Whether you’re starting your first job or gunning for a product manager position, it is undeniable that job interviews can make or break your chances of getting that position. Whether you hate them or love them, job interviews give hiring managers a better peek at your character, demeanor, and personality, which many organizations deem very important.
There’s no exact formula on how to ace an interview. But there is one common denominator among hiring managers, CEOs, or supervisors doing the interviews—they want to know the value you’ll bring to the organization. After all, hiring people is an investment. At the end of the day, those with the potential to bring the maximum return for a position will succeed especially at an age where the future of work is already shaped by AI and automation.
In this article, we’ve interviewed CEOs to share some must-know tips job seekers need to remember to ace your next interview.
Know the company and job position
They say, “The prepared man has his battle half fought.” This is especially true for those waiting and preparing for their next job interview.
Nora Sudduth, Founder & Owner of Nora Sudduth Consulting, says, “Preparing for a job interview does not only mean equipping yourself with communication and technical skills but with enough knowledge of who you’re talking to.” She expands, “You can’t rush into a job interview not knowing the industry or the basic function of the job you’re applying for. Your interviewers know when you’ve done your research, so it’s best to be prepared beforehand.”
Here are some crucial information you need to know before getting into your job interview:
The company’s basic information includes its line of business, years in operation, mission and vision, purpose, and values. Knowing these will give you an edge during job interviews, as mentioning the company's mission, vision, and values that align with yours will help you stand out.
Thoroughly reading the published job description. Some job applicants rush into a job interview without thoroughly reading if they meet all the requirements, wasting time for both parties. If the company is looking for someone with experience in inventory management software for the metal industry, mention your relevant experience as a starting point in the interview.
Practice interview questions
Standard interview questions like “Tell me about yourself” or “Why did you choose to apply to this company?” are common but necessary questions interviewers ask to kick off the conversation, and preparing for them beforehand will greatly help boost your confidence. You can also use new technologies like AI or Generative AI to help you, adding your personal touches to the product.
Albert Kim, VP of Talent at Checkr, says, “Your interviewers will know if you’ve prepared by answering the standard interview questions, and it actually is a green flag for most of us. It shows your enthusiasm and determination to impress. However, the content of your answers matters, too.”
Albert Kim emphasizes focusing on the following topics for standard interview questions:
Tell me about yourself. Discuss your positive traits as an employee and how these will help you in the organization.
Why did you choose this company? Focus on the common ground between you and the company.
What are your weaknesses and strengths? Talk about your professional weaknesses and strengths and how these contribute to you achieving your goals.
Be ready for unconventional questions
If there are standard interview questions, some hiring managers can be very creative in asking unconventional questions to test the applicant's character and personality.
Sabas Lin, CTO at Knowee, says, “Gone are the days when job interviews used to be plain and boring. Modern hiring managers, especially Millenials, love to ask out-of-the-box questions to catch applicants off guard and see how well they can adapt to a specific community.” She adds, “These questions can sometimes be weird and random to the ears, but it’s not the question that matters—it’s how well you respond to it.”
Here are some unconventional, out-of-the-box interview questions your hiring managers may ask you:
What three items would you take to a deserted island and why?
If you could be an office supply, what would you be and why?
Describe the job you’re applying for to a 5-year-old.
What does not excite you about this job?
If money wasn’t a problem, what would you be doing today?
Focus on your contributions
The secret to acing your next interview is to remember one thing: sell yourself. However, this does not mean outrightly parading the list of your awards, achievements, and honors unwarranted, as this may cause you to come off cocky and proud. What you can do, however, is lowkey incorporate your positive traits, achievements, and workplace success into your interviewer's questions.
Gary Hemming, Owner & Finance Director at ABC Finance, says, “During a job interview, what most people don’t tell you is that questions aren’t merely questions—they’re an opportunity for you to highlight your skills and values that can help the organization.” He adds, “So instead of just saying that you’re an effective digital marketer, elaborate on how you’ve optimized your social media strategies with A/B testing from your previous employer.”
Be specific and give examples
Before you’re interviewed, your hiring managers have thoroughly read your resume, CV, pre-interview tests, and essays. During an interview, avoid answering questions by repeating what your resume says—elaborate on them.
If you’re applying for a digital marketer position and you’ve indicated blogging for small businesses as part of your job experience, try elaborating on some of your positive and negative experiences from your previous role, what you’ve learned from it, or how those experiences have honed you into the person you are now ready to take on more challenging roles.
Adam Tishman, Co-Founder at Helix Sleep, says, “Don’t skip on your failures and mishaps from your experiences during your job interview. If anything, this helps your interviewers assess how you cope and recover from problems, a skill learned from experience rather than taught.”
Communicate properly and effectively
Jarret Austin, Owner of Bankruptcy Canada, emphasizes the importance of proper communication during a job interview: “The content of your answer is only as important as the manner in which you communicate it.” She adds, “Before you are understood, you first need to be heard—loudly, clearly, and properly.”
To be a proper communicator, one needs to:
Speak at an appropriate volume. Depending on where you are, make sure to modulate your voice so that your interviewers can hear you properly.
Speak clearly. In a professional setting, speak in a language you and your interviewers are comfortable with. Avoid jargon and slang during interviews.
Avoid unnecessary words. Avoid fillers like “Uhm,” “Ah,” and “Eh” during job interviews, as they can be distracting to your interviewers and are usually a sign of unpreparedness and low confidence.
Mind your body language
One of the most underrated tips for acing job interviews is keeping your body language in check—including your eyes, hands, feet, facial muscles, and posture. Like the way you speak, the way your body moves can show how enthusiastic or unprepared you are during a job interview, and many recruiters find this a tell-tale sign of an ineffective communicator.
Jonathan Feniak, General Counsel at LLC Attorney, says, “Even during court hearings or cross-examinations, you can tell from a person’s body language whether they’re lying or not.” He adds, “This is how big body language plays when speaking to someone. Your body should be relaxed and your eyes focused if you're confident. When you’re lying and nervous, your body tends to tense up, all jittery.”
To help you relax and ace your interview, remember to maintain eye contact with your interviewer and avoid fiddling with your hands, face, or hair. Keep your posture straight but relaxed, and remember to smile appropriately occasionally.
Dress accordingly
A job interview isn’t exactly a war, but dressing up appropriately for a job interview can act as your armor to help you become more confident and poised and leave a good impression on your recruiters even before the interview starts.
Jeffrey Zhou, CEO and Founder of Fig Loans, says, “First impressions leave deep impressions, whether we like it or not. Humans are visual creatures and rely heavily on visual cues to help us remember a thing or a person.” He adds, “Your choice of clothing, styling, and grooming matters for employers as it shows how well you manage yourself, which can also reflect how you manage your work and your people.”
Dressing accordingly means dressing professionally during a job interview to show respect for the company, the recruiters, and the interview process, even in a remote work setting—and this isn’t limited to clothes, either! Make sure you are well-groomed for a job interview by applying appropriate makeup and a hairdo that’s decent and presentable but not over the top.
Prepare your own questions
Morgan Taylor, Co-Founder of Jolly SEO, shares an important tip for job applicants. “Before the end of an interview, some recruiters would ask if you have some questions for them, and saying ‘No’ or ‘None’ is a bad way to end.” He adds, “This is a final question from the recruiters to assess your interest in the company or if you’ve been paying attention to the interview all this while—they want you to ask questions and be interested.”
Here are some examples of the most common and effective questions that your recruiters would love to hear:
How would you describe the culture of the company?
What made you stay in the company?
What’s the salary range for this role?
Why has this position become available?
What does the team’s typical workday include?
Express gratitude
Your post-interview preparation is just as important as your pre-interview preparation, so don’t forget to thank your interviewer for their time and effort in inviting you to an interview. Express your appreciation for their insightful questions and for making you comfortable throughout the process.
Brooke Webber, Head of Marketing at Ninja Patches, says, “Expressing gratitude and thanking them for specific things that happened during the interview shows how detail-oriented and appreciative you are, helping positively end the entire process, leaving you a deep impression with your interviewers.”
Acing your next job interview
A job interview can be nerve-wracking for many, and acing them seems like a momentous feat that only a few can achieve. However, with the right preparation, practice, and proper communication through words and body language, your job interview can go as smoothly and easily as possible.
Remember: recruiters and interviewers are not there to drive you away but to help you assess whether you’re the right fit for their organization. You'll find yourself acing your interviews when you and your organization are a perfect fit—no sweat.
