Finally getting called up for an interview with a firm you’ve been applying to for a long time can be intimidating. You never really know what the interviewers will be expecting, also, you only get one shot at making the first impression.
Here are some helpful tips for the preparation of a job interview to make it an easy and enjoyable experience for you.
Do Your Homework And Research
If there is one thing an interviewer absolutely loves to see, it is a prepared candidate. Once you get a call from the recruiter about your interview date, you should immediately start looking into the working of the firm.
Jot down all the points you can about their line of work and picture how you would be a perfect fit for it. Now you may not always completely understand everything, and that is where preparing questions come in.
An interviewer is not the only one to ask the questions, you can do that too. It sets up a good image to the panel as they get to know that you’ve been putting effort into it.
But you should always be mindful of not asking questions just for the sake of questions. It is always evident and works against you.
Rehearse Your Resume
Your resume is the only thing that connects you to the interviewer, so make it a good one. as much important as having a good resume is, knowing everything you’ve written down is equally important.
You should be fully prepared to answer anything from your resume in detail. We usually forget some parts of a job that we had years ago, but if it is on the resume then now is the time to recall your experiences.
You will be asked questions about why you left a previous job, etc. And you need to have ready and valid answers for each of the questions.
Go Through The Terms And Conditions
Going through the terms and conditions before your interview usually gives you leverage over things to talk about and prepare.
For example, a company may have it in their policy to conduct a dope test before hiring. If you’re in a state where certain drugs are legal or are taking prescribed medications then that can be a problem. But if you had gone through the terms and conditions, you can prepare for it by either detoxing or buying ultimate gold urine from TooSlick to pass through.
Work On The Answers To Common Questions
Regardless of what firm you are called up for an interview by, there are always a few pet questions for the interviewers that they love to judge candidates by.
Questions like “Tell us about yourself”, “How can you be of benefit to our company?”, “What are your expectations in return for your service?”, etc.
Although these questions are easy enough to be answered right away, it is always best to have an idea about them beforehand. That is not to say that you go with memorized answers but merely outline what you should be saying.
Punctuality
There is nothing that tops off a first impression as good as punctuality. You don’t want to be running late for an interview you’ve worked so hard to get a slot in.
Once you get called by the recruiter and get your interview date, you should mark it on your calendar and set up a reminder, just in case. Wake up early on the day of the interview so that you have enough time freshen up and not show up in slumber.
Make bookings for transport in advance if you need to, just anything to make sure that you don’t miss out at the right time.
Dress Accordingly
Ever heard the statement “dress for the occasion”? Well, now is the time to put it to good use.
You need to be very particular about your dressing as it is the first thing an interviewer notices. If you need to dry clean your best suit or shine your shoes then just get done with it already. Don’t wait up for the eleventh hour to set up your dress.
Even though an interviewer may not notice your dressing as you would expect, it would still give you a lot of confidence. You will be able to express your points and opinions much more freely.
Ending Thoughts
Getting stressed out right before an interview is a very natural thing and nothing to be ashamed of. A ritual that I always follow before going to an interview is having a bar of chocolate or something sweet. It keeps my blood sugar regulated and generally in a better mood.
The idea of going to an interview is not perfection but simply giving it your best shot. It is okay to be imperfect at times but the regret of not committing completely is something that will definitely haunt you.
I hope the above-stated suggestions help you out in acing your interview as these simple tricks have always worked for me. And if not, there is always a better job waiting for your out there!
