How To Win At Job Interviews
Job hunting is tough for everyone. It's exhausting, stressful, and often like winning the lottery. But there are a few things you can do to give yourself a better chance of success!
First of all, before you even think about actually going on interviews, make sure your CV is in order and that you've got your social media profiles prepared. Secondly, don't be afraid to be upfront with potential employers about the reasons you want to leave your current job — they might take this into consideration during the interview process. After all, they want the best person for the job, so if you can show that you're willing to personally sacrifice for a better opportunity, they'll be more inclined to give you an interview.
You might also want to consider using skills other than your coding in your job hunt. For example, if you've got a creative streak and enjoy art, working in graphic design might be a good move for you. Or if your current job is making you miserable and taking up all of your time so that you don't have any left over for important hobbies like playing ultimate frisbee, then applying to retail or hospitality jobs might be the answer. Using your skills and interests to guide you through the interview process will help you find a job that's a better fit for your personality and lifestyle.
Once you've got those all sorted out, it's time to start applying! It's likely that even if you're applying for the same job, you'll be required to submit some variation on a CV. Make sure that it's well written, using clear language and appropriate formatting; employers take note of this, as it can reveal how much attention to detail you pay to your work.
Additionally, you can include any relevant creative or personality-based content that might be relevant to the company or the job. For example, if you're applying for a marketing position as a graphic designer, you might want to include an image of yourself that incorporates your branding and style. If you're applying for a sales position as an engineer, then that may not be required of you, but it certainly wouldn't hurt in any way!
After you have all of your work ready to go, then it's time to start applying! You'll want to follow up with each company email (or LinkedIn message) separately in order to maximize your chances of getting an interview. Depending on how busy the hiring manager's schedule is, you'll want to send them a status update every couple of weeks or so, especially if you haven't heard back from them. You also want to check your LinkedIn every few days as well to make sure that your reputation is as pristine as possible.
Once that's done, it's time to prepare for the interview! As with any job interview, there are certain things that employers will be looking for during the process — namely personality and communication skills. In order to give yourself the best chance at getting hired, it might be a good idea to come up with some questions ahead of time and practice answering them out loud so that you're in tune with your responses. In addition, if you can, make a list of interview questions that you might be asked and write down your own answers. You can use these to prepare yourself for the interview as well!
It's also worth mentioning that some companies may ask what your salary expectations are — don't be afraid to tell them exactly what you expect, but make sure you're asking for a reasonable amount. If the company isn't willing to pay you that amount, then it might not be a good match for you and your goals; if they get back to you with something that sounds good, then they'll arrange a second round of interviews and may even move on to extending an offer.
In general, you'd want to do as much research into the company beforehand as possible. Are they a good fit for you? Do you think that it's a great opportunity for you? If not, why do you feel that way? If so, it might be worth going over your research and considering whether or not the company is an appropriate fit for your skills and interests.
Before the interview itself, make sure that you know what time it is — especially if your interview will be taking place in another time zone! Finally, remember to smile a lot — employers can tell when people aren't being genuine, so in addition to being polite and friendly in person, try to sound interested and enthusiastic on your application.
As with any job interview, it's a good idea to arrive a little early so that you can relax and get ready. In fact, depending on how long it will take during the process, sitting in the same spot for a little bit before the interview may be beneficial — try to make yourself comfortable beforehand and make sure that you're prepared for the interview itself!
One last thing: if you don't end up getting an offer from your current company, then remember that there are other options out there. It may seem like a waste of time if you don't get the job, but remember that you want to work for a company that wants to work for you. Consider your options carefully and make sure that the job is worth your time, energy and effort. If not, then there are plenty of other opportunities out there!
If you're really serious about finding a new job in 2019, then you'll have to put in the necessary effort. It can be intimidating at first, but once you get into the habit of preparing properly and doing your research on the companies that interest you most, it will become second nature. Your job search is more than just a series of interviews — it's an opportunity to shape your future, so don't be afraid to put in the effort!
To read more about finding new jobs in 2019, and how you can use AJAX skills to land that dream job, check out these other articles:
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Yours truly, Anita K. Holmes is a senior web designer with over 11 years' experience working in various industries: technology, retail and education. She holds degrees in both visual design and French. Anita was inspired to start her blog in 2015 after having struggled to find significant career growth for over eight years. When she realized that her skillset and experience were not being fully utilized, she knew it was time to make a change. She has since been interviewed numerous times by major media outlets such as Time Out New York, and is featured on the AJAX Blog Archive page .
Want more AJAX content? Check out these related articles to learn more:
Yours truly, Anita K. Holmes is a senior web designer with over 11 years' experience working in various industries: technology, retail and education. She holds degrees in both visual design and French.
Conclusion
2018 was a year of great transitions for many people all over the world, including AJAX developers! The AJAX market has grown considerably since 2016, with major tech companies like Google and Microsoft releasing new tools and APIs to make it easier for developers to create engaging apps using AJAX.
The future of AJAX development is looking bright, with many new tools being released by big players in the market.