You’ve finally done it: you’ve landed your first job interview. You are excited, but also nervous. What if you don’t have enough work experience to be able to answer all of the recruiter’s questions? How can you pass the interview with flying colors even if you might not be as qualified as the other candidates?
Here’s how You Can Still Ace Every Interview Question without No Relevant Job Experience
1. Look for transferable skills
You may actually have relevant job experience and you don’t even know it. Take a good hard look at your resume and think about your past roles. You might be able to talk about how the skills you gained in a previous job are transferable to this new position you are seeking. For example, you can talk about how you work well in teams due to a past project. Give examples to emphasize your great communication skills.
2. Prepare answers to common interview questions
There are certain questions that are asked in almost every interview, no matter what kind of job you’re going for. Being as prepared as possible will help you exude confidence once you’re in the room with the recruiter.
Sometimes, interviewers like to ask tricky questions. Make sure you prepare solid answers to appear confident and professional. This is one of the best strategies to practice if you are coming into the interview with little to no work experience.
Some common interview questions include:
- Tell us a little about yourself.
- Why do you think you’re qualified for the job?
- What are your biggest strengths and weaknesses?
- Can you explain your employment gap?
- Do you work well with others?
- Do you have any questions for us?
Always prepare some questions to ask in return as well. That will make you seem like you have a vested interest in the organization and the individuals who work there.
3. Be as honest as possible
Honesty is the best policy in any professional environment. If you lack the necessary skills for the job, do not lie and say you do, in fact, have the skills. Not only will you be forced to maintain that lie forever if you’re hired, but it really does nothing to back up your claim that you are fit for the job. It will become obvious as soon as you’re hired that you don’t actually know what you are doing.
If you truly don’t know the answer to something, just say so. You can talk about how you look forward to opportunities to improve on certain skills you don’t yet have. You should also check out Sam Shiah Wall Street for more in-depth tips about job interviews like these. It will look good in the eyes of the recruiter and make you a much more trustworthy candidate.
4. Know what makes you stand out from the crowd
Job experience truly isn’t everything. You can stand out as the best candidate for the job even if you don’t meet all of the job requirements.
How?
By going the extra mile. Showing that you have a little more on your resume than the others competing for the job can go a long way with your recruiter. Demonstrate that you are motivated, team-driven, and passionate about this company in particular.
The best way to execute this strategy flawlessly is to enter your interview with a clear idea of what you want out of this job. Is this your next career move? Are you looking to move up the corporate ladder? Are you looking to gain a crucial experience that you want in order to move on to the job of your dreams?
Don’t show hesitation towards the position, especially in front of the interviewer. Show that you are totally committed and enthusiastic to boost your chances of getting hired.
