6 Things You Can Do to Boost Your Linkedin Interview Success

The interview is the most important part of your job search. It's your chance to show a potential employer that you're worth hiring. If you've got the right skills and experience, it's not hard to ace an interview—especially if you know how to prepare for it correctly. You can have all the technical qualifications in the world, but if they don't like your personality or style, they'll hire someone else instead. Even worse: You might be hired as a contractor or temp worker without benefits or job security.

In this article, I'm going to share six tips for boosting your LinkedIn interview success rate so that when employers see your profile on their platform (or even when they think about hiring someone), they think "That person would be great for us!"

Find a comfortable place to work.

You should find a place to work that's comfortable and free of distractions. If possible, it might be worth considering working from home. You can bring your laptop or tablet with you to the interview if need be, but make sure your devices are fully charged before leaving home so they don't die during travel time!

If you're interviewing at a company that has a professional dress code, make sure your clothes are clean and pressed. It's also important to wear shoes that won't make noise when you walk down the hallway or enter an office.

If you're unfamiliar with the company or its culture, it's a good idea to do some research ahead of time. You should know about their mission statement, any recent news about them, and what types of employees they typically hire—including what their dress code is like.

Do your research about the company, the position, and the people you'll be interviewing with.

• Research the company: Read their website, check out their social media channels and review their press coverage. Make sure you have a good understanding of their mission statement, values, culture and history before heading into an interview.
• Research the position: Look at job descriptions from past years--or even better yet--talk with someone who has held that role before so they can give you insight into what skills were most important for success in that role. Also consider what characteristics would make someone successful in this role (for example: does this person need to be able to work independently or does he/she need help from others)? If there isn't enough information available online about specifics like these then try reaching out directly via LinkedIn messages or email asking if anyone could recommend some resources that might help prepare me better for my upcoming interviews."

Practice your elevator pitch.

The elevator pitch is a concise, 30-second summary of who you are and what you bring to the table. It's an important part of your Linkedin profile, because it helps employers understand why they should hire you.

The best way to practice your elevator pitch is by talking about yourself as if someone else asked about it (e.g., "Tell me about yourself"). You can also try writing down a few sentences or paragraphs describing what makes up who you are at work, how long have been doing this job (if applicable), etc., then read them out loud until they sound natural coming from your mouth.

Which by the way, here are three sample scripts with the answer to, "Tell me about yourself"

#1: "Good morning! My name is [Name], and I am an energetic and driven individual with a passion for learning and growth. I have over [Number of Years] of experience in [Industry/Job Function], where I have honed my skills in [Key Skills/Competencies]. I am constantly seeking new opportunities to challenge myself and take on new responsibilities, and I am always eager to learn and grow in my career. In my previous role as [Previous Job Title], I was responsible for [Key Responsibilities], and I was able to make a significant impact through my commitment to excellence and my ability to work effectively with a team. I am excited to bring my passion, experience, and skills to the table and make a positive contribution to the organization."

#2: "Hello! I am [Name], and I am a creative and analytical problem-solver with a strong background in [Industry/Job Function]. Throughout my career, I have consistently demonstrated my ability to think outside the box and find innovative solutions to complex challenges. In my current role as [Current Job Title], I have been responsible for [Key Responsibilities], and I have been able to make a positive impact through my attention to detail and my ability to work effectively with a team. I am a strong communicator and a natural leader, and I am always eager to take on new challenges and learn new skills. I am confident that my unique combination of skills and experience will make me a valuable addition to the organization."

#3: "Hi there! I am [Name], and I am a results-driven and passionate professional with a background in [Industry/Job Function]. I am a quick learner and a natural problem-solver, and I have a strong track record of delivering results in challenging and dynamic environments. In my previous role as [Previous Job Title], I was responsible for [Key Responsibilities], and I was able to exceed expectations through my commitment to excellence and my ability to work effectively under pressure. I am a team player and a strong communicator, and I am always looking for new opportunities to grow and develop professionally. I am eager to bring my skills, experience, and passion to the organization and make a positive impact."

If all else fails, keep things simple: introduce yourself by name; tell them where your degree came from; explain what attracted them towards this position and why he/she would be ideal for it; briefly highlight some accomplishments that show off skills relevant for this role; end with something memorable like "I look forward working with you!"

Prepare questions that show you've done your research.

You should be prepared to ask questions about the company's history, culture, and position you are interviewing for. You should also prepare questions about who you will be interviewing with (their background and experience). Finally, if possible, find out what is expected from someone who is hired in this role so that you can gauge whether or not your skills match up with what they need.

Here are 17 questions you may find useful:

1. Can you tell me about the company's history and how it has evolved over time?
2. Can you describe the company culture and what it's like to work here?
3. How does the company prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion in its hiring and workplace practices?
4. Can you provide more information about the role I am interviewing for?
5. Can you tell me about the current team I would be joining and their backgrounds?
6. How has the company adapted to recent changes or challenges in the industry?
7. Can you describe the company's approach to innovation and growth?
8. What are the key objectives and priorities for the team I would be joining?
9. How does the company measure success in this role?
10. Can you provide more information about the career growth and development opportunities available at the company?
11. How does the company foster a positive work-life balance for its employees?
12. Can you tell me about the company's approach to teamwork and collaboration?
13. Can you describe the company's leadership style and management practices?
14. How does the company ensure that employees are equipped with the necessary resources and support to perform their roles effectively?
15. Can you provide more information about the company's approach to employee engagement and satisfaction?
16. Can you tell me about the company's plans for growth and expansion in the future?
17. How does the company approach performance management and continuous improvement for its employees?

Have an idea of what you hope to get out of the interview and how you'll approach it if it goes well or poorly.

You should have an idea of what you hope to get out of the interview and how you'll approach it if it goes well or poorly.

• Know what you want out of the interview. Will this position help you achieve your goals? If so, how? For example: "I'm looking for a job that will allow me to use my skills in X, Y and Z ways."
• Have a plan for if things go well or poorly. Plan on asking questions during the interview process that will give insight into whether or not they're interested in hiring someone like yourself--and make sure they answer them! You may also want to ask them about their company culture before accepting any offer; if there's something about the culture that doesn't seem right (like too much focus on sports), ask why people still stay there despite this issue being present rather than leaving immediately after getting hired (hint: because money talks).

Don't forget to ask for the job at the end of the meeting!

When you reach the end of your interview, don't forget to ask for the job!

• If you do not like the job description but like your interviewer, ask if there is any other position they have that might be a better fit and if they could put in a good word for you with HR.
• If you don't like the company culture or mission statement, but love working with this particular person, tell them so (and why). Ask what else could be done within their organization to change things around so that everyone's needs are met more effectively. They may have ideas!
• If there are things about your current employer or boss that aren't working out well--and especially if they're causing stress--it's okay to bring those up during an interview as well! Remember: You want people who understand how important work-life balance is when making decisions about hiring new employees; let them know how much energy goes into keeping up a happy home life outside of work hours (and vice versa), too."

Conclusion

I hope that these tips will help you prepare for and ace your next interview. Remember, there are no shortcuts to success--you have to work hard at it! But if you can follow these steps and keep your eye on the prize, then I guarantee that all of your efforts will pay off in the end. Good luck!

If you have any suggestions or comments, leave them below.