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Four keys to landing your dream interview

With the right tools and a few tricks, you can score the coveted interview that connects you to your dream job. To land and really ace your dream-job interview, you’ll need:

A rise-above resume

Landing the interview begins with a great resume—so don’t skimp! The best resumes are easy to read, clearly present your career journey, and highlight your achievements and results. Keep things concise with bullet points, not paragraphs, and you’ll give your interviewers plenty to discuss when you’re in the hot seat.

Key talking points

Preparing your resume laid the groundwork for your brain, so you’re prepared to run through all your key projects and achievements. The thing is, you never know what you’ll be asked during an interview; you might hear technical, personal, abstract, or pop culture questions. You might even get weird interview questions like “On a scale of 1–10, how weird are you?” Prepare like you’re auditioning for Jeopardy! and you’ll be fine.

Company knowledge

Think beyond the website’s About Us—anyone can read that. Knowing about the company’s mission, the kind of work it has done, and the latest press about products, finances, or new hires, will show you really want this job. Use this information to prepare thoughtful questions and to tie it all to your skills and objectives. Really think about how you can connect with the company’s goals and values, and prepare good answers for your interview.

A shining personality

Be yourself! Everything you do—from the words in your resume, to the initial phone screening, to the interview itself—should say YOU. You might even be able to bond over the movie posters on the conference room wall or the World War II book on the hiring manager’s desk. Your personality starts with a solid cover letter, which you can write more conversationally to tell your story. YOU were called in for a reason. Sell the YOU these people want to work with. And be consistent! A light-hearted, conversational cover letter will contrast poorly with one-word, monotone interview answers.

In conclusion

So now you have the four key tools you need to land your dream interview! Before you go, don’t get left behind—take a look at these five questions you should have asked during your interview (and ask them during yours)!

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