Going on a job interview can be quite stressful at times. Even if you’ve been on job interviews before, you may not be 100% sure what you’re supposed to say or do. Are you expected to act a certain way? How should you dress? Are there specific skills you are supposed to have? Do you possess those skills? Do you have sufficient experience for the job? What will the employer want to see or hear in the interview? Are you fully prepared?
While these may all be valid questions, you need to keep one important thing in mind…the employer has already seen your resume. They know what training you have and the degrees you possess. They are familiar with your past jobs and thus the experience you have.
The interview is simply a chance for the employer to meet you. It’s an opportunity to see if you might be a good fit for their company. In some cases, such as a working interview, it is a time when the employer can observe you first hand to see if how you look on paper matches with how you are in real life.
Attire Can Make or Break a First Impression
First impressions can hold a lot of weight. If you are going to interview at a place like a dentist’s office or physical therapy center, dress in proper business attire. Even though these offices may allow their staff to dress a little more casually, what you wear for your interview is an indication of your respect for the business and your level of professionalism. If you expect to be taken seriously as a job applicant, you need to show it right from the start.
8 Other Skills or Qualities Employers Want to See
If you are applying for a job in an industry, such as the allied healthcare or dental industry, you’re going to have to possess the appropriate degree before you’ll even be considered for certain positions. The fact that you have a job interview scheduled is a good sign you have the training and experience the company needs.
Here are eight other skills or qualities most employers want to see in job applicants:
- Positive attitude
- Honesty and integrity
- Interpersonal communication skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Self-motivation
- Willingness to learn
- Dependability
- Strong work ethic
If you possess these qualities and skills, the job is likely yours for the taking.
The Key Is You Have to Be You
No matter what, the key in any job interview is you have to be you. Worry less about whether you are saying the exact right words. Speak more from the heart and just let the employer get to know the real you. Let the employer know why YOU want the job, the passion or interest YOU have in the field, and why YOU think you’d be a great fit for the company. What you are trying to do is to let your unique personality shine through. Be friendly, be polite, be professional. Most importantly, be YOU.
Tips to Help You Showcase the Real You
So, how do you go about letting your unique personality shine through during a job interview? How can you showcase the real you? You want to be authentic, without going overboard. You want to give the employer a little insight into who you are and why you are on your current career path.
First, instead of just listing out your past accomplishments and positions held, maybe tell the interviewer a little bit about what excites you about the job. Let the interviewer know what led you to their company. Talk about what interests you most about the job and give an idea of the future you envision. You can talk about aspects of your past jobs, and the current job for which you are interviewing, but do so in a manner that will naturally elicit a smile or show your true enthusiasm.
Next, be specific in your answers. Don’t generalize as it can often come across as unprepared or ingenuine. Let your interviewer know exactly why this opportunity interests you, what you hope to achieve and the impact you want to have on others.
Finally, while it’s important to state your past accomplishments, you don’t want to over-exaggerate. Be authentic. Be real. Don’t under value your contributions either. Focus on how your past accomplishments make you an ideal candidate for not only the existing position, but for the future of the company as well.
Finding You the Right Job
Whether you want some help finding the right job or you simply need a little resume advice, we are here to help. The People Link is a professional recruitment firm specializing in matching qualified Allied Health and Dental applicants with top-of-the-line healthcare companies. With over 20 years experience and an extremely high job placement success rate, you can trust Mya knows exactly what employers are looking for in a job applicant and what it takes to get you in the running.
If you’re currently looking for a job in the allied health or dental industries, we have numerous employers in search of well-qualified PTs, OTs, SLPs and Dentists, not to mention PTAs, COTAs, SLPAs and Hygienists. Contact Mya directly at 818-890-9998 or go online to submit your resume to one of our job listings.