40+ Tips For First Job Interview

Maybe you are a teen who just started their first job research and it’s time to go for your first job interview.

During such times, you might feel nervous but don’t let it get you

The interviewers are likely to have the understanding that it’s your first job interview, so they won’t be expecting perfection from you.

But it doesn’t mean you don’t have to prepare well, here is a list of important tips regarding choosing your attire and how to present yourself during your first interview that will help.

Tips For Writing Your Resume For First Job Interview

Employers use your resumes to learn more about you as well as to know if you are the right person for the job or not.

So it should be the first thing you should pay attention to when you are going for the first job interview.

Pay attention to how you are making your resume, it should be easy to read, summarizing your accomplishments and skills. Also highlights the experience which is relevant.

Here are some of the tips that can help in making sure to create the resume in the right direction.

Look For Job Posting Keywords

The best place from where you should start is when you are praying for writing the resume. Make sure you are reading carefully regarding the job posting.

When you are applying for the job, you should study the job description and find the keywords that show what the company is looking for in its ideal candidate.

Find the relevant keywords and add them smartly to the resume.

Consider Using Example Related Industry

Next is to consider examples of resumes from the industry you are going to apply to. take the inspiration and see what are the best practices.

While there are different ways that can be used in writing the resume, but there are some important takeaways you need to consider i.e. :

Making It Easy And Simple To Read

The resume should be straightforward and simple. This is because the employer does not have too much time and has a set of minutes on each resume. So readability is an important key.

Make It Brief

In different examples, you notice there is a section for each and it’s short as well as to the point. It includes the experience and summary in the description.

Add only what is important and keep it relevant.

Add Numbers

To get noticed, it’s smart to use the metrics which help in adding more detail and readability.

Also, it’s due to the high responsiveness to measurable value. With numbers, it gets easier to understand the value and bring a much better position.

Choose Professional Font

Since the employer has limited time for checking your resume, it should be easy to read and clear as it can be.

So it’s smart to choose a font that is professional, it should be clean and have a base such as Times New Roman or Arial.

Also, make sure you are keeping the font between 10 to 12 points.

Choosing the font which is readable and clear helps in making your font appear professional and boosts the readability.

Add What’s Relevant And Put It First

While you might want to add the educational and expensive work as well as experience. But it’s important that you are keeping the resume as brief as you can. Also, you need to add what’s important.

Hiring managers don’t spend all of their time reading every single resume.

According to the resume, it has been shown that hiring managers only spend 6 seconds on each resume.

So if you’re adding old and irrelevant information, it might distract the employer from seeing the important information.

That’s why add only your work experience, education, achievement, and skills which are relevant.

You can find the relevant attribute by reading the job posting. And you can prioritize it according to that in your resume.

Use The Active Language

The resume should be written in the active language without adding any kind of irrelevant words.

Some of the power words you can add are earned, achieved, accomplished, and completed.

If your resume has a long length or is hard to read, put your sentences in a shorter and concise manner.

List Your Achievements

Well when you are writing the job resume, instead of listing the job duty under the experience section, choose to write on top of the three or four most important achievements in each role.

Add Important Subheading And Sections

Well whether you are using a template or creating one for yourself, you might get recommended sections that you don’t need.

For example, the resume might have the objective or summary, but you haven’t added both.

Maybe you just graduated from college or high school and do not have much experience so you don’t need the work section history either.

The focus here is to add only those sections and subheadings which are relevant and important.

Choose Right Margins

Well, there is a one-inch margin size which should be on all sides of your resume with the single spaces in between the lines.

So if you have too of white space, you might consider adding the space by 1.15 or 1.5.

Well, spending on how you are filling the resume, you can increase the magazines but it should stay below two inches.

List Your Education

When you are starting your resume, it’s important that you know how you are listing education energies.

The correct format is to start with ( here is an example )

Program name: BA in Information Systems

University Name: University of Chicago

Year Attend : 1 / 2013 to 5/ 2017

GPA ( only when it’s high)

Honors

Add Optional Sections

In case there are spaces that you mostly have when you are going for the first interview, add more sections to make it look filler.

It includes :

Volunteering: Add what experience you have in volunteering, it shows commitment, dedication, and sense of purpose.
Language: Companies are turning more and more international, so adding language is your favor/
Hobbies: Add genuine interest to the file and the industry might help.
Award & Certification: it can be an award or certification, add it to the resume.

Stick To One Page Limit

Well the answer to how long your resume should be, it can be critical.

The answer is it depends. but since it’s your first job interview and this is going to be your first interview resume then the page limit should be one page.

Tips For Choosing Right Attire For Your First Job

Another important part of your first job interview, this is crucial that you are smart when it comes to choosing the right attire.

Also, dress choices can be different depending on gender. So if you are a man, the best you can go for is something conservative like a suit. In case you don’t have it, anything that fits you well and has no stains can help.

The basic guideline for the men goes :

The suit is in solid colors including dark gray, black, and navy.
Long-sleeved shirt in white or have color coordinate with suit
Tie
Leather belt
Dark socks
Conservative leather shoes
Portfolio or briefcase
Trimmed nails
Limited amount of the aftershave
Professional and neat hair
Little or no jewelry

As for the woman, it can get a little more complicated. you can choose the outfit based on guidelines like :

The suit in dark gray, navy, and black
Suit skirt which should be above or just below the knee
Coordinated blouse
Limited jewelry
Conservatives shoes
No large dangling earring
No arms of full bracelets
Professional hairstyle
No jewelry is better as compare to wear something cheap
Manicured and neat nails
Light makeup
Limit the amount of perfume
Portfolio or briefcase

Apart from this, Here are some of the tips that can be useful for the first job interview :

Do Research On Company‘s Dress Code

What outfit would be considered appropriate can depend on industries? If you know someone who works for the company you are going to interview, just ask them.

If you don’t know anyone, you can directly ask the HR of the company.

Try Out Your Outfit Before Interview

Before you go for the interview, make sure to try everything out, from our dress to shoes and how you are going to look.

Don’t put it on for the last day, if your dress needs some tailoring it will be a lot easier to do it before the final day arrives. Along with that, it gives you room to do changes.

Follow The One Notch Above Rule

The rule of thumb when it comes to dressing is one notch above, this helps you in choosing what to wear.

If you consider casual as suitable, wear something business casual; and when it’s formal, do the same.

Focus on giving yourself a look that shows you are professional and expert.

Shine Your Shoes

It can help you in impressing the interview by investing in a good pair of shoes.

Even though it’s something people might notice at first glance, for interviews, it’s important to keep your shoes comfortable.

Keep your shoes clean, decent, and polished. For women, they can wear closed pumps as it goes with everything. and men can go with slip-on dress shoes or lace-up in black or brown.

Be mindful of heels, as high heels are quite uncomfortable. it’s better to go for low heels for your interviewers.

Pay Attention To Details

Paying attention to details can help you in giving a much more professional look. it includes :

Iron your dress and make sure it doesn’t have any wrinkles on it.
Make sure there is no stain, holes, or anything like that.
Your dress should smell good and so do you.
Avoid wearing too dark or too light colors.
Focus on how your nails, hairs, and shoes look.
For the final touch and make sure you feel comfortable in it.

Be Comfortable In What You Wear

When you are going for the first interview, make sure you are focusing on making everything comfortable for you.

For example, if it’s winter, make sure you add layers, and if it’s summer choose something that is lighter on your skin.

Don’t wear fabrics that make your skin itch or shoes which are oversize or too short for you.

Go For Subtle

It’s important to wear little makeup or put in effort so you look presentable and professional, however, make sure you are not overdoing it.

Focus on keeping things subtle, and also choose something simple to wear in jewelry. If you have cheap jewelry, it’s better not to wear it at all.

Tips For Doing First Successful Interview

Once you are done with choosing attire and setting your first job interview, you are all set for moving the rest of the areas, it includes tips such as :

Before You Go For The Interview

Do Research About Company

Before you go for your first interview, make sure you do the research regarding the company. You can visit their website, social media and check their employee’s accounts. Any place where you can get insight into a company and its working culture will help you.

Learn About the Job You Are Applying For

It’s important to know what you are applying for. If you are applying for a certain job, you need to get to know about what role it plays, what will be your work, and how your role is important in the organization.

Practice Interviewing

To avoid getting tongue-tied and nervous in front of the interview, you can practice interviews at home. Either you can ask your family member or friends to do the mock interview. Or You can practice in front of the mirror.

Both ways will help you in getting ready mentally and you have more control over how you are presenting yourself.

Make Sure You Dress Appropriately

It’s important to wear an attire that is appropriate, as mentioned tips above you can pick the right dress that you can wear for the interview.

Some of the options that you can consider in cases like :

When it’s A Business Casual –

You can avoid wearing a suit, but don’t wear jeans. Even though it’s business casual, it still doesn’t mean you can wear jeans and sneakers.

When It’s A Startup Casual –

You can wear the jeans, but make sure it’s clean and they should not have any ragged seams or holes.

You can choose some things stylish, but not sloppy.

When There Is No Dress Code –

Well, when you are not sure what to wear as there is no dress code. It’s best to stick with a professional and don’t wear something too casual.

Stick with something polished, professional, and fit for your job interview.

Write Your Resume

As tips mentioned above, you can take the help and make your resume. ITs an important and without it you can’t give the interview. So make sure you have one ready. Also, have an extra copy just in case it’s needed.

Have What You Need

In addition to what you are going to wear, you also need to have everything that you might need during an interview.

It includes :

Direction and location of the interview
Contact number and number to whom you need to meet
Identification
Pen and notepad
Extra copies of your resume
List of at least three references
Work samples if you have
Laptop or tablet if you want to showcase the work, depending on the job.
Breath mints

Also when you are bringing your phone, make sure you’re putting it on vibration or mute.

Apart from this. Make sure you don’t have things like –

Gum
Coffee or soda
Overuse of jewelry
If possible, cover the tattoos you have.

During The First Job Interview

Have Proper Papers

The next important tip that you should follow is making sure you have all things prepared with you when you are going for the interview. It includes the right papers and resume.

Stay Cool And Collected

It’s important that you don’t show distress and discomfort when you are going for the first interview. It’s obvious I feel like that when you have no experience, but stay calm and collected.

Deep Breathes

When you are giving your first interview, there are chances to feel overwhelmed and feel nervous. It’s not something that is new, so try to take deep breaths and calm yourself.

Be Confident

The company knows that you might not have the experience since you are applying for the first time and are new to this.

However, most of the recruiters look for candidates who are confident and not scared of learning as they go.

Stay Honest

If there are any other things that might conflict with the work schedule, make sure you tell the interviewer. The point is to be clear on what you want, and also be on the same page as the interview.

Don’t make false promises because this is your first interview.

Try To Be Flexible

There are chances that you might have some changes in your work schedule, you need to be sure what you can be flexible with.

But avoid getting too rigid on things as it makes it difficult for the company to work with you.

Make Eye Contact

Making eye contact shows your confidence and helps you in gaining control. When you’re nervous or scared, you tend to avoid eye contact. This should not be something you do during an interview.

Listen Well

Focus on what the interview is saying, being a good listener and understanding is an important skill regardless of what job you are applying for.

Also if there is a group or panel interview where you have more candidates in the room then focus on what they are saying.

Ask Questions

Answering the right answer is important but with that, you need to ask the right question. Most of the retrievers give the opportunity to speak if you have a question regarding your job and company.

If you don’t get it, you can ask the question and make sure you are asking the right ones.

Mind Your Body Language

When you are going for the first interview, focus on your body language. Don’t shake your legs, don’t fumble, and look professional.

Also, make sure your cellphone is on silent or off so it won’t create any disturbance.

Be Mindful Of What You Are Saying

There is a big difference between how you talk to your friend and an interviewer, the person who is taking your interview is not your friend regardless of how they portray. So don’t say things that show you are not mature enough for the job.

End With thank You

When your interview ends, make sure you are saying politely thank you and give a last good impression which helps the interviewee to remember you.

After Your First Job Interview

After your job interview has ended, make sure you send a follow-up email asking about the status. Also, you can send a thank you note for the opportunity and time.