Interview - success tips

 How to psychologically excel at interviews, and edge past the competition:


1. Show tons of energy: because most candidates are nervous and intimidated, a great way to stand out from the crowd is to show tremendous optimism and energy about the organization you're interviewing at. Describe why you believe in their mission, what you like about them, and how their vision aligns with yours. I can bet that very few people are already doing this.

2. Speak with passion - when you're recalling your previous work experiences, side projects, or extracurricular activities, always talk very passionately and intricately about them. The interviewer should be able to feel your energy and that spark in your eyes. This will again demonstrate that if they do hire you, you will completely immerse yourself in that job and have the passion to bring positive results.

3. Intellectual humility: there will often be times during an interview where you do not know the answer to a certain question. Instead of beating around the bush, proclaim with sincere honesty that you do not know the answer to that question. That shows people on the other side that you have a certain confidence to accept your blind spots, and makes you more likely to be trusted.

4. Show that you can be an all-rounder: companies don't just want a "software engineer" or a "business analyst" - they want people who are multidisciplinary - show them that you can contribute to marketing, sales, analytics, recruitment etc. Demonstrate that you have a multidimensional point of view, and that your previous experiences have enabled you to contribute to multiple functions.

5. Always engage the interviewer - people sitting on the other side of the table don't get to speak much during the interview (because they're just asking you questions). A great way to stand out is to thoughtfully engage with them and give them a chance to teach you. Prepare a few open-ended questions about their experiences in the company or where they think the industry is headed. It shows a certain confidence on your part and they also get to express their thoughts (which all of want to do, but don't get enough opportunities to do so).

All of the above are psychological in nature, and are meant to project you as someone who is dependable, well-rounded, confident and energetic. Most candidates will not have the boldness to do this, and it allows you to show your personality and soft skills to the interviewer.