Interviewing for jobs can be discouraging at times; use these tips to have a successful and constructive experience.

1. Do Not Let a Bad Interview Derail Your Job Search

Have you ever walked out of an interview and not felt the most confident about it? You were ready and you studied the company’s information online, researched the job you were applying for, and even reviewed our “How to Prepare for an Interview” guide. Yet somehow your words came out in a jumble and you were just too nervous. When it comes to a job search, Central Arkansas can be a tough place to find the type of work you really want and it can be even harder when you don’t perform as well as you would have liked to in your interview.

If you do not hear back, take heart.

When it comes to the typical hiring process timeline, one study found that the average hiring timeline in the US is 22.9 days but government agencies can take up to a year to hire someone new. If you want to know at what point to be concerned, ask the hiring manager what the hiring timeline looks like at the end of your interview. Taking initiative and following up if you have not heard back, can say a lot about your work ethic.

2. Seek feedback.

We all love to hear what we are doing right. However, we tend to learn the most from our mistakes. If you truly want to know what went wrong in your interview, circle back to the hiring manager once the position has been filled and ask for feedback. HR managers generally don’t offer feedback unless solicited but most are willing to spend a few minutes on the phone with you if asked. Send an email asking for a few minutes of their time for a phone call and actually talk to them about your interview. Plan on spending no more than 10 minutes on the phone with them and be sure to thank them for their time. You never know, you may be called back for a different position that becomes available.

3. Change your strategy.

Someone who is making hiring decisions is more likely to offer a position to a pre-screened candidate that is both qualified and experienced in that position. This is one of the biggest reasons why you should use a staffing agency as a job seeker. Rather than relying on your resume and interview skills to land the job you want, a staffing agency can help personally place you with an organization looking for someone just like you.

If you’re looking for a new job, check out our Job Openings page + to see what’s available. Apex Staffing specializes in connecting talented job seekers with high-quality, local employers. Our service is completely free for job seekers and we are always accepting applications.