Mastering Universal Interview Skills: What Works No Matter the Job

Securing a job is not about possessing the right qualification, is also about the way you communicate, prepare and present yourself. These core skills will help you shine while interviewed for administration, sales, or other fields. Use this as your go to guide before every interview.

1. Do Thorough Research Ahead of Time

Before attending any interview, Know the company, its culture, mission and what the job requires

• Study the job description carefully e.g. responsibilities, key skills and desired traits
• Visit their website, review recent news or projects, and social media pages
• if you know who will interview you, glace at their background to find topics to connect on
• Be ready to ask specific and intelligent questions about their direction or work

This ground work helps you tailor your answers and shows genuine interest which is what most hiring managers appreciates.

2. Mastering Storytelling with the STAR Method

When  interviewers ask competency based questions or behavior, structure your responses so that they are memorable and very clear.

START = Situation, Task, Action, Results

• Situation: Describe a challenge or context
• Task: What you need to do
• Action: Steps you took
• Results: What outcome you achieved, including metrics if possible

This will keep your answers focused and demonstrates how you act, think and deliver.

3. Communicate confidently & Clearly

Your ideas are judged how you express them but not only by their content

• Use positive, active language e.g. I improved, I Led, I Solved
• Speak concisely and avoid rambling
• Maintain friendly tone, good eye contact and posture
• In virtual interviews, remove distraction, test your video/audio and make sure your background is tidy

Recording yourself practicing interview is useful to identify any distracting habits.

4. Highlight Transferable Skills

Emphasize:

• Time management and organization
• Adaptability to change
• Critical thinking and Problem solving
• Teamwork and communication
• Self motivation and initiative

Give concreate examples from volunteering, school, past jobs and side projects.