5 Things You’ll Need to Ace That Interview

First off congratulations on making it to this point!

Not a lot of people make it this far. There’s still one hurdle to cross before you get your offer letter, and in this guide, I’ll show you how to cross it Aries Merritt style.

Without further ado, here are the top 5 things you need to ace that interview:

1. Your CV or Resume: Take a physical copy of your resume to the interview whether the interviewer requested for it or not. Sometimes, they expect you to bring it along and submit it, and even if they don’t, looking at your CV helps calm your nerves before you walk in. It’s also good to study your resume; yeah, you wrote it, but go through it multiple times. Try to visualize each experience on your resume and how they helped your grow personally and professionally.

2. The Job Description (J.D.): Before you applied for the job, you probably saw a list of requirements and tasks that an ideal candidate will carry out if given the job. You have to know these things and understand them so that you tailor your answers to highlight those points. Know the role you’re applying for and you’ll find it easier to navigate through the questions.

Pro tip: knowing the JD beforehand helps you tailor your resume to the particular position, so you’re not just showing your best side, but the side they want to see.

3. Research: One of the best things ever is that Google is free. Research far and wide; read about the organization, the team and the role; read reviews and try to find real-life experiences working in that role in that company. Don’t go in blindsided. Read up on the role, the approximate salary, the kind of things you’ll be exposed to. This helps you know what to expect, and if the company is right for you.

4. Ask Questions During the Interview: At the end of most interviews, the interviewer allows you to ask questions. This is where your research comes in. Ask questions about the company and your proposed role; this is a good time to find information about the company that you couldn’t get online. Asking questions also shows the interviewer that you did your homework and you’re really interested in the role. Also, if you feel like the interview hasn’t gone well so far this might be your chance to change that. A few good questions to ask are:

• What will my day-to-day responsibilities be?
• Will I be exposed to opportunities for growth? For instance, company sponsored trainings.
• How is success measured in this role?
• What is the best thing about working in this company?
• What are the company’s values?

5. Smile: I hate that I have to mention it but please smile. No matter how nervous you are smile first and let your interviewer see that you’re not a robot. Smiling eases your nerves and the tension in the room so you can have a fun interview. Smile and relax, your interviewer is human too.

A few extra tips:

• Be honest and open; don’t be afraid to say you can’t answer a question, don’t embellish your stories, your interviewer can tell if you’re not being completely honest.
• Prepare, prepare and prepare. That’s it, that’s the sentence.
• Calm down and don’t let the nerves win. Take a deep breath and remind yourself that you’re amazing.

While there are many more things you might need to do, these are fundamental.

Good luck in your interview, I can’t wait to hear your success story!

Simisola Keye|@S_Keye

Editor: Emmanuella Nwosisi|@emmanwosisi