How to convince the employer that you are the right choice

PickJobs brings you the best ways to prepare for a job interview and how to convince an employer that you are the best choice!

Properly preparing for a job interview requires a lot more than Googling a list of common interview questions (although you should be prepared for those, too). You need to make a great first impression (without showing up in wrinkled suits or being late), research the company and its products, mission and vision, and of course explain to the potential employer why you would be a great employee for the job.

To help you prepare, we've compiled a list of our all-time best pre-interview tips.

Research the company

Spend a few hours researching everything you can about the company — from as many sources as possible. Talk to people in your network to find current and former employees, read current news releases and, yes, spend some time on Google. Candidates often only look at the information that the company puts out on its website and social media accounts, but miss out on taking a closer look at what others are saying. By looking at multiple sources, you'll get a bigger picture of the company and be ready to talk about why you'd like to work there and what you can do for them.

Find out everything you can about the open position

Before you can show your interviewer why you'd be a great hire, you need to know what they're looking for. Fortunately, most organizations have stated exactly what they want from a candidate in their job ad. So, go back to the description you looked at before you signed up. What skills and experiences stand out? What problems will the new employee have to solve? These are the things you want to emphasize during your interview.

Try the company's product or service (when you can)

If the company you are interviewing for sells a product that you can check out - try it before the interview (ideally, several times). If you are engaged, your goal will be to create value for the people who use that product, and the first step is to be a user. Additionally, it will help show the hiring manager that you are truly interested in the role.

Learn about recruiters (but not in a creepy and creepy way)

If you are not told who you will be meeting with during the interview, ask. For each interviewer, find out what their role is in the company and prepare some questions that are specific to them. You can ask for details about their role, discuss current events related to their field, or mention a common interest you know they have outside the office.

Recognize your strengths for the job

Even if you're a well-oiled interview machine, it's important to spend time thinking carefully about what skills, accomplishments, and interview answers will resonate most with your interviewers for the job. Your managerial skills? Your creativity? Go back to your research and see what makes you the most qualified.

Be prepared to tell something about yourself

For each interview, you will want to have an answer to "Tell me about yourself" that is tailored to that particular job and company and willingness to work. Interviewers almost always ask this or a similar question—like "Take me through your resume"—to start the conversation, so you want to make sure you're going down the right path.

Decide why you are interested in that particular position in that company

You will likely be asked why you are interested in this role and company. (After all, if you can't answer this question, you shouldn't be in the interview!) To make sure you can answer it, identify a few key factors about the job and the organization that align with your skills, interests, and/or style of work. Even if you are not specifically asked about this, you can use this in your answers to other questions.

Explore salary details

Even if you're not ready to talk about money, they might still ask you about your salary expectations. To avoid being caught off guard and giving (or agreeing to) a figure that's too low, do some average salary research to find out how to respond.

Get ready to talk about yourself

Most interviewers will ask at least a few questions about your personality and character, or questions about how you have acted or would act in certain scenarios. While you can't anticipate every possible situation you'll be asked about, you can prepare a few stories about your previous work experiences that you can adapt as needed.