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How to Prepare for an Interview

12/14/2021

  • Read the job description carefully

    • Doing this can help you find key areas of the job that you relate to and how you would fit with the position. You can mention these during the interview and tell them why you think you would be a good fit.

  • Find information on the company

    • Knowing who you would be working for is important. Not only do you have to be the right fit for them, they should be the right fit for you. Find out how long they have been in business, the company size, locations, salaries (you can use sites like glassdoor for this), and any other information you find important about a company.

  • Research the role

    • Finding similar roles and reading what others have to say about the roles and their daily activities will help you understand the responsibilities. You can then get clarification and ask questions about it in the interview.

  • Company culture

    • You can find many companies on social media and see how they express their company culture. With this, you can see if it is a good fit for you and will help you relate to the interviewer.

  • Dress for success

    • Wearing professional clothing is a must for most interviews. You want to wear what you feel comfortable and confident in while still looking professional.

  • Be prepared for the questions they may ask

    • Many interviews have a similar list of questions they will ask, so it is nice to have your answers prepared if you are not good at thinking off the top of your head. Some common questions are:

      • "Tell me about yourself."

      • "How did you hear about this position?"

      • "What is your greatest achievement?"

      • "Why do you think you would be a good fit here?"

      • "Why do you want this job?"

      • "What do you know about the company?"

      • "What are three strengths you have?"

      • "What are three weaknesses you have?"

      • "What is something you are passionate about?"

      • "What is a challenge you've faced at work and how did you overcome it?"

      • "Tell me about a time when you have disagreed with someone at work."

      • What is your work style?"

      • "What do you like to do outside of work?"

      • "Where do you see yourself in five years?"

      • "What are your salary expectations?"

      • "Is there anything else you would like us to know about?"

      • "Do you have any questions for us?"

  • Prepare questions for the interviewer

    • At the end of most interviews, the interviewer will ask if you have any questions for them. It is important to ask questions to show that you are engaged and interested. Some of my favorite questions to ask are, "Is there room for advancement within the company?" "How would the person who gets this role be most successful in this position?" "What are some of the day to day responsibilities for this role?" "What is your favorite part about working here?" Of course, if these have already been answered don't ask them and think of other questions.

  • Practice your handshake, eye contact, body language, and how you speak

    • Having a firm handshake and making eye contact is the easiest way to show confidence and respect right from the start. As the interview goes on, continue keeping eye contact and watch your body language. Sit up straight, don't cross your arms, and try not to do any anxious movements like shaking your legs. Speak at a regular pace and volume to keep your composure.

  • Do mock interviews with friends or family

    • Doing mock interviews with friends or family will help you prepare because they can give you feedback on your body language, answers to questions, how you are speaking, etc. It could also be useful to practice in front of a mirror.

  • Prepare for the location

    • Is it at an office or is it remote? If it is at another location, map it out so you know how long it will take to get there. You should arrive about 15 minutes early and head in about 10 minutes early.

  • Confidence is key

    • Even if you are not a very confident person, you can fake it! The interviewer has never met you before, so how would they know if you are faking confidence or not? If you fake it, they will believe you are a confident person which is a trait that interviewers look for in the people they hire.

  • Follow up after the interview

    • Sending a thank you letter is important because it shows that you are interested in the position and it reminds the interviewer of you and your conversations. You should thank them for their time, reiterate that you are interested in the position and why you think you would be a good fit, and end it by asking if they need anything else from you or have any other questions and that you look forward to hearing from them.

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