Face-to-face Interviews can be difficult to deal with especially when you are unprepared for it. However, if you have done the necessary preparations, you should not have to worry about it.
According to statistics, the employment rate keeps decreasing while undergraduates seeking employment are increasing. This means that you have to put in more effort if you want to be chosen.
If you want to gain a competitive advantage over others seeking a job, here are the ten best tips we have to put together to prepare you for an interview.
Research
This will help you understand the company’s goals and the information you should know to impress them and be the right candidate. It would also help you focus on the areas and skills that would be important during the interview.
If you do not know how to go about this, here are some questions to ask yourself for a better understanding of the job and company.
What you’ll learn
- Who are their competitors?
- What is their interview format?
- Why do I want to apply to this company?
- What do they require in the job description?
- What is the latest update about the company size and position?
- What have previous employees been saying about the company?
- How do they promote the company? (you may want to check out their websites and social media accounts).
You can also make use of their products/services to be more familiar with the company. If you are going for a sales position, you will be able to give feedback about what customers think about their products and how they can make them better. Getting the required knowledge would give you more confidence for the interview.
Practice
Practicing for your interview can reduce nervousness and boost your confidence. You can start by answering questions to common interview questions. Some of them are:
- Tell me about yourself.
- Why do you want to work for our company?
- Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
The answers you give to these questions would show the interviewers if you are a fit for the company.
Note that you can practice these interview questions with a friend or family. This is an effective way to prepare. It would also make you familiar with the answers to the interviewer’s supposed questions.
Another thing to take note of is the STAR method. When you get questions related to your experiences or jobs, answer them using the STAR method.
This stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. It would make the interviewers know the actions you can take in certain situations and the results you can bring to the company.
Here are other things you can practice to ensure maximum results:
- Your pitch and tone – Be confident
- How to greet the interviewer – Do not overdo it.
- How to enter the interview room – walk in presentably.
- Your body language – Do not cross your arms or stamp your feet repeatedly. Be relaxed and wear a smile.
Update your social media handles
Optimize your social media profile to be more professional and outstanding. Ensure there is nothing detrimental that can reduce your chances of getting the job.
You should also update your LinkedIn profile and add your portfolio to it. Let your social media profiles contain positive content. Your interviewers might be watching and may just ask you a question regarding your profile.
Carry all the necessary documents
- Ensure you keep scanned copies.
- Compile them in a professional folder
- Make a list of the necessary documents.
- Arrange it the way it was asked for in the email.
- Carry a notebook and pen to write down important information during the interview.
- Print out at least five extra copies. This could be your job application, CV, cover letter, or list of references.
Carry all the necessary documents
This includes dressing presentably to give a positive impact on your interviewers. Here are tips to keep in mind when picking wear for an interview:
- Dress formally.
- Iron your clothes
- It should be comfortable and a right fit for your size.
- Accessorize appropriately – it should match your wear.
- Keep the color light – neutral colors are recommended.
It is important to make a good first impression of your appearance, so let your overall appearance be professional. As it is said, “You are perceived the way you dress.”
You should also be mindful of what you eat before going for the interview. It should not be something smelly that can give a bad first impression. In all, look good, smell good, wear a confident smile and give the right attitude.
Arrive on time
Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early at the interview location. You can also make a Plan B in the case of traffic on that day. This makes things safer and prevents me from being late on D-day.
Arriving for interviews late is the first bad impression. It can make you lose your chance of being picked by the interviewers. On the other hand, arriving early will show how you keep to time and are serious about the job.
Prepare interview questions
Interviews are not a one-way street. Interviewers expect you to ask questions to show your curiosity and interest in the job. Here are some recommended questions you can ask interviewers:
- What does your day-to-day job look like?
- What challenges do you face in the role?
- How do departments normally collaborate?
- What characteristics does a person need to succeed in this role?
You can think of other meaningful questions you are interested in and ask them about them.
Request for feedback
This will help you analyze yourself better and let you know where you need to do better. You can also ask them what you should expect next such as the result of the interview. Here is an example of what you can say:
“Thank you for your time today. I enjoyed the interview and learned a lot. I would love to ask, do you have any idea when I might hear from you? I would also love to know if there is anything I can do to increase my chances of getting this job.”
Send a thank you email
After the interview, you can ask for the business card of the interviewers so you can follow up individually and thank them.
Do not forget to send a thank you email within 24 hours of your job interview. Express gratitude for allowing you to be interviewed. Also, share how much you learned from the interview and the value you received from it.
Be positive
This will give you the strength to accept any decision made in the end. Irrespective of the results, do not feel bad but believe in yourself and your skills.
