Winning Interview Tips and Strategies to Get the Job Article Review

Doyle, Alison. "Winning Interview Tips and Strategies to Get the Job." The Balance Careers, 27 Oct. 2020, www.thebalancecareers.com/winning-interview-skills-2061350.

Article Summary: Speaking from experience, an upcoming interview with a company you have been interested in, can be overwhelming. Impressing your interviewers can be a difficult task, but Alison Doyle explains what it means to be a qualified individual. Doyle speaks about how to express your qualifications while also catering to the needs of the company.

Doyle wrote in her article, regarding the background of a company, their website is the first place to look. Social media is very large in current times and can speak volumes on how the company is displayed, good or bad. Furthermore, Doyle explains that looking into a company's market, and developments that may have an impact on your potential position is another step. Employers love a candidate who also voices their concerns and asks any additional questions about the position.

Doyle points out that active listening is massive during an interview. It is important to be able to retain the information you receive in your interview. She includes some great tips, such as silencing your cell phone, showcasing soft and hard skills, and planning out the interview process.

Wrapping up her article, Doyle discusses that a Thank-You note or follow-up email enhances the chance of obtaining the position. Statistics show only 24% of candidates send a follow-up. Ending her article, Doyle stresses not to pause the search, opportunities always arise. From my interview encounters, interviewers have asked questions that have completely stumped me. Having read an article such as Doyle’s, I would have felt better prepared for upcoming interviews. The most surprising topic in this article was that companies consider Thank-You notes and follow-up emails. I have never done either. Thinking back, this makes me wonder if that could have been the deciding factor in the decision-making process. 

There were not many things I disagreed with in this article, however, it can be difficult to plan for specific types of questions during an interview, especially first-round interviews. Another aspect that took me by surprise was Doyle’s strategies and ideas for handling discussions based on salary. She talks about how difficult it is for 50% of interviewees to negotiate the position’s salary within the interview. I, struggle with the idea of bringing up salary during an interview, but this article helps me see that I was not a black sheep. 

One thing that stood out to me, was how well this article also shows how to be a great interviewer. Now, as an interviewee, knowing how to prepare and interview will give you a step ahead of your competitors. In my opinion, being good at interviewing can be a make it, or break it. Employers want employees who are outgoing, and ready to engage with a new team and if they do not see this during the interview; the odds may not be in your favor.

To me, this article has been very useful. I have no interest in interviewing but know that it is a crucial step in employment.  I want to give myself a step ahead of any competitors, and Alison Doyle’s article is the first place I will look for help.