If you set a career-related new years resolution, interviewing for jobs may be a top priority on your to-do list. But the question is, how do you stand out from the crowd and convince the people interviewing you that you’re an irreplaceable asset to the team? Fear not! Here are some ways you can ace your next interview.
Practice, practice, practice
Not surprisingly, LinkedIn found that 54 percent of jobseekers say that the interview phase is challenging due to lack of confidence and uncertainty. Get ready with interview preparation tools on LinkedIn, where you can access videos and tips from experts and hiring managers to answer the most common interview questions. And, if you’re interviewing for a sales or finance-related job, we’re introducing interview preparation tools that you can use for the nearly 2 million jobs in sales and finance on LinkedIn*. Use this resource as a way to be better prepared and feel more confident. You can find these interview preparation tools by visiting your applied jobs page.
Sharpen your skills
Remember, nobody has all the answers and investing in learning skills is an invaluable exercise to put into practice. LinkedIn Learning has courses that can help you improve your skills so you can highlight them to a potential employer. From learning how to unlock your creativity to tips on how to attract recruiters, you can brush up on your skills and feel more confident during the interview process. And, if you want to get sharp on the top skills in demand, check out this list of skills that recruiters are looking for now and how to obtain them.
Polish your profile
Having a complete profile will help ensure you’re best representing yourself to hiring managers who may be checking out your background before your interview. In addition to including a photo, your location and current position, it’s also a good idea to include a few bullets on your responsibilities for each job you’ve held within your experience section. This will help hiring managers understand whether your current skills can transfer to the job you’re applying for.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate when it comes to salary
Whether you’re just starting your career journey, or looking for something new, it’s important to be transparent with yourself about what an ideal salary range looks like. For many professionals, salary is a top career motivator and one of the first things job seekers want to know about a role. Check out LinkedIn Salary Insights, a way you can explore compensation details on open roles by job location, educational requirements and more. We also surface estimated salary ranges on open job postings, so you can make more informed decisions about your next opportunity. Being armed with the right information before you talk numbers can make all the difference in your approach, your confidence and ultimately in the success of your salary negotiations.
So there you have it; our top tips to prepare for your next job interview. If putting this into practice and finding a new job is among your 2020 resolutions, don’t forget that LinkedIn has millions of jobs and the right one for you.
*Methodology: research was conducted using LinkedIn Talent Insights that found 1.8 million open jobs on LinkedIn in sales and finance functions as of January 2020.