Get Your Dream Job with These 24 Amazing Interview Resources
The unemployment rate in America is currently around 3.6%, as of June 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That rate is fairly low, but it doesn’t necessarily consider people who are searching for a better career while working a job they don’t love.
You might fall into that category or be part of the 3.6% that is still seeking the perfect opportunity. Being the person who is looking for a job, you might worry that it will take a long time. It can, but you can perfect your interview skills to make it more likely for you to get a job.
Did you know that around 118 people apply for a single job on average? That number may go up if the job is particularly valuable or desirable. Additionally, it might be surprising, but around 76% of all resumes end up rejected, ending someone’s likelihood of getting hired before they ever interview (make sure yours doesn’t have any errors!)
On average, people complete around two to three interviews before getting hired, but you may apply to many more jobs than this. With just around seven seconds to make an excellent first impression in those interviews, you need to focus on what will help you stand out and show you’re the right choice for the job.
We’ve put together this article to help you plan for your interview and prepare to charm your interviewer into giving you the job.
Be Fully Prepared for Your Interview with These 24 Resources
Interview Preparation: Blogs and Websites
-
1. The Interview Guys Blog
The Interview Guys Blog is a free resource where Jeff and Mike, the creators, go over some of the best tops for the interview process.
Price: FreeMore info: Check out the Interview Guys Blog.
-
2. The Personal Development Cafe
The Personal Development Cafe has helpful tips for interviews, personal development, team building, and more. The blog is completely free, giving you insight into the latest industry news.
Price: Free
More info: Visit The Personal Development Cafe for more information.
-
3. Edureka!
Edureka helps you learn what you want to know. It has many different courses, and you can subscribe to the website to see the latest career options. Choose the training you want. For example, the Power BI Certification Training is $499 for the online course. Boost your experience for better interview results. Edureka! Also has an interview questions blog that helps you focus on career growth.
Price: Varies by course
More info: Learn more at Edureka!
-
4. Ask a Manager
Ask a Manager is a website and blog created by Alison Green. You can ask any questions you have about working or interviewing there and get responses from real managers.
Price: Free
More info: Visit the Ask a Manager blog.
-
5. InterviewFocus
InterviewFocus is a job preparation blog and website. You can ask questions there (you get one free), perform a self-evaluation, meet with a coach, and more. Access the blog for free at the bottom of the main page.
Price: The first question is free, then $49 to $175 per package. The blog is free to access.
More info: Visit InterviewFocus to read on.
-
6. Interview Coaching and Job Search
The Interview Coaching and Job Search blog is run by Thea Kelly, who coaches clients throughout the United States (and specifically the San Francisco Bay area).
Price: Free
More info: Visit the Interview Coaching and Job Search blog on Feedspot.
-
7. Best Job Interview
Julia Penny runs this blog. She has over 20 years of experience working as a recruiter and interviewer, so she can give little tips and tricks to help you surpass expectations at your next interview.
Price: Free
More info: Visit Julia Penny’s blog at best-job-interview.com.
Interview Preparation: Apps
-
8. GeeksforGeeks
GeeksforGeeks is a programming app that has an astonishing number of possible questions (20,000+), thousands of articles, and information about what to expect when you interview at companies like Adobe, Microsoft, and Facebook.
Price: Free to download
More info: Download the GeeksforGeeks app here.
-
9. Glassdoor
You may already know Glassdoor as an app that you can use to find job listings, but you can also use it to learn more about people’s interview experiences, salary reports, and more.
Price: Free to join
More info: Download the Glassdoor app.
-
10. Dropbox
You may not think that Dropbox is a great resource for you if you’re trying to get hired, but one of the best tips for interviews is getting organized. Having your files ready to transfer makes it easier for you to show an interviewer that you’re prepared for hiring.
Price: Free with the option of paid upgrades.
More info: Download Dropbox
-
11. Interview Questions and Answers
This app comes with over 5,000 possible interview questions (including the answers), making it easier for you to prepare for interviews at beginner, intermediate, or advanced levels. It also gives you insight into the personality and aptitude tests.
Price: Free to download
More info: Check out Interview Questions and Answers.
-
12. LinkedIn
LinkedIn isn’t just for networking. It also has excellent opportunities to learn more about interviews online and off. You can directly ask individuals about interviewing with the company they currently work for, or you can use tools like resume builder and news & updates to stay current.
Price: Free to join
More info: Download the LinkedIn app.
-
13. Talview – Candidate App
The Talview app is a helpful tool that gives you the opportunity to practice your interview skills. The app also lets you attend online video assessments with an employer if the employer invites you to the assessment. It’s user-friendly and convenient on the go.
Price: Free to Download
More info: Get the Talview Candidate app.
-
14. CV Engineer
CV Engineer is a resume-building app that helps you build a PDF resume for your job applications. A strong resume can help get you a job before you even interview for the role, so making sure you have one that impresses employers matters.
Price: Free to download. In-app purchases between $2.49 and $5.99 per item.
More info: Build your perfect CV with CV Engineer.
Interview Preparation: Books
-
15. 60 Seconds and You’re Hired!
Some say that it takes only 60 seconds for an interviewer to decide if they will hire a candidate. The book covers details about how to get what you want, how to sell yourself in 60 seconds, and how to avoid pitfalls that could be holding you back.
Price: Starting at $9.19.
More info: Learn more about interviewing with 60 Seconds and You’re Hired.
-
16. The Art of the Interview: The Perfect Answers to Every Interview Question
There is no such thing as a perfect answer during an interview…or is there? This book goes over common questions and answers, interview tips, resume tips, and more.
Price: Free on Audible with a 3-month trial. Starts at $19.38 for a paperback.
More info: Read The Art of the Interview to prepare for your next job interview.
-
17. Success in Interview
Success in Interview is an interesting book that explains the techniques that are used during the interview process. It is precise and goes over what you should or should not do when appearing for an interview.
Price: $1.99 on Kindle, $14.99 paperback.
More info: Read how to become successful in your interview with Success in Interview.
-
18. Cracking the Coding Interview: 150 Programming Interview
Questions and Solutions
If you will be interviewing for a role in IT or programming, this is an excellent book to read. IT targets engineering information technology and provides guidance on what to expect during this type of interview. There are over 150 questions included, and you’ll also learn about common mistakes that lead to problems during interviews.
Price: Starting at $40 used.
More info: Read Cracking the Coding Interview.
-
19. Basic Interviewing Skills
Basic Interviewing Skills goes over what should happen during an interview from the interviewer’s point of view. This can help if you’ve been failing interviews since you can learn what the interviewers are really looking for.
Price: Price: Starting at $7.83 on Kindle and $18.03 for a paperback.
More info: Read Basic Interviewing Skills to shore up your skills.
-
20. How to Win Friends and Influence People
Among one of the most popular books on the market in this genre, How to Win Friends and Influence People goes over how you need to act to sell yourself. It was written in 1937, but with current-day revisions, it is still applicable. It highlights opening up, reading other people’s expressions, and how to increase your own influence.
Price: Get a free audiobook trial on Audible, or download it for Kindle for $0.99. Buy the book starting at $27.94.
More info: Read How to Win Friends and Influence People.
-
21. Interviewing
Interviewing is a book that goes over a few key points, such as 37 ways to handle your confidence level, how to take a phone interview, what questions to ask before you accept an offer, and how to appear when you go to an interview.
Price: Starting at $12.97
More info: Buy Interviewing to learn more.
-
22. Interview Like a Boss
Interview Like a Boss is an interesting book that tells you things like how to act when you appear for an interview, how to prepare for an interview, and how to give yourself an edge with your negotiating skills. Everything from resume drafting to mistakes to avoid with an interview panel is included.
Price: Starting at $14.95
More info: Read Interview Like a Boss.
Interview Preparation: Memberships
-
23. PrepLounge
PrepLounge prepares you to land your dream job in just six weeks. It gives you the resources you need, interviews with top candidates, and video tutorials to review.
Price: A membership at PrepLounge is $49 for one week, $89 for six weeks, and $199 for 20 weeks.
More info: Premium Prep access starts here.
-
24. The Chatty Lad
The Chatty Lad is a comprehensive service that takes people from screening through interview preparation to salary negotiation. The team works with people until they land their dream job or for 12 months, whichever comes first.
The nice thing about this program is that you don’t pay until you succeed. There is a job placement guarantee.
Price: Don’t pay until you land the job. Contact The Chatty Lad for cost information.
More info: Chat with The Chatty Lad to find out more.
20 Tips for Impressing Interviewers and Landing Your Dream Job
If you have been applying for jobs but just haven’t been able to land one yet, don’t feel discouraged. Many people apply to hundreds of jobs without a bite. All it takes, though, is for one recruiter or employer to look at your resume or cover letter and decide that you’re the right employee for them.
To make things a little easier for you, we have collected this list of 20 tips to help you impress your interviewer so they decide to move forward with hiring you instead of your competition.
- Be honest about who you are. When you come to an interview, you can be honest about why you didn’t work for a few years or why you’re looking to work for this company. It’s fair to say that you were out of work for an illness or because you needed to take a break to realign yourself with your goals. They’ll like knowing more about your history.
- Don’t be afraid to walk away. If you’re willing to walk away from an opportunity, you won’t come across as overachieving or overeager.
- Stay polite and professional during your interview. While you might want to “shoot the breeze” with someone who is interviewing you, remember to stay professional while you do. Being impolite could burn this bridge as well as others.
- Always be on time. Of course, problems do sometimes arise, and you may not always be able to be on time every day. However, if you are late to an interview, it doesn’t make you look good.
- Stay reliable if you’re doing multiple interviews. Reliability matters. If they want your license at the next interview, bring it. If you need to come to multiple interviews at different locations, make sure you’re there on time.
- Ask questions that show you’ve done your research. You have to show that you researched the role and position as well as the company itself.
- Be prepared for the basic questions. Most people know some of the most common questions that come up in interviews. Be ready to answer why you want to work at the company or what you have to offer that might be special compared to someone else.
- Be enthusiastic. Recruiters want to see that you’re enthusiastic about getting a role at the company. Your interviewer wants to know that this is a win-win scenario.
- Show that you fit into the work culture. Go over the company’s mission statement and decide if it aligns with your own preferences.
- Know that you’ll be tested, and be prepared. You may be asked to tackle the Myers-Briggs or DISC personality tests. You don’t need to lie to pass these tests, but know that your screening tests can take 15 minutes to an hour and may influence if a company hires you. Answer accurately, and you may find a better company culture to fit into yourself.
- Don’t forget to return messages. If a recruiter or interviewer calls you ahead of time, make sure you return the call. If they send you a text to confirm your interview, respond. They want to see if you’re paying attention.
- Create an easy-to-read resume. Break it down into sections, and focus on the keywords recruiters or interviewers are looking for. Sprinkle in your special skills, like building an awesome PowerPoint presentation or building websites.
- Follow up if you don’t get a call. Sometimes, people get busy. Your name is probably among dozens, if not more, on a recruiter’s desk. To make a great first impression, call to follow up and ask if they’re still hiring for the role. You may get a call back to say they have filled it, or you might find out that they’re only interviewing proactive candidates.
- Get your references ready. It’s possible that the interviewer could ask if you have references available. It’s unusual, but some may call them while you’re there to follow up on your interview before you leave. Make sure your references know you’re going to use them, and have them available for the interviewer.
- Don’t forget a thank-you note. While not everyone thinks about these anymore, it’s polite to send a thank-you note after an interview. Doing this by mail, online, or even by calling a few days later to follow up will make a great impression.
- Tell the interviewer your goals. You want to make sure you land a role in a job that you really want. Tell the interviewer if you want to earn $100,000 a year and intend to move up at the company you move to or if you want to work in calm culture. Knowing your goals could help them put you in the right position.
- Do something memorable in the interview. When an interviewer has to contact many people, they can end up forgetting faces. Do something memorable to stick out. For example, tell a relatable story, make a connection with the interviewer about hobbies you both love, or wear something that is professional but has an interesting touch to it.
- Show off your best traits. That includes your flexibility to work unusual hours or to turn over certain tasks quickly. For example, if you’re applying to work in the medical field, explaining that you can cover two areas of medicine instead of one could be beneficial.
- Demonstrate that you have loyalty to the employers who respect you. Show a history of staying at a single job for a few years at a time, for example, or discuss your long-term plans for staying at this company.
- Become a good communicator. For some people, it may be uncomfortable, but you should make eye contact, model the other person’s body language and match their speed. If you can do these things, you may get the edge you’re looking for to get hired.
All of these interview resources and tips can give you an edge during your next interview. With just a little practice and good luck, you’ll soon find yourself in the position you’ve been wanting.