The past decade has seen big changes for how employers hire for their open positions. One of the biggest entities that saw the most dramatic change is the job interview. Gone are the days where you show up to an office and have an one-on-one talk with your potential boss. Below we have listed the top 3 ways the job interview process has changed so you can be prepared to land that next open position!
1. Skype and other Video Screening Applications
Employers have begun to understand that judging a person’s people skills can’t be done by looking at their resume, however it is the biggest pre-screen for potential applicants. To efficiently filter people out that are not a good cultural fit, hiring managers use applications such as Skype to virtually meet an applicant in the early stages before asking them to come in for an in-person interview. Be prepared for this by practicing on Skype with a friend so you feel comfortable when using it with your potential employer. You don’t want a lack of familiarity with technology to be confused with a lack of self-confidence.
2. Interviews with Multiple People
In the old days there was one hiring manager that was responsible for acquiring new talent. Today, corporate culture dictates a candidate must be a good cultural fit to be hired and trained successfully. To achieve this assessment of a job applicant, multiple employees of a company are required to meet and give their opinion on whether they would like to work alongside the job applicant. Be prepared for these interviews by researching who you are meeting with, not just the company, so you can tailor your conversation to the individual interviewer. A sales manager does not necessarily care about the same things as a human resource manager. LinkedIn is a great tool for this type of research.
3. Personality Tests
The dreaded personality test. We all hate them and feel like no matter what answer we give, it will be wrong. These tests have now become standard screening tools for companies because of their accessibility (thank you internet). Search engines can actually help you with this interview hurdle as well as they help your employer find and use them. Search for “sample personality tests” or “personality practice tests for job interviews” and you will find a slew of free tests you can take to be prepared for the type of questions these tests ask and what the results are with your answers. That being said, it is important to be honest on these tests when taking them with your future employer. You don’t want to get hired by a company you are not going to thrive at.
Being prepared for a job interview may look different today than it did 10 years ago, but all of the changes actually work FOR the applicant instead of against them. A resume can never convey the most valuable attributes a person has to offer in a profession: their personality, passion, and ability to learn. Let those things shine through to your potential employer during the interview process and you are sure to be successful!
