Use these tips to impress at your next job interview
Congratulations on making it to the interview stage! You’ve won half the battle. Now it’s time to capitalize on this opportunity to showcase your enthusiasm for the company and impress your future employers with your skills and personality. No need to be nervous—with proper preparation and these tips, you will ace your interviews every time!
At Ripple Effect, we work closely with each other to meet our objectives. As hiring managers, we understand how important it is to build the best team to keep our projects moving. We use the interview process to gauge not only a candidate’s health policy or communications knowledge, but how that person would fit within the Ripple culture. Here are some tips to make sure that your true personality and experience shine through.
Before the Interview: Be Prepared
Research the company’s organizational structure, values, culture, and projects
If possible, find out the name(s) of your interviewer(s) and research them, too, using LinkedIn as a resource; check out our page as a reference
Prepare 3-5 insightful questions to ask during the interview to show you’ve thought about the company and position
Choose a professional outfit—err on the side of overdressed rather than underdressed—and iron it the night before
Practice answering mock behavioral interview questions—these begin with “Tell me about a time…”—by thinking of concrete examples from your work experience that highlight the skills required for the position
See it in Action: We love it when job candidates come in prepared for an interview. And we can often tell right from the start whether someone has visited some of our key web resources, such as our About Us page, capabilities statement, portfolio of work, or social media channels—Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Candidates really stand out when they communicate how specific examples of their work align with the type of projects we do. Checking our online resources also gives you a sense of the Ripple culture, which opens the door for good conversations about day-to-day life at our company.
At the Interview
Bring copies of your CV, portfolio, or relevant work samples
Be punctual (translation: plan to arrive early so that you will be on time even if plans go awry!) and turn off your phone before you enter the building
Make a great first impression by staying calm and professional, listening to your interviewer, asking questions that show you did your homework on the company and position, and remembering that body language speaks volumes
Sell yourself by using specific examples of your achievements
End the interview by asking about next steps
See it in Action: At Ripple Effect, we use behavioral interviews so that we can get to know the person behind a list of skills on a resume. To get a sense for how candidates would perform in our work environment, we ask interview questions that reveal the thought processes underlying your past professional experiences. For example, we might ask you to describe a time when you faced a conflict at work. There’s no “right” answer to these questions, but we are looking for replies with specific details on the situation, how you responded, and the ultimate outcome. Do not answer with generalities such as, “Overall, I try to communicate frequently.” When we ask for an example, we are looking for a response that includes specifics related to the situation you are sharing! Remember to always answer honestly—don’t be afraid to own up to past mistakes. As hiring managers, we don’t expect you to be perfect, but we want to see your thought process when faced with challenging situations.
After the Interview
Write a brief, personal thank-you note or email to each interviewer within 24 hours, touching on themes from your conversations
Send a quick follow-up if a week has passed since the date you were told to expect a decision
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t land that first job—sometimes it takes a few tries to find the right fit
See it in Action: Because we value finding the best person for the job, we make an effort to stay in touch when we interview candidates we love that just aren’t the right fit for one of our current openings. To do this, we use various avenues, such as our LinkedIn page, listserv, and Future Rippler positions—our way to keep our favorite candidates’ resumes, and the first place we look when a new position comes along.
With enough practice, you will dazzle your way to the job of your dreams before you know it! Interested in showing us your interview skills? Apply for one of our open positions!
Be sure to check back on our Future Rippler site for new job-related articles each month or sign up for our listserv to get job-related information right to your inbox.
Questions? We’re happy to help! Share your job-related or career questions via email, then check the site for answers to our favorite FAQs.
