How to Prepare for Your Job Interview
Getting an interview call isn’t the same as receiving a job offer, it’s just a foot in the door. What you make of it is up to you. But you can make it work in your favor by working hard a few days before the interview so that you’re confident, poised and preferred over the other candidates.
Here is some advice that will help you ace the interview:
Who’s the real you? Before you go for an interview, you need to know yourself inside out. Get to know your strengths, weaknesses, your aims, desires and your career roadmap.
What are your strengths and skills? You must have at your fingertips a list of your strengths, skills, successes and failures, among other things. In a nutshell:
- Think about your past work history and locate all your strengths
- List your successes
- Review your failures
- Decide what you want from life
Get to know the company interviewing you: Familiarize yourself with every aspect of the company with whom you’re interviewing before the interview. By doing so, you can decide if the company is a perfect match for you. Researching the company will also help you decide which questions to ask at the conclusion of the interview.
To research the company, check out their website and look for them on social media networks such as Twitter, LinkedIn, GlassDoor and Facebook.
Review the job description: You need to be sure of the job you’re interviewing for, so read the job description very carefully to determine if you have the required qualifications and skills. Highlight the necessary skills, read up on terms you’re not sure of and brush up required skills that you may not have. Employers typically ask questions that are centered around the skills and qualifications in which they seek.
Take a hard look at your resume: Read your resume carefully! For each company you’ve worked at, recall your role there and relative duties and skills. Think of positive points about each job and speak positively about them at the interview.
Practice your answers: Compose answers to commonly asked interview questions and imagine you are being asked those questions. Answer them as if you were at an interview so that you are prepared and not nervous. You can practice in front of a mirror or solicit the help of a friend or family member. If possible, record yourself so you can understand how to improve.
By preparing yourself for the job interview, you can easily get the best of jobs. Once you secure a job, it’s up to you to do your best.
Best Wishes & Happy Interviewing!
