Once your resume is ready, it’s time to prepare for an interview. The interview stage is the most difficult part when job hunting, but you should be confident. In preparing for an interview, you should be able to go through commonly asked questions. In this article, we have compiled eight ways to help you prepare for your next job interview.
1. Do Research
It is important to familiarize yourself with the company, industry, and the position you’re interviewing for. Go through the company’s website to get some useful details about the company. Ensure you’re prepared to answer a few questions especially the common question “Why do you want to want to work here?”
2. Practice
As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. You should arrange a fake interview with friends or just stand in front of a mirror to rehearse the answers to commonly asked questions. This will be a great opportunity to build your confidence but also a good way to be comfortable and fluent while talking about your qualification and relevant skills.
3. Dress for Success
When dressing for an interview, it is important that you consider the following points
- Dress to make a good first impression.
- Dress for the position you want.
- Wear wrinkle-free clothes.
- Be professional.
- Wear comfortable clothes because when you fidget your clothes or hair, it is distracting for the interviewer.
4. Study Your Resume and Know Everything
You should accurately know and be able to explain any skills or work experience that you have on your resume. The interviewer needs to know you and that can be found in your resume. He or she may ask you to elaborate on something. This is a great step that you should not skip.
5. Know the Direction to the Place of the Interview
Estimate the time that will be enough to get there with or without traffic. It is okay to be early but not too early because the interviewer might not be ready for you. Avoid getting lost during the interview day.
Ensure that you have alternative options or routes especially if you’re relying on public transport. A train or a bus may be delayed.
6. Find out the Type of Interview
There are different types of interviews for example group interviews, behavioral interviews, one on one interviews, etc. Never assume the type of interview you will get. Do your research or ask your recruiter if not yet stated.
7. Get a Good Night’s Sleep the Night Before the Interview
Have the best night because it is proven that the more you rest, the calmer you will be. Don’t do all your preparations in the morning, do them the day before. Go to bed early. You can drink tea, read a book, or do whatever helps you sleep. Avoid your laptop or phone since it is proven to cause a low-quality of sleep.
8. Prepare Questions for the Hiring Manager
A good interview should feel like a conversation rather than an interrogation. You should ask questions about your potential roles or about the company. Plan questions for the interviewer but be careful not to ask questions that can be found on the company’s website or have already been answered in the job description.
Asking questions will show a genuine interest in the company and will also help have an opportunity to collect your thoughts as you take a deep breath.
