression.
• 04:00 - 04:30: Post-Interview Follow-Up In the 'Post-Interview Follow-Up' chapter, it is emphasized that asking insightful questions during an interview demonstrates genuine interest and preparedness. Examples of such questions include asking about the company's culture, challenges in the role, and evaluation methods. Additionally, the chapter stresses the importance of sending a thank you email within 24 hours after the interview to express gratitude for the opportunity and to reinforce interest in the position. This follow-up can be brief but should be sincere.

Top Interview Tips: Common Questions, Nonverbal Communication & More | Indeed Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 arguably the most crucial part of the job search an interview can make or break an opportunity so to help you really prepare we're going to dissect and analyze an entire interview from start to finish i'll be sprinkling in a mix of tips about body language etiquette and how to answer common questions like when exactly does the interview start how do you deal with nerves and how soon can you follow up [Music] for years athletes have used science and data analysis to improve now we are
• 00:30 - 01:00 doing the same for job seekers everywhere this is job science meet anya a recent grad majoring in business administration she's interviewing for an entry-level project management position note her posture head up shoulders pulled back no slouching and no
• 01:00 - 01:30 laid-backness the interview begins the minute you walk into the building anya treats everyone in the office with respect while keeping eye contact from security personnel to receptionists anyone you run into on your way in could be asked to give feedback on you it's normal to be nervous when nerves kick in the natural human response is to take short breaths and breathe faster stay calm by taking a deep breath before entering hold it count to three and then slowly breathe out
• 01:30 - 02:00 [Music] pause first ace those introductions greet everyone in a way that is authentic to you like hey nice to meet you and then say their name that one always works you know you're more likely to remember their name if you say it out loud when you first meet a lot of the time small talk comes up before any questions it's good to have a few current events or topics in mind
• 02:00 - 02:30 you can't possibly predict what they're going to ask but you can practice answering the common ones like why do you want to work here what makes you unique let's see what our interviewer asks so i want to hear more tell me a little about your experience and what you'd bring to this role pause when this is asked they're looking to learn what makes you stand out be honest with your answers that means having to pause and think for a second that is all right think about your past experiences and how the role lines up with your
• 02:30 - 03:00 future goals it never hurts to be honest great question ever since i was young i've always been the organized one in my family whether it was helping my parents schedule vacations or color coordinating my closet naturally that lifestyle got me here project management i've been a people person for as long as i can remember plain and simple i love team building and making sure everyone has a part just the other month oh just really quick don't speak negatively about previous
• 03:00 - 03:30 places you've worked instead talk about what you've learned i helped lead a team of five to deliver a three-week sales project a few days ahead of schedule i'd love to bring these things here perfect a response like this not only answers the question but also shows off her personality but remember there's no one right way to interview and answer questions be yourself and let your personality shine be aware of your movements practice polite confident body language subtly miming your interviewer's posture can actually create a sense of connection of all
• 03:30 - 04:00 places unnecessary movements are hard to ignore in an interview whether it's tapping your fingers or bouncing your leg be aware and stay present hey it's been great chatting so far i guess my last question is do you have any questions for me oh this is a hot one make sure to have a short list of questions for your employer in your back pocket ask the questions you would if you got the job tomorrow was your first day or do you want to know from the manager even if you don't have
• 04:00 - 04:30 any burning questions asking a few shows that you did your homework and that you really care some include what do you like best about working here what are some mistakes people have made in this position what is a goal you're currently working toward how will my performance be evaluated well i did read that you're expanding your sophomore team next quarter i'm curious how you plan to carry that out the interview isn't actually over always follow up within 24 hours with a thank you email to the hiring manager this can be a quick note simply thanking them for their time for a longer one
• 04:30 - 05:00 that elaborates on some of the things you talked about it's key to leaving a lasting impression this was the breakdown of an interview till next time [Music] you