You found an awesome job online, applied and got a call from a recruiter who wants to schedule an upcoming interview. Here are some interviewing tips to help you get ready. Even the most qualified job seekers need to prepare for a job interview. These particular skills are learned over time and there are no second chances when it comes to making a great first impression. 

Nonverbal Communication Skills

When it comes to demonstrating confidence, make sure you are standing up straight, making direct eye contact and connecting with a firm handshake. The first nonverbal impression can be a great beginning to your interview.

How To Dress For The Interview

It is important to know what to wear to an interview whether it is conducted online or in person. If you wear something less formal you will want to keep in mind the company culture and the position that you are seeking. If possible, call or research further to find out about the company dress code before the interview.

Listen

From the very beginning of the interview, your interviewer is giving you information either directly or indirectly. If you are not hearing it, you are missing a major opportunity. Good communication skills include listening and letting the person know you heard what was said. Observe your interviewer while matching that style and pace.

Don't Talk Too Much 

Giving the interviewer more than they need to know could be a mistake. When you have not prepared ahead of time, you may ramble when answering interview questions. Prepare for the interview by reading through the job posting, matching your relevant skills with the position's requirements and relating only that information which can be beneficial regarding your potential candidacy. You can also reach out to a career coach who specializes in interviewing techniques so they can help you get ready for your upcoming interview.

Don't Be Too Familiar 

The interview is a professional meeting in order to talk business. Your level of familiarity should compliment the interviewer's questions. It is important to bring energy and enthusiasm to the interview and to ask questions without going overboard.

Utilize Appropriate Language

It is a given that you should use professional language during the interview. Don’t stray from this.

Don't Be Full Of Yourself

Attitude plays an integral role when it comes to your interview success. There is a fine line between confidence and professionalism. If you are putting on a performance in order to demonstrate your ability, overconfidence can be perceived as bad by the interviewer. 

Answer The Questions

When interviewers ask for an example of a time when you contributed positively towards the company’s bottom line, they are asking behavioral interview questions which are designed to elicit a sample of your past behavior. If you fail to relate a specific example, you not only don't answer the question but you also miss an opportunity to prove your ability and talk about your transferable skills.

Ask Thoughtful Questions

When asked if you have any questions, most candidates answer, "No." Part of knowing how to interview is being ready to ask relevant questions that demonstrate an interest in what goes on within the company. The best questions come from listening to what you are asked during the interview and asking for additional information.

Don't Come Off As Desperate

When you interview with the "please hire me" approach, you appear desperate and less confident. Make sure you come off as calm, cool and collected.

You have a reputation for being the best in your field but it amounts to very little if you don’t work well with others. Some of the most important professional skills for workers and employers can’t be taught in a classroom or measured via analytics. These traits are often called soft skills and are imperative to the success of your job search.

One reason soft skills are so important is that they help facilitate a human connection. Recruiters anticipate that they will see the biggest gaps in communication, problem solving, critical thinking and dependability in potential candidates.

What Exactly Are Soft Skills?

Hard skills can be proven and measured but soft skills are difficult to quantify in the same way. Some relevant examples of soft skills include analytical thinking, verbal and written communication in addition to leadership expertise. You can be the best at what you do but if your soft skills are not up to par, you are limiting your chances of career success. Read on to learn which soft skills are critical to have and what steps you can take to acquire them if necessary.

Relevant Soft Skills 

1. Communication

Written and verbal communication skills are important because they set the tone for how you will be seen professionally within the workplace. It can also improve your chances of building long term relationships with your colleagues. Communication skills can boost your overall performance because they enable you to extract clear expectations from your manager so that you can deliver excellent work on a consecutive basis. Workers are more productive when they know how to communicate with their peers. If you can clearly express who, what, when, where, why and how of a project, you will become in demand.

2. Teamwork

A company’s success is rarely dependent on one person doing everything by themselves (unless you are a freelancer or small business). Success is the result of many people working towards a common goal. When employees can combine varied talents, it can only help the company succeed. Employers rely on valuable team players in order to help build a friendly office culture which helps retain employees and in turn attracts top talent. Being able to collaborate well with your co-workers in turn strengthens the quality of your work deliverables.

3. Adaptability

Soft skills can help you manage reality on a day to day basis. Successful leaders know how and when to be flexible. Sometimes you need to be able to pivot and find different solutions to various issues that arise. Employers need workers who can adapt to shifts and help to keep the company current.

4. Problem Solving

When something goes wrong, you can either complain or take action. Nothing is a given and companies rely on problem solvers when it comes to navigating unexpected challenges.

5. Critical Observation

Data analytics don’t mean much if you don’t know how to interpret it. How can you determine relevant patterns? Companies need critical thinkers who bring a fresh perspective and offer intuitive solutions in order to help the company get ahead by improving internal processes. To become a critical observer, you need to analyze information and put it to use. One tactic is to try to identify relevant patterns of behavior. Does your supervisor read the weekly sales reports? What was their reaction to bad news during the staff meeting? By observing how people respond to the constant flow of information you can better understand the critical aspects of improving business operations.

6. Conflict Resolution

Any time there is more than one employee in a business, there is going to be conflict. Being able to resolve issues will help you maintain relationships more effectively. Constructively working through disagreements with people is a sure indicator of professionalism as well as leadership potential. Someone like this helps to promote a healthy and collaborative work environment.

7. Leadership

Bringing confidence and a clear vision to the table can help influence your co-workers and get them on board with your ideas. Displaying leadership skills help you gain visibility within an organization which can lead to more opportunities for promotions. Bosses and managers are looking for employees with leadership potential because those workers will one day be taking over the reins and building on the company’s legacy.

Evaluating a job offer can be exciting but also overwhelming at the same time. Keep reading in order to learn how to effectively evaluate a job offer. You do not want to take a job that sounds fantastic only to find yourself working in a confined cubicle for 10 hours a day with coworkers who do not even talk to you.

A candidate should consider the entire picture by making a list of what you need and want from your next position. Make a dedicated effort to envision your life currently as well as six months from now. If it has improved then this job could be a great fit. If not, you should probably keep looking. Use the following checklist to evaluate your job offer.

Money

Salary is most likely your first consideration when it comes to determining whether a job is going to be a great fit. Once you are offered a salary, double check your budget to ensure that it is enough for your needs. This is especially important if the job requires relocation or a major change in your daily commute. After calculating any additional expenses, make sure you have enough money left over to contribute to your retirement as well as your savings.

Here are some additional financial aspects to consider when evaluating a job offer:

• Bonus(es) - Is there a sign-on bonus or an opportunity to earn performance-based bonuses in the future?
• Health insurance and wellness benefits - Analyzing the premium you will pay out of pocket and compare that with the co-pays and deductibles. You should compare traditional plans with any high-deductible options.
• Retirement - Factor in personal contributions, employer matching and any pre-tax savings.
• Profit-sharing or stock options - Request additional details from your recruiter to find out if this is part of your compensation plan.
• Relocation assistance - If you have to move, is the company paying for your expenses?
• Ancillary benefits - Ancillary or voluntary benefits include cancer insurance, life insurance, identity theft protection or legal services. Some companies include free transportation passes so make sure to ask.

Company Culture

It is important that it pays your bills but you also want to feel like you fit in. Here are some things to consider:

• Work environment - Take a tour including where you would be seated. Can you envision yourself working in that particular space? If it is a large room with cubicles, is there a place to go to make private calls on your break or lunch? Are the other employees happy or overwhelmed? Is there natural lighting near the window? What is the dress code?
• Professional development - Inquire about potential opportunities for advancement, obtaining new certifications and receiving additional development training as needed.

Take Your Needs Into Consideration

As in-office culture is important, so is the balance your job strikes with the rest of your life. When evaluating a job offer, ask yourself if you will get to spend time with loved ones, travel, etc?

Make sure to get everything in writing. Here's what you should consider:

• Travel requirements - How much travel will be required and what expenses will be reimbursed? 
• Paid time off, vacations, personal or sick days, family leave - Find out upfront about the company’s time-off policies.
• Remote work - Are you allowed to work from home part time or full time?
• Schedule flexibility - It can be difficult to negotiate more flexibility once you have started, so go for it in the beginning preferably before you start. You can also check the company careers page to see if they mention flexible work arrangements.