You open up your email and all of your hard work in putting together a great job application has paid off. You have been invited for an interview. What next?
Here are a few pointers on how to prepare for an interview:
1. Read the Job Description
Ensure that you have a good understanding of what the job entails and start preparing for the interview, having what the job requires in mind.
2. Research the Company
Research the company and the role. Learn about the product or service the company offers; the company’s vision; mission; and culture.
3. Practice Selling Yourself
No one has the power to sell yourself like you can. You will need to put your best foot forward during the interview.
4. Be Prepared to…
- Explain why you are the best candidate for the job. You may discuss how your values align with the company’s values and what makes you the best fit for the company.
- Discuss relevant previous work experiences using the Situation-Task-Action-Result (S.T.A.R.) method. This will help the interviewer to understand why you will succeed as well as to what extent you will be well-suited for the job.
- Discuss your strengths and weaknesses. You will need to ensure that your weakness is practical. Personally, I think a relatable weakness is also helpful. Ensure you have taken steps to improve your weakness and mention the steps you have taken and where you are now in your journey.
- Discuss salary expectations (if the interviewer brings it up). You will need to research this piece and consider your experience level, so you don’t come across as greedy or being motivated by money.
5. Research the Potential Interview Questions that Could Come Up at the Organization
Look online to see if others have interviewed in the same organization and what their thoughts are or what potential questions might come up. Glassdoor and LinkedIn are good resources for this purpose.
6. Research your Interviewers and Prepare Questions for Them
Some questions you can ask your interviewers are: What excites you about working here? What would a typical day look like? What qualities will I need to excel at this role? etc. You may also ask thought-provoking questions about the interviewer or use the information learned as a conversation starter.
7. Practice!
While this is not an exhaustive list, practice common interview questions like:
- Why do you want to work at this organization? This is an opportunity to discuss the organization’s values, accomplishments, mission statement and vision. It is also an opportunity to discuss your values and goals and state how it aligns with the company’s goals.
- What do you bring to the table? This allows you to discuss your skills and how you will add value to the organization.
- What are your strengths? Use strengths that will be useful on the job e.g. if you are a programmer, being a great public speaker may not be useful.
- What are your weaknesses? This question typically requires you to not only talk about your weakness but discuss what steps you are taking or have taken to overcome the weakness. This question shows your level of self-awareness and your ability to grow.
- What interests you about the role? This is an opportunity to demonstrate knowledge of the role and what is required. Show you can meet and potentially exceed expectations by drawing on past experiences and successes.
Your prepared answers should be concise and straight to the point. Resist the urge to ramble on. This is where practice is very helpful.
Night Before the Interview Checklist
- Print out extra copies of your resume and cover letter to provide to each of the interviewers you will be meeting with. It doesn’t hurt to have extras. Imagine being in a situation where it turns out there is an additional interviewer, you will have extra copies for them as well. That shows preparedness. You will be selling yourself through your actions.
- Practice a few more times with friends or family.
- Set out your clothing and make sure it is ironed or looks neat and professional.
- Map out your trip to get an estimate of the travel time. Ensure you set out time to get ready and get to your destination on time.
- Go to sleep early and have a good night rest.
Interview Day
- Get ready – proper hygiene and appearance are equally important.
- Set out early so you can get to your destination on time. Aim to arrive about 10 – 15 minutes to your scheduled interview time. If you find that you are running late, contact your interviewer(s) to keep them informed, and apologise for the delay when you show up for the interview. Remember though; the goal is not to arrive too early or late.
- Be courteous and professional in your interactions with the receptionist, staff, interviewers etc. Sometimes, it is the little things that matter – be kind.
- While waiting, if you are anxious, you can practice breathing exercises to calm your nerves. If you are a person of prayer, you can say a quick prayer. I have found this helpful in my experience.
- Once it is time for the interview, greet the interviewer(s) with a firm handshake, stay professional, practice good body posture and maintain eye contact with your interviewer(s) during the interview.
- Ask the questions you have prepared and thank them for their time after the interview.
- Thank the receptionist or support staff on your way out.
Post-Interview Checklist
- Send emails to each interviewer thanking them for the interview.
- Send a follow up email if you have not heard back within 7 – 10 days of your interview date. If you have been told when to expect to hear back, try not to send emails following up before the said period.
Additional Tips and Encouraging Words
- Do your best so you never have to question whether you did not get an opportunity as a result of a lack of preparedness.
- Don’t dwell and worry while waiting for a reply. If it is meant for you, and you worked hard at it, it’ll be yours. In the meantime, occupy your mind with other job applications, hobbies, friends and family.
- If you hear back but you didn’t get the job, do not forget to thank them and ask for feedback on how you can improve. Try to look at it this way, you either get the job or you are better prepared for the next interview.
Goodluck, I believe in YOU!
