Nail Your Job Interview With These 2020 Facts and Insights

Interviews are an extremely important part of any hiring process …

Only 2 percent of applicants will be called for an interview for the average job opening. (Glassdoor)

Many of the selection techniques that companies use to find (non-management) candidates are interview-related:

(SHRM)

… and the first moments of the interview may be the most crucial.

About one-third of bosses (33 percent) know within the first 90 seconds of the interview whether they're going to hire someone. (Come Recommended and Classes & Careers)

Most young people are "somewhat confident" about their interview skills.

Share of university graduates who are confident their job interview skills will get them a job they want in the United States in 2019:

(iCIMS)

That's good, but it could be better. Confidence is a major factor in interview success.

People who use mental imagery of feeling confident and in control before a job interview had a higher performance and lower stress than those who don't. (Journal of Managerial Psychology)

Chronic self-promoters perform better in job interviews than others. (Journal of Applied Social Psychology)

One way to feel more confident: prepare, prepare, prepare!

91 percent of people who take an interview-training program felt it helped them do better in their real interviews. (Personnel Psychology)

Simply recruiting others to help you prepare increases the likelihood you'll receive follow-up interviews and job offers. (Personnel Psychology)

Also, try to land an early interview slot …

Being the first to interview for a job, or taking the first interview slot of the day, may give you a privileged status. A 2012 study found that "first is best" because humans are hardwired to prefer their first encounter — whether they're seeing their mother at birth or hearing the first argument presented on a complex topic. (PLoS ONE)

… and dress nicely without being ostentatious or overly stylish.

70 percent of employers say they don't want applicants to be fashionable or trendy. (Come Recommended and Classes & Careers)

65 percent of employers say clothes could be the deciding factor between otherwise similar candidates. (Come Recommended and Classes & Careers)

After all, people get first impressions very quickly and sometimes subconsciously.

Here are a few examples:

• You'll likely be seen as smart if you make a lot of eye contact while talking. (Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin)

• You will be seen as high-status and important if you dress in luxury brands. (Evolution of Human Behavior)

• Dressing nicely will also help you be viewed as more promotable. (Psychology of Men & Masculinity)

OK, let's move on to interview do's and don'ts.

Here are 10 interview mistakes that could instantly destroy your chances:

(CareerBuilder)

And here are the 10 most common mistakes, according to employers:

• Failing to ask for the job.
• Failing to set yourself apart from other candidates.
• "Winging" the interview.
• Trying to be all things to all people.
• Concentrating too much on what you want.
• Inadequate research about a potential employer.
• Not showing enough interest or enthusiasm.
• Lacking humor, warmth or personality.
• Conveying that you're not over it.
• Over-explaining why you lost your last job.

(Come Recommended and Classes & Careers)

Now, you can make mistakes that have nothing to do with the substance of your answers. Here are key nonverbal errors:

(CareerBuilder)

Finally, here are eight interview questions you should be ready to answer:

• Tell me about yourself.
• What is your greatest strength?
• What is your greatest weakness?
• Why should we hire you?
• Why do you want to work here?
• Tell me about a time you showed leadership.
• Tell me about a time you were successful on a team.
• What would your co-workers say about you?

(LinkedIn)