By An interview refers to a formal meeting normally carried out by hiring managers or employers of individual companies to evaluate and ascertain a candidate’s qualifications for a specific job. Therefore, to make a lasting impression on your prospective employer, the following are essential tips that you need to take in preparation to secure a job offer before the interview, during the interview, and even after the interview.
Before you attend any other interview, it is crucial to set aside time to do the following:
- Research your target company
- Re-read and analyze the job description
- Write down job-specific and behavioral interview questions
- Practice answering interview questions
- Prepare a list of references
- Prepare questions for your interviewers
- Have your interview outfit ready
- Get clear directions
- Prepare items to take to the interview
Research your target company
Company research is a vital part of interview preparation that will help you get into an interview room with confidence. Some days to the interview, ensure that you can find out about the company. To achieve this, check out the company’s website and specifically visit the “About Us” page. With this, you will be able to find out the company’s culture, and it will help you to know whether the company is fit for you or not.
Moreover, read magazines and articles on the website about the company to understand how the company operates and its difference with other companies in the region. Company reviews from former employees and clients are also an important aspect to help you get an understanding of the company. Importantly, you can also find information about the company by tapping into your network. Seek opinions from trusted friends and associates who can give you an inside understanding of the company’s culture.
Re-read and analyze the job description
Take time to review the job description and understand the specific skills that the company is looking for in a candidate.
Write the skills, personal, and professional qualities that are required by the company on a note pad and match them with the qualities that you possess as an individual.
Ascertain whether your professional qualifications, work experiences, certifications, skills, and abilities match the job requirements.
Furthermore, think of specific examples from past work experiences that match the job requirements and write them down in preparation to demonstrate a time when you used a particular skill or ability.
Write down job-specific and behavioral interview questions
Job-specific interview questions are typically asked by the hiring manager to measure a candidate’s ability to perform the duties of a specific job and to determine whether you have the knowledge and skills required.
Take time to thoroughly review the job-specific questions and figure out how best to respond.
To have a good idea about the type of questions to be asked on the job you are applying for, review the job-specific questions and sample answers from the internet.
On the contrary, behavioral interview questions seek clear and concrete examples of experiences and skills that relate to the job position.
Therefore, be prepared to be asked how you handled a particularly challenging situation.
With this, you will have to respond with an explanation of what you did, and your response is expected to be a positive indicator of your success.
Practice answering interview questions
Take some time rehearsing possible answers to interview questions that might be asked.
Be prepared to answer open-ended questions about yourself generally asked by the interviewers to get an insight into your personality and to determine whether you are fit for the company and the job.
It is advisable to begin with, an overview of where you are currently, maybe your current job, followed by how you got to where you are in terms of education and experience, and lastly, end with briefly mentioning your goal for the future.
Practice interviewing with a family member or a close friend two days or a day before the interview.
For instance, if it is a phone interview, ask a friend to call you and practice answering possible questions to be asked over the phone, and if it is a panel interview, have a group of friends to pretend to be a panel.
As a result, you will be able to calm your nerves since you won’t have to fidget and scramble for answers on the hot interview seat.
Read More: Job Interview – During the Interview
Prepare a list of references
Have a list of references prepared before the interview as most hiring managers ask for it before the interview begins or after the interview.
Recruiters may a times have to contact people on your reference list as part of the hiring process to know more about your professional history and job performance.
It is therefore advisable to prepare a list of reliable contacts that will be able to communicate your excellent professional attributes.
Prepare questions for your interviewers
Be ready to engage your interviewers since interviews are not a one-way street.
It is a give and take conversation, and your potential employers expect you to ask questions about how it would be like to work in their company.
Therefore, have questions of your own to ask the interviewers in a bid to build a relationship.
Questions such as, “Would you please explain some of the responsibilities that this job entails?” will act as positive indicators to the interviewers that you are seriously thinking of how it is to work in their company.
Have your interview outfit ready
Avoid a last-minute rush and ensure that your interview clothes are prepared some days before the interview.
Your professional outfit ought to be neat and tidy to have a positive and lasting impression on the employer, even if you are applying for a job in a casual environment.
Get clear directions
It is vital to get clear directions of the interview venue to avoid getting late to the interview.
Program your GPS or use your Google maps to get the routes and directions to the company if you are not sure of where you are going.
However, if you have enough time, it is advisable to visit the company before the day of the interview to be sure of where you will be going and how long it would take to get there.
Prepare items to take to the interview
If the company building has security personnel, carry your identification card since you may be asked to show your identification.
Have a notepad and a pen to write down the name of the person interviewing you and company information. Besides, prepare copies of your resume to be distributed in the interview room upon request.
