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Ace Your Job Interview

Job interviews are your time to shine by demonstrating your skills and enthusiasm for the role. They are also your chance to see if the job is a good fit for you and your career goals. So gear up and get prepared. Follow these five steps, and you are all set to ace your job interview.

“The job interview is an opportunity for both parties to see if there's a match - not a one-way street.” – Matthew T. Cross

01 Prepare for Different Types of Interviews

Identifying the type of interview is crucial because each type of interview requires different preparation. Being prepared boosts your confidence and performance, getting you one step closer to landing that dream job!

In-Person Interviews

Traditional face-to-face Interviews are the best opportunity to build rapport and showcase your personality and communication skills. Preparation tip: Dress appropriately, arrive on time, and bring extra copies of your resume.

Download this guide on essential pre-interview preparation.

Video Interviews

A live video interview is a job interview that takes place remotely, usually through a video conferencing platform like Zoom or Skype. It allows you to interact with the interviewer just like in a face-to-face interview but from the comfort of your own space.

Asynchronous video interviews are where you need to record your answers to questions. For this format, it is essential to plan your answers but avoid sounding rehearsed. You usually only get one chance to record your answer, so take a deep breath and take your time.

VMock Interview platform is a 24/7 virtual interview practice platform that utilises artificial intelligence to evaluate and give feedback on your responses to interview questions. Many NUS students have benefited from receiving instant personalised feedback on their video interviews.

Try it out here

Several other interview formats may be part of your hiring process.

Download this guide for what to expect on all the main interview formats.

Larger organisations also include assessment centres as part of their hiring process, which can include various tests, group interviews, and presentations.

View this guide to learn more about assessment centres.

02 Organise, Prepare and Research

Being organised and prepared for job interviews is critical. It gives you confidence and demonstrates that you are serious about the role.

Prepare for the interview format

Confirm the date, time, and format of the interview and prepare accordingly. For instance, if it's a phone interview, ensure you're in a quiet place with good phone reception. If it's a video interview, test your technology beforehand.

Dressing Professionally

A professional appearance is essential for making a good first impression. Your research on the company culture will help guide your outfit choice, but when in doubt, go for a more formal look.

Research

Understand the company, the role, and the industry. For example, know the company's mission, its products and services, and its competitors.

Download this guide to know the key items to research about the role and company guide.

03 Answer Questions Confidently using Frameworks

Types of Interview Questions

Personal Narrative

Personal Narrative questions are about you as an individual. They often require you to share about your background, education, interests, motivations, and long-term career goals.

Examples include:

"Tell me about yourself."

"Why did you choose your particular field of study?"

Behavioural

Behavioural questions ask you to provide real-life examples of how you have handled certain situations or exhibited specific skills in the past. The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is a popular approach to answering these types of questions.

Examples include:

"Can you give me an example of a time when you had to deal with a difficult co-worker?"

"Describe a time when you had to handle multiple responsibilities at once. How did you manage it?"

Industry Awareness

Industry Awareness: These questions test your knowledge of the industry you are hoping to work in, to see if you've been keeping up with recent developments and trends.

Examples include:

"What trends do you currently see in our industry?"

"Can you identify a recent development in our industry that could impact our company?"

Hypothetical and Situational

Hypothetical and Situational questions ask you to imagine yourself in a hypothetical situation and describe how you would respond. They are designed to assess your problem-solving skills, decision-making process, and sometimes your ethical standards.

Examples include:

"What would you do if you disagreed with your manager's decision?"

"How would you handle a situation where you had to meet a tight deadline?"

Skill-Based & Technical

Skill-Based & Technical questions are meant to assess your specific job-related skills and technical knowledge.

Examples for a software engineering role might include:

"Can you describe your experience with programming in Python?"

"How do you debug a programme that's crashing?"

Download this summary to learn the different types of interview frameworks and examples.

04 Get Practice

Practicing before a job interview is essential to gain confidence, develop effective communication skills, and reduce any stress or anxiety that may arise during the actual interview.

Here are some ways to practise for an upcoming job interview.

Peer Practice

Practicing with a friend or classmate is an excellent way to rehearse under less pressure. They can provide honest feedback on your answers, body language, and overall presentation.

Career Advisory Session

Career advisors can simulate a real interview scenario, provide constructive feedback, and offer personalised tips to enhance your interview skills. Click here to book a session.

Tech Tool Rehearsal

Click here to get free access to the VMock video interview practice tool.

05 End Strong

"An interview is more than just answering questions. It is an opportunity to learn more about the company by asking your own questions of the interviewer."

Ask Good Questions

Asking good questions at the end of an interview is essential. It demonstrates your genuine interest in the job and the company and helps you figure out if the role and company is a good fit with your own goals, ambitions, and working style.

Here are a few examples of good questions to ask:

About the role: "Can you tell me more about the day-to-day responsibilities of this job?" This can help you get a clearer picture of what the job entails beyond the job description.
About the team: "Can you describe the team I would be working with?" Understanding the team dynamics can give you insights into the company culture and how you might fit in.
About the company culture: "How would you describe the company culture here?" This can give you an idea of the working environment and values of the company and whether it is a good fit with your working style.

Wondering what types of questions you should avoid?

Download this guide to learn about the key questions not to ask.

Follow up and Connect

Following up after an interview shows that you are professional and keen about the role. It is a chance to thank the interviewer, stay top of mind and clarify any interview points. Do not forget this crucial step!

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Download this guide for some ideas on how you can follow-up after a job interview.

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