Getting hired is often a two step process. The first is the submission and review of your CV or résumé (check out our awesome free CV template collection!). This part will often see the job seeker pitted against many other candidates – as many as 50+! (view our comprehensive guide on how to write a CV)
If your application impresses the employer, it’s now time for the second step – the interview. This part is by far one of the most challenging experiences that anyone will face in their career. Nerves are running high at the thought of attempting to answer questions on the spot.
So how do you beat those nerves and get a heads up on the potential questions?
The LinkedIn app is here
You’ll already know that using LinkedIn can boost your interview chances by as much as 71%. What’s more, LinkedIn is packed full of features that help you to create a killer LinkedIn profile that’s sure to impress. As if that wasn’t enough already, the clever and thoughtful folks at LinkedInhave been innovating again, in recognition of the need for preparation and research before heading into an interview. By understanding the types of questions which will be asked, the job seeker is instantly in a better position to answer them. Preparation is the secret ingredient to acing an interview, and this is why the LinkedIn app is worth a look.
Prepare to answer the most common questions
Source: LinkedIn
Although it’s impossible to accurately predict the questions you’ll be asked in a job interview, you can however take an educated guess. The new LinkedIn app will present the user with the most commonly asked interview questions, so you can prepare your answers in advance.
Professional recruiters Linda Raynier and Jenny Foss have contributed to the app with some great tips and advice. With this kind of expert input you are likely to receive on point and relevant help.
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions which are likely to appear on the app:
- What is your greatest strength?
- Why should we hire you?
- Why do you want to work here?
- What would your colleagues say about you?
- Name three weaknesses?
Through the app you will be able to watch videos offering advice on how to approach these questions. The answers you decide to give in the interview should be unique and personal to you. But listening to examples will help you to construct your own, and assist you in generating ideas.
Soon to be available on both desktop and mobile devices, this new tool will bring a whole new level of help to job seekers all over the world.
Practice makes perfect
It’s not just the potential interview questions that the new LinkedIn app aims to tackle. They also recognise the need for practice, to ensure the answers are delivered with confidence. As part of their new interview preparation tool, they’ve included a convenient way to practice. The ability to record using a mobile device in private will allow the job seeker to evaluate themselves. Another great addition to a tool which will surely see a positive response from its users.
Connect and share
Source: LinkedIn
Later in the summer of 2019, LinkedIn hope to introduce another brand new feature to help you practice and gain additional support. By sending your recordings off to anyone within your LinkedIn network, you can ask for tips and advice.
We personally believe this could be one of the most important features if added to the app later this year. Being able to gain support and advice from trusted peers within your network will dramatically increase your chances of success. It will also allow any job seeker to increase their confidence levels through practice and repetition.
Final thoughts
One of the main reasons why most job seekers struggle to pass an interview with flying colours is because of two things:
- They fail to prepare any answers in advance.
- They fail to practice and gain feedback.
These are the two most important aspects of a job interview to consider before it goes ahead. If a job seeker ignores even just one of the above, they are likely to falter during the interview. Or at the very least, they don’t do themselves justice with what they are capable of.
There is a lot of information to be found online already, which can often be ignored. For instance, we have a whole section dedicated to job interviews that will instantly help anyone looking to be hired. Using this advice alone will certainly put you ahead of the competition.
LinkedIn advice is up to date
Sure, you can go on YouTube and also read a ton of articles online that offer helpful advice on how to prepare for an interview. So it remains to be seen how this app will differentiate itself from what’s already out there. But we can already see that there are two unique selling points to be considered:
The first is the expert advice and input from LinkedIn and its associates. This will definitely be up to date, helpful advice that will certainly focus upon the types of questions being asked today. The second is the function which allows the user to send their recorded practices to anyone within their network. Whilst some may be a little too nervous about sending this out to be reviewed, it is clearly a fantastic way to get constructive criticism.
The new tools are set to be released on both LinkedIn’s mobile and desktop apps.
Great idea, be good to try this out to see if it helps much.
This looks so good, I can’t wait to use it