Wondering how to prepare for an interview? Good news: It’s not terribly complicated. Even if you have less than a day before your job interview, you can outshine the competition with a little interview preparation. This article will provide practical tips on how to prepare for a job interview. Remember, you never get a second chance to make a first impression, so you’ll want to do your best in preparing for your interview in advance.
Read and Review the Job Description:
You’ve received a call for that dream job, so how do you prepare for the interview? The first step in the preparation process should be to go back and review the job description. Most job descriptions follow a similar pattern and are usually categorized by the following points:
- Job Title/Department
- Duties and tasks
- Skills Required
The job title and department will give you an understanding of the major purpose of the position and where the role fits into the organization, allowing you to discover who your potential line manager could be.
Read and review the job description very thoroughly and be sure to align your competencies with the skills required for the job. You will consequently ready yourself for questions around your previous experiences, performing similar duties in other organizations.
Research the Organization and The Job Position You Are Applying For:
Research is a critical part of interview preparation. This will help you answer questions about the company as well as clarify the doubts about the company – and stand out from less-prepared candidates. Start by looking into their future goals and plans. Conducting the interview with this in mind will make you seem like a good long-term investment. You should also be ready to talk in depth about the industry, the organization, and the position you are applying for. Know as much about the company as possible. You can’t change your employment history or your qualifications, but you can work harder than every other applicant by being supremely knowledgeable about the company. For a concise understanding of the company use the company’s website, their annual report, and newspaper/business magazine articles, “about us” page, to gather as much information as possible. Also there are certain genuine review sites on internet to evaluate about the company. Reviews helps to justify between fake and genuine company and to find out whether the company and the company culture are a good fit for an employer. Also by researching the clients, current and former employees of the company will prepare better for any interview.
Compare Your Skills And Qualifications To The Job Requirements:
- Analyze the job description: Outline the knowledge, skills and abilities required.
- Examine the hierarchy: Determine where the position fits within the organization.
- Look side-by-side. Compare what the employer is seeking to your qualifications.
Study Your Resume And Know Everything About It:
Any work experience or skills you have listed on your resume are fair game to talk about during the interview. Your resume is all the interviewer has to go by in order to get to know you. They may pick things out from it and ask you to elaborate. Even though you may have a previous job listed that was many years ago, the interviewer may ask you to explain what you did at that job and you are responsible for providing an answer. This is one step you absolutely won’t want to skip on how to prepare for a job interview.
Plan What To Wear:
- Go neutral: Conservative business attire, such as a neutral-colored suit and professional shoes, is best.
- Plug in that iron: Make sure your clothes are neat and wrinkle-free.
- Dress to impress: Be sure that your overall appearance is neat and clean.
- For women: Dressing professionally means wearing a smart knee-length skirt suit in a dark color, along with sheer, non-patterned hosiery, closed toe shoes, minimal jewelry, descent hairstyle , and subtle makeup.
- For men: Choose a white shirt, dark-colored suit and tie and dark-colored shoes.
Plan What To Bring:
- Extra copies of your resume on quality paper
- A notepad or professional binder and pen
- A list of references
- Information you might need to complete an application
- A portfolio with samples of your work, if relevant
Pay Attention to Non-Verbal Communication:
- Be mindful. Non-verbal communication speaks volumes.
- Start ahead. Remember that waiting room behaviors may be reported.
- Project confidence. Smile, establish eye contact and use a firm handshake.
- Posture counts. Sit up straight yet comfortably. Be aware of fidgeting behaviors such as foot-tapping, touching mouth face, scratching etc.
- Be attentive. Don’t stare, but maintain good eye contact, while addressing all aspects of an interviewer’s questions.
- Respect their space. Do not place anything on their desk.
- Manage reactions. Facial expressions provide clues to your feelings. Manage how you react, and project a positive image.
Follow Up:
Many interviews end with “Do you have any questions?”
- Bring a list: You may say, “In preparing for today’s meeting, I took some time to mark down a few questions. Please allow me to review my notes.”
- Be strategic: Cover information not discussed or clarify a previous topic – do not ask for information that can be found on the organization’s website.
- In your opinion, what makes this organization a great place to work?
- What do you consider the most important criteria for success in this job?
- Tell me about the organization’s culture.
- How will my performance be evaluated?
- What are the opportunities for advancement?
- What are the next steps in the hiring process?
Practice Interview:
This skill stops from feeling nervous during the actual interview. It allows to focus on the interviewer thus reduces stress. Rehearsing boosts confidence level and helps to pass an interview. Practice responding possible interview question to ace an interview.
Print Out The Directions To The Interview And Be On Time:
Allow enough time to get there and anticipate traffic. It’s ok to be up to 10 minutes early, but no more than that. Otherwise, the interviewer may not be ready for you. Bring the phone number of your interviewer just in case you get lost or are going to be late. If you are going to be late, call to let the interviewer know.
Physical Preparation:
To perform at your best in the interview, it’s crucial to get a good night’s sleep the night before. Eat a nutritious evening meal (not too heavy or late), avoid alcohol and start winding down before you go to bed. Get an early night and of course, don’t forget to set your alarm.
Show courtesy to everyone during the interview:
This means everyone from the reception staff to the interviewer herself. You never know who has input in the hiring process, and you can only make a first impression once.
- Look everyone in the eye and smile. Looking people in the eye will telegraph alertness, and smiling will signal friendliness.
- Speak clearly and say “please” and “thank you.” Make sure the people you talk to during the interview can make out what you’re saying. Talking audibly, with good enunciation, tells people you’re confident, while good manners tell them you’re considerate of other people.
- Don’t noodle around on your phone or electronic device while waiting. In fact, leave it in your car. Even though it’s practically acceptable, playing around on your phone can communicate boredom and frivolousness (even if that’s not the case). Stick with a book or review your notes while waiting.
- Avoid inappropriate body language such as chewing gum, nose picking, stretching body parts, cleaning finger nails, cracking knuckles instead be attentive.
Final Tips:
While a morning coffee can help make you more alert, it might be wise to avoid having too many as you don’t want to be nervous during the interview. When you arrive at the interview, give yourself a final once-over, tidy yourself up (check your face, clothes and hair), turn your mobile phone to silent, and take a few deep breaths. Be confident when you meet the interviewer, greet them by name and don’t forget to smile!
Follow these tips and you will successfully know how to prepare for a job interview. Interviewers can tell whether or not a candidate has prepared for it or not and they will appreciate it if you did.
All the best for your job search !
Advertisements
Wondering how to prepare for an interview? Good news: It’s not terribly complicated. Even if you have less than a day before your job interview, you can outshine the competition with a little interview preparation. This article will provide practical tips on how to prepare for a job interview. Remember, you never get a second chance to make a first impression, so you’ll want to do your best in preparing for your interview in advance.
Read and Review the Job Description:
You’ve received a call for that dream job, so how do you prepare for the interview? The first step in the preparation process should be to go back and review the job description. Most job descriptions follow a similar pattern and are usually categorized by the following points:
- Job Title/Department
- Duties and tasks
- Skills Required
The job title and department will give you an understanding of the major purpose of the position and where the role fits into the organization, allowing you to discover who your potential line manager could be.
Read and review the job description very thoroughly and be sure to align your competencies with the skills required for the job. You will consequently ready yourself for questions around your previous experiences, performing similar duties in other organizations.
Research the Organization and The Job Position You Are Applying For:
Research is a critical part of interview preparation. This will help you answer questions about the company as well as clarify the doubts about the company – and stand out from less-prepared candidates. Start by looking into their future goals and plans. Conducting the interview with this in mind will make you seem like a good long-term investment. You should also be ready to talk in depth about the industry, the organization, and the position you are applying for. Know as much about the company as possible. You can’t change your employment history or your qualifications, but you can work harder than every other applicant by being supremely knowledgeable about the company. For a concise understanding of the company use the company’s website, their annual report, and newspaper/business magazine articles, “about us” page, to gather as much information as possible. Also there are certain genuine review sites on internet to evaluate about the company. Reviews helps to justify between fake and genuine company and to find out whether the company and the company culture are a good fit for an employer. Also by researching the clients, current and former employees of the company will prepare better for any interview.
Compare Your Skills And Qualifications To The Job Requirements:
- Analyze the job description: Outline the knowledge, skills and abilities required.
- Examine the hierarchy: Determine where the position fits within the organization.
- Look side-by-side. Compare what the employer is seeking to your qualifications.
Study Your Resume And Know Everything About It:
Any work experience or skills you have listed on your resume are fair game to talk about during the interview. Your resume is all the interviewer has to go by in order to get to know you. They may pick things out from it and ask you to elaborate. Even though you may have a previous job listed that was many years ago, the interviewer may ask you to explain what you did at that job and you are responsible for providing an answer. This is one step you absolutely won’t want to skip on how to prepare for a job interview.
Plan What To Wear:
- Go neutral: Conservative business attire, such as a neutral-colored suit and professional shoes, is best.
- Plug in that iron: Make sure your clothes are neat and wrinkle-free.
- Dress to impress: Be sure that your overall appearance is neat and clean.
- For women: Dressing professionally means wearing a smart knee-length skirt suit in a dark color, along with sheer, non-patterned hosiery, closed toe shoes, minimal jewelry, descent hairstyle , and subtle makeup.
- For men: Choose a white shirt, dark-colored suit and tie and dark-colored shoes.
Plan What To Bring:
- Extra copies of your resume on quality paper
- A notepad or professional binder and pen
- A list of references
- Information you might need to complete an application
- A portfolio with samples of your work, if relevant
Pay Attention to Non-Verbal Communication:
- Be mindful. Non-verbal communication speaks volumes.
- Start ahead. Remember that waiting room behaviors may be reported.
- Project confidence. Smile, establish eye contact and use a firm handshake.
- Posture counts. Sit up straight yet comfortably. Be aware of fidgeting behaviors such as foot-tapping, touching mouth face, scratching etc.
- Be attentive. Don’t stare, but maintain good eye contact, while addressing all aspects of an interviewer’s questions.
- Respect their space. Do not place anything on their desk.
- Manage reactions. Facial expressions provide clues to your feelings. Manage how you react, and project a positive image.
Follow Up:
Many interviews end with “Do you have any questions?”
- Bring a list: You may say, “In preparing for today’s meeting, I took some time to mark down a few questions. Please allow me to review my notes.”
- Be strategic: Cover information not discussed or clarify a previous topic – do not ask for information that can be found on the organization’s website.
- In your opinion, what makes this organization a great place to work?
- What do you consider the most important criteria for success in this job?
- Tell me about the organization’s culture.
- How will my performance be evaluated?
- What are the opportunities for advancement?
- What are the next steps in the hiring process?
Practice Interview:
This skill stops from feeling nervous during the actual interview. It allows to focus on the interviewer thus reduces stress. Rehearsing boosts confidence level and helps to pass an interview. Practice responding possible interview question to ace an interview.
Print Out The Directions To The Interview And Be On Time:
Allow enough time to get there and anticipate traffic. It’s ok to be up to 10 minutes early, but no more than that. Otherwise, the interviewer may not be ready for you. Bring the phone number of your interviewer just in case you get lost or are going to be late. If you are going to be late, call to let the interviewer know.
Physical Preparation:
To perform at your best in the interview, it’s crucial to get a good night’s sleep the night before. Eat a nutritious evening meal (not too heavy or late), avoid alcohol and start winding down before you go to bed. Get an early night and of course, don’t forget to set your alarm.
Show courtesy to everyone during the interview:
This means everyone from the reception staff to the interviewer herself. You never know who has input in the hiring process, and you can only make a first impression once.
- Look everyone in the eye and smile. Looking people in the eye will telegraph alertness, and smiling will signal friendliness.
- Speak clearly and say “please” and “thank you.” Make sure the people you talk to during the interview can make out what you’re saying. Talking audibly, with good enunciation, tells people you’re confident, while good manners tell them you’re considerate of other people.
- Don’t noodle around on your phone or electronic device while waiting. In fact, leave it in your car. Even though it’s practically acceptable, playing around on your phone can communicate boredom and frivolousness (even if that’s not the case). Stick with a book or review your notes while waiting.
- Avoid inappropriate body language such as chewing gum, nose picking, stretching body parts, cleaning finger nails, cracking knuckles instead be attentive.
Final Tips:
While a morning coffee can help make you more alert, it might be wise to avoid having too many as you don’t want to be nervous during the interview. When you arrive at the interview, give yourself a final once-over, tidy yourself up (check your face, clothes and hair), turn your mobile phone to silent, and take a few deep breaths. Be confident when you meet the interviewer, greet them by name and don’t forget to smile!
Follow these tips and you will successfully know how to prepare for a job interview. Interviewers can tell whether or not a candidate has prepared for it or not and they will appreciate it if you did.