A combination of textbook knowledge, training, and practice can often be used to improve interview skills. Researching common interview questions and desirable responses can help you gain a better understanding of successful interviewing from the perspective of both the hiring manager and the job applicant. It’s also a good idea to research how to dress for interviews, as well as the laws and etiquette that apply to the interview process. Understanding the opposite role can help you better prepare for unexpected or difficult questions, whether you’ll be conducting interviews or being interviewed.
A mock interview is a great way to practice for a real interview. You can do this alone or with a partner to help you improve your interview skills. Place two chairs at a comfortable distance apart to do the exercise yourself. As you take turns acting as the interviewer and the interviewee, move from chair to chair. If someone else is assisting you, have them take one role while you answer or ask questions in the other.
Many people find that practicing interviewing skills, such as anticipating answers to questions or considering what questions to ask, makes the actual interview seem less daunting. If playing the roles of interviewer and interviewee doesn’t seem to be helping you as much as you’d like, there are other ways to improve your interviewing skills. Many business schools offer interview preparation in the form of face-to-face classes or online courses. Interviewing is usually covered in at least one chapter in business textbooks for supervision or management classes. Many community job clubs and employment resource centers offer free interview skills training.
The more real interviews you have, the better your interviewing skills will become. Instead of letting any mistakes you make while trying to improve your interview skills bring your self-confidence down, learn from them. Preparing for interviews in terms of what to wear and how to act during them can make the actual experiences much more pleasant. You should be aware of laws prohibiting you from asking job applicants certain questions, such as whether they are married or what their religious beliefs are, especially if you are the interviewer. Even if you’re the interviewee, knowing what questions are allowed is a good idea because a company that doesn’t follow the law when it comes to hiring practices isn’t likely to be a good place to work.