You’ve got an interview coming up and you want to make a good impression on your potential employer.
The first step is to prepare yourself with the right information before heading into the interview. This blog post offers 10 steps that will help you prepare for your job interview, so check it out!
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Ways To Prepare For Your Job Interview
Preparing for an interview in advance is a great way to show your potential employer that you care. What are some of the best ways to get ready?
People spend many hours researching the company that they will interview with. They also often research the person who will be interviewing them. Because interviews can be stressful, people practice their responses out loud and prepare stories to share.
This article provides detailed steps on how to research the job and company, how to practice interview questions and answers, how to dress for the interview, how to follow up after the interview, and more interview preparation tips.
1. Analyze the Job
One of the ways to prepare for your job interview is to look at the job posting and think about what the company wants in a candidate.
Think about what is required for a successful career in your desired industry. Create a list to keep on hand of skills and qualities you should have that would be useful for the job interview.
2. Make a List
Once you make a list of the requirements for the job, write down what assets you have that match these requirements.
Create a list of 10 things you have that match the job requirements. These could be skills, qualities, certifications, or experiences. Bring up some of these things when you talk to the employer about why they should hire you for this job.
Before your interview, think of specific examples from the past in which you demonstrated these qualities. That way if he or she asks you to describe a time when you showed one of those qualities, be prepared with an example and show them exactly what they need to hear.
This preparation will help you be ready to answer job-specific and behavioral interview questions designed to determine if you have the knowledge, skills, and qualities needed for the position.
3. Do Proper Research On The Company
Before you go for your job interview, do some research about the company. This will help you to be prepared for any questions they might ask that are related to their organization and culture, such as what is your favorite part of working here or how does this role fit with where I see myself in five years?
It should give you an idea of what type of person would thrive in the organization, which will help you answer questions related to your qualifications and interest.
A good way to learn about a company is to visit the “About Us” page. You can read information about that company online from magazines or websites and see what other companies it is compared with. You can also read reviews from clients, or even people who work for that company.
4. Practice Answering Interviewing Questions
When you go to an interview, it can be scary. Practice answering questions before the interview so that you are not nervous while answering them.
Practice the interview with a friend. They can call you or you can call them, but make sure it is like the real interview. If it is a panel, have two friends to pretend to be on the panel and ask questions.
If you want to do an interview over the internet, practice with the technology so you can feel comfortable with it. Know some common questions and answers for job interviews. Think about how you will answer them ahead of time.
5. Get Your Interview Clothes Ready
It is important to dress for the interview. You should be comfortable in your clothes, but you want to look appropriate for an interview too.
Do not wear bright colors or anything with words on it like a sweatshirt or other clothing item that might distract you from what you are wearing. If possible, find out if there will be a specific dress for the interview.
If you’re applying for a more casual job, such as a store or a restaurant with less dress code requirement, it is still important to be neat and well-groomed.
It is also worth considering aspects of your grooming and appearance such as makeup when you are dressing for an interview.
6. Decide What to Do With Your Hair
Styling your hair for a job interview is important. The interviewer will notice everything you wear and how you do your hair and makeup. You might only have a few seconds to make a great impression on them.
If you have short, medium, or long hair, search for pictures of other people’s haircuts. They might give you some ideas about what to do with your hair when you are interviewing.
7. What to Bring to a Job Interview
Bringing the right items to a job interview can make all the difference between success and failure.
What you bring to the interview should be professional and appropriate for what type of job you are applying for.
If you want to make sure that you don’t forget anything, write a list ahead of time. Some things to include on your list are:
- A portfolio with extra copies of your resume
- list of questions to ask the interviewer
- A pen in case an interviewer needs one
- Business cards if they will need it.
Also, note that there are certain things that you should not bring in for an interview.
For example, don’t bring a cellphone, which might be seen as unprofessional. Turn it off if you must come with it.
8. Practice Interview Etiquette
It is important for you to be polite and friendly when interviewing. Greet the receptionist, your interviewer, and any other people you meet. Shake hands firmly and make eye contact while talking about your points. Pay attention during the interview so that you can answer questions well. Look interested in what they are saying too!
9. Listen and Ask Questions
During a job interview, it is important to listen. If you are not listening, you will not be able to answer the questions well.
When you talk to the interviewer, you need to listen to them and remember what they say. You also need to take time if you have a question. You should tell the interviewer about your qualifications in a way that makes them think that you are good at being interviewed.
When you are interviewed, be ready to answer questions. The interview should not just be a one-way conversation. You want the interviewer to like you, so ask them questions too.
You know if you’ve done well in the interview if they let you talk for more than 30 minutes, they talk about salary, or you get an invitation for a second interview.
10. Follow Up With a Thank You Note
It is tough to get a job if you never follow up with an employer after your interview. Hence, after your job interview, send thank-you notes and emails; that’s what most employers look for in applicants.
Send it on the same day or at least within 48 hours of the interview, reiterating your interest in the job.
Top 16 Job Interview Frequently Asked Questions And Answers
Here are some of the most common interview questions, along with the best way to answer them.
1. What is your greatest weakness?
I’ve never found a good solution to this question. I know that it’s supposed to be an opportunity to show the employer how self-aware you are, but in all honesty, they’re usually looking for an example of something you struggle with so that they can make sure you’ll be able to handle the job you’re applying for.
Hence, you can say something like this: I get excited about a project, which can sometimes cause me to lose track of time.
2. What are your strengths?
If they ask “What are your strengths?” or “How would you rate yourself on a scale from one to ten?”, don’t exaggerate – It’s better for the interviewer if you’re being upfront with them rather than showing up as someone who might not be the best fit.
Hence, you could say “my greatest strength is being a quick learner. I’m good at adapting to new situations and figuring things out as they come up in front of me.” Also, I’ve been told that I’m great at collaborating with other people and coming up with creative solutions to problems.”
3. Outline what you want the interviewer to know about you:
My answer: I want the interviewer to know that my greatest strength is being a quick learner and good at adapting to new situations. One weakness of mine would be how quickly I get excited about projects, which can cause me to lose track of time.
4. What are some things you have done in your past work experience?
My answer: One of the things I love about my past work experience is that there has been a lot of variety. For example, in one job I was responsible for planning and executing events, while in another position I had to come up with new ideas on how to improve marketing strategy. In both cases, it helped me become more creative and adaptable.
5. How do you feel people in your current company should be compensated?
My answer: I believe that everyone in an organization has different skillsets and responsibilities. It is important for companies to find a system that reflects the contributions of each person while still making sure they are all fairly compensated.
6. Where do you see yourself in five years?
If you are asked: “What do you want to be doing in five years?” This is a tricky question because the interviewer will likely try and extrapolate your answer into how well they think you’ll fit within their company’s culture.
Hence, your answer should be something like this: “I would love to have a job where I can work with people and help them reach their potential. Maybe that means being in charge of training employees or promoting diversity within the company.”
7. Out of all the candidates, why should we hire you?
My answer: I am a reliable and hard-working person who is always looking for ways to improve myself and my work. I have always been told that I bring positivity into the organization, which makes me an excellent candidate.
8. How did you learn about the opening?
Job boards, general postings, online listings, and job fairs are all ways to find your first few jobs. But finding your next job from more of these places might mean that you don’t know what you want to do or where you want to work.
It means that they are looking for a job. They might not have any requirements.
don’t just say that you heard about the opening. Show that you know about the company and are really interested in it because social media, or a friend told you about it.
Employers want to hire people who will be good workers with their company. They do not want people who just need a job for money.
9. What will you be able to accomplish in three months?
This is a very important question. Your resume should show what skills and experiences that are relevant for the position, so it’s not like they have no idea about your background. They want to know if you’re going to work out well with their company or not.
10. What are you looking for?
Many times this question will lead to more questions about your job history, what kind of company and position would be most attractive, the salary range in which they can offer you for the position, or even why you’re leaving your current employer. Your answers should show that:
- You know what you want,
- You’re not desperate for a job.
- You know what you can accomplish in the company’s time frame and are willing to take that position if it is offered to you.
A good answer would be: “I’m looking for an environment where I will get a lot of hands-on experience” or “I’m looking for a company that is growing and will allow me the opportunity to move up in their organization”.
If you have an answer prepared, it’ll be easier not to get caught off guard if asked this question.
11. How often are you available?
It’s important when answering this type of question that you tell them how many hours you are available to work. If you are only available for a certain amount of hours per week, be sure to let the interviewer know.
12. What type of work environment do you prefer
When responding to: “What type of work environment do you prefer?”
Your answer should show that your preferences lie in working independently, or as part of a team. You want an office with at least one other person around, but not too many people, for example.
13. What was your salary in your last job?
Be sure to research the salary ranges for your job before answering this question. It’s important not to inflate or deflate what you are making at your last company, as it can affect how much they will pay you in their organization.
14. What are your current salary expectations?
This question may be asked by the interviewer to determine if you’re not only qualified for the position, but also means that they want to hire someone who is within their budget constraints.
Here are a few helpful tips for answering this question:
- Be specific about what type of benefits package you expect and why that is important for you.
- Speak up if your current job doesn’t offer an adequate benefits package – when employers ask this question, they’re looking for someone who’s bargaining and negotiating savvy.
- Don’t be afraid to mention a specific salary range if you have one in mind – it’s better to overshoot than undershoot with your expectations!
- If there are any particular perks or bonuses that would make the job offer more attractive, now is the time to mention them.
15. What do you know about our company?
This question is not just an icebreaker; the interviewer wants to make sure that there’s been some research done on their organization so far and they’re interested in whether or not you are serious about working for them.
If you have not researched their company, then do so before the interview!
16. Do you have more questions?
This is a signal that the interviewer wants to make sure you feel comfortable with your understanding of what’s going on and they want to know if there are any lingering concerns.
You could see it as a polite way of saying “thank you” and ending the interview on good terms, as well as signaling that there are no lingering concerns or issues with what was discussed. It also signals that you’re enthusiastic about working there.
