10 Things To Do Before An Interview
After sending out lots of applications, you’ve finally landed an interview. Congratulations! Here are some tips to make sure you make a good impression on the big day.
- Know your employer
Before the interview, do some research into the company you might be joining. Check their website, social media and do a Google search to get a sense of their goals and current projects. You don’t want your interviewer to mention a prominent R+D division that you’ve never heard of.
2. Understand your job
Read and reread the job description you are applying for. You should have a good understanding of what your daily tasks will be and how your prior experience provides you with the skills to perform them. This will stand you in good stead for a question like “What is your understanding of this role?”
3. Interviewer diligence
Do you know who will be interviewing you? If not, consult with HR. A simple Google or LinkedIn search could turn up material that you could use to create extra rapport.
4. Anticipate interviewer questions
Sometimes, organisations will give you a list of questions to expect before the interview. Often, you can infer questions from the list of attributes they are looking for in applicants. At any rate, you should prepare answers to classics like “Why do you want this job?” and “Why should we hire you?”
5. Prepare questions
You should also prepare questions of your own to ask. There’s nothing worse than a candidate who has no outstanding questions at the end of an interview. Ask about the company culture or the best and worst aspects of the job.
6. Mock interview
In the days leading up to the interview, ask friends or family to give you a mock interview. The practice will make you less nervous when it comes to the real thing. You can also rehearse answers to the questions you expect.
7. Apply elsewhere
This point might sound a bit counter-intuitive. After all, you’re applying for this job because you want to work here, right? However, knowing that there are other jobs out there will make you less fixated on getting hired by one company — translating into low neediness and confidence in the interview.
8. Dress code
Most of the time, HR will tell you how to dress before the interview. Typically, this will be smart casual, although, for more traditional corporate jobs, you may get asked to wear a suit. If you don’t receive clear guidance from HR, it’s better to err on the side of caution and phone them up before the interview.
9. Directions to office
Know where the interview is going to take place and plan how you are going to get there. Often this will be in the company office, but some businesses prefer to conduct job interviews in nearby cafes or hotels. When planning when to leave your house, remember to factor in time for traffic delays!
10. Self-care
The day before the interview, be sure to eat healthy food, drink lots of water and do some exercise. Get an early night and lots of rest. This will help you make a good impression by remaining focused and present during the interview.
Get Interviewed, Get Placed!
