No two interviews are alike, making it difficult to find a one-size-fits-all script that is guaranteed to land your dream job. That said, there are some hard and fast rules about what you should and shouldn’t say in an interview.
As you prepare for your one-on-one interview with the company and wonder what to say in your interview, learn about these candidate-tested and HR-approved statements.
Things To Say In a Job Interview
If you seek the best outcome from a job interview, below are the 9 things to say in a job interview that can skyrocket your chances of getting the job.
1. Show that you know everything about the company
Researching a company before interviewing is a surefire way to show your interest and curiosity. Plus, researching beforehand can provide you with answers to all kinds of interview questions that are likely to come up in your interview.
When the hiring manager asks you why you want the job, you can give a general answer or you can go into details about the company and the position. Say something like, “I’d love to work for the company that is at the forefront of innovation and emerging technology, and your department’s work is truly inspiring.” Where possible, offer details to show the depth of your research.
Enthusiasm is contagious and a positive attitude is exactly the kind of emotional virus employers can’t wait to spread. Start the interview with a firm handshake and a smile, and end it by expressing how excited you are to get to work.
2. Show you are a good team player
The ability to work in a team is the most important quality employers look for in a new hire. Highlight those moments when you collaborated with colleagues to produce an award-winning ad campaign or when you and your colleagues put their heads together to create a last-minute project in record time. This is your time to show off your critical soft skills, such as collaboration and project management, but make sure you recognize that other people have played a role in helping you achieve your goals.
3. Show off your relevant experience
You’ve learned how to write a resume that grabs the reader’s attention, so your interviewer is already somewhat familiar with your work history and skills. However, there is nothing more valuable than discussing your experience in an interview. Explain your key responsibilities from previous positions relevant to the current job, and emphasize how the skills you master will help this company achieve its goals.
4. Reveal your passion for the company
Hiring managers are often critical of the companies they work for, and if you have a conversation with an owner/operator, you can expect even more loyalty and diligence. You’ve already shown that you’re familiar with the brand (see above), but here you’ll discuss all those industry publications you subscribe to and the influencers whose social media feeds you browse every day.
Just say in an interview, “I recently looked at Bob the Plumber’s LinkedIn article and loved his insight into the future of mechanical plungers,” and you’ll deftly illustrate that you know your stuff and are ready to be taken seriously. . Something to avoid: too many buzzwords. All the newfangled vocabulary in the world doesn’t matter if you don’t have the understanding and vision to back it up.
5. Reveal your ambition, but show that you have perseverance
When companies lose an employee, it can cost up to double that employee’s salary to find a suitable replacement. That hefty price tag contributes to:
- The cost of advertising, interviewing and screening a new employee
- Training and management time
- Loss of productivity while the position is not filled
- Negative impact on morale (which often means a dip in productivity and overall employee satisfaction)
It’s no wonder, then, that employers want to measure a candidate’s level of engagement before putting offers on the table. That’s why it’s important to measure what you say in an interview.
It’s fine – even great – to show that you have ambition, but it’s best if that ambition is to move up the ranks of this company rather than elsewhere. Tell the interviewer that you’re looking for a career, not just a job, and that you’re willing to take the time it takes to make this situation work.
6. Make it clear that you can’t wait to get started
Enthusiasm is contagious and a positive attitude is exactly the kind of emotional virus employers can’t wait to spread. Start the interview with a firm handshake and a smile, and end it by expressing how excited you are to get to work. There’s no need to be too bold, but stating your availability and expressing your optimism about the position and what you’ll bring to the team is a great way to wrap up the meeting. Bonus points if you follow up on what you say in an interview with a handwritten note or personalized email to the recruiter expressing those feelings and thanking them again for their time.
7. Express your curiosity and eagerness to learn
Yes, you have already come to this company with all kinds of experience and talent, but there is always room to grow. By indicating that you are willing to learn more about your position, the company in general and the entire industry you will be working in, you are flying your flexibility flag. Stiffness is not an attractive trait in an employee, but employees who are nimble enough to bob and weave when unforeseen challenges rear their ugly heads are indeed very valuable.
8. Hint you’re already brainstorming
You think you’re the bee’s knees, but so are any other candidate. Why should the company care about you? Why are you worth his time? One way to set yourself apart is to come armed with a plan for how to excel in your role and what you would do differently to address existing pain points and help the company achieve its goals.
Of course, you don’t have too many details until you have access to proprietary information that you certainly won’t get until the interview has even taken place. Still, you can come up with general ideas and discuss why they would work. From the team-building exercises that made you a stronger leader to the accounting change that revolutionized the spending habits of your former company, the lessons you learned in the past can now be put to good use.
Also Read – 10 Obvious Signs a Job Interview Went Well
9. Express your gratitude
Gratitude is a powerful thing. Appreciating the positive events and relationships in your daily life can increase your mental, emotional and physical well-being. In addition, being grateful for receiving a meet-and-greet can increase the chances of getting hired.
Rather than pretending your presence is a gift, treat the interview as the opportunity it really is. Of the hundreds of people who submit resumes for a particular position, only 2 percent actually get an interview. There are many people who could be in your place. Say thank you and balance your confidence with some humility.
Final Thoughts
Getting a job isn’t as difficult as most job seekers think, but a lack of preparation can reduce your chances of getting a job.
If you can secure a job interview, automatically you have a 50 per cent chance of landing the job. And if you prepare very well for the interview, especially when you follow the 9 things to say in a job interview as highlighted in this article, you will have more than an 80 percent chances of getting the job.
