Preparing for an interview takes a lot more than googling a
list of common interview interrogations (though yes, you should 100% be ready
for those). You have to make a great first imprint (no showing up in wrinkly
suits or running late!), know about the company and its goods and task, and, of
course, convey precisely why you’d be a great hire for this career.
So, to help you prepare, here is a list of our all-time best
pre-interview guidelines. From strategizing about how to tackle the toughest
questions to packing your bag, we’ve got you covered. Learn everything you can
about the company, the job, and the interview. A lot of your interview
preparation will depend on the specifics surrounding the job, the company, and
even who is interviewing you and how.
1.
Research about the company:
Spend a few hours learning everything you can about the
company from as many sources as you can. Talk to people in your network to find
current and previous employees, read current news releases, and, yes, spend
some time on Google. Often, candidates just look at the information a company
is pushing out on its own website and social media accounts, but fail to look
more in depth at what others are saying. By looking at multiple sources, you’ll
get a broader picture of the company (along with any negative press), and be
ready to talk about why you’d like to work there and what you can do for them.
2. Learn
everything you can about the open position:
Before you can show your interviewer why you’d be a great
hire, you need to know what they’re looking for. Luckily, most organizations
have laid out exactly what they want in an applicant in the job posting. So go
back to the description you looked at before you applied. What skills and experiences
are they emphasizing? What problems will this hire need to solve? These are the
things you’ll want to emphasize throughout your interview.
3. Try
out the company’s product or service (if you can):
If the company you’re interviewing for sells a product you
can feasibly check out—try it before your interview (ideally, a few times). If
hired, your goal will be to create value for the people who use that product,
and being a user, yourself is the first step. Plus, it’ll help show the hiring
manager that you’re truly interested in the role.
4. Learn
about the interviewers if you can:
If you’re not told who you’ll be meeting with during your
interview, ask. For each interviewer, learn what their role at the company is
and prep some questions that are specific to them. You can ask for details
about their role, discuss current events related to their field, or bring up a
common interest you know they have outside the office (just stick to one
mentioned in an easily accessible spot, like their company bio or LinkedIn
profile).
5. Find
out what kind of interview you’re in for and prepare accordingly:
Different companies use different types of interviews, so
ask what you’ll be faced with. For example, some companies will have you meet
one on one with several different people at the company, while others might
have you meet with multiple people at once or give an interview presentation.
You may also have a phone or video interview. Asking the recruiter or HR
contact about the interview format ahead of time is totally fair game. And once
you know, investing time to become familiar with this style can make a huge
difference.
6.
Identify your selling points for this job:
Even if you’re a well-oiled interviewing machine, it’s
essential to spend time thinking carefully about what skills, accomplishments,
and interview answers will resonate with your interviewers most for this job.
Your management abilities? Your creativity? Go back to your research and see
what makes you most qualified.
7. Be
ready to tell the interviewer about yourself:
For every interview, you’ll want to have an answer to “Tell
me about yourself” that’s tailored to this job and company and ready to go.
Interviewers almost always ask this question or a similar one, like “Walk me
through your resume,” to start off the conversation, so you want to make sure
you’re getting started on the right foot.
8. Know
why you’re interested in this position at this company:
It’s likely you’ll get asked why you’re interested in this
particular role and company. (And if you can’t answer this question, you
shouldn’t be in the interview!) So, to make sure you can answer, identify a
couple of key factors about the job and the organization that align well with
your strengths, interests, and/or work style and get you excited about the
position. Even if you’re not asked about this specifically, you can use this to
inform your answers to other questions.
9. Do
some salary research:
Even if you’re not ready to have the money conversation, you
might still get asked about your salary expectations. To keep yourself from
getting caught off guard and giving (or agreeing to) a way-too-low number, do a
bit of salary research to figure out how you’d answer.
10.
Prepare your stories:
Most interviewers will ask at least a few behavioral
questions, that is, questions about how you’ve acted or would act in certain
scenarios. While you can’t anticipate every possible situation you’ll be asked
about, you can prepare a few stories about your past work experiences that you
can adapt as needed.
11.
Familiarize yourself with the STAR method:
Whenever you’re answering interview questions with a story,
you want to make sure that story is well structured and the takeaway is clear.
Your goal should be to give your interviewer all the context they need to
understand what happened while still answering the question clearly and
concisely. One way to do this is using the STAR method. STAR stands for:
Situation: Briefly lay out the scenario using just enough
detail that the interviewer will understand the stakes and everything else in
your answer.
Task: Talk about what your role in the situation was.
Action: Discuss what you did and why.
Result: Tell your interviewer about the outcome and what you
learned.
Note that for some questions you might want to tweak this
structure slightly. For example, if you’re talking about a time, you
demonstrated leadership skills, consider defining what leadership means to you
before jumping into the situation. But the STAR method will ensure your stories
always have a beginning, middle, and end.
12. Jot
down important numbers and details:
Don’t forget about the numbers! Find some revenue figures,
engagement numbers, budget or team sizes, percentages of time saved, or
anything else you can use to communicate your impact. Throwing in some hard
numbers when talking about your responsibilities and accomplishments or
answering behavioral interview questions really sweetens the deal and helps you
tell a hiring manager why you’re so awesome. You can even write them down so
you can refer to them during the interview. (Here’s how to quantify your
accomplishments, even if you don’t work with numbers.)
13. Brush
up on your interview skills:
How well you answer interview questions isn’t
everything—though it is a lot. Interviewers are also consciously or
subconsciously picking up on how well you use other interview skills such as
active listening, small talk, and empathy. These skills not only help you
impress an interviewer, but also give them a sense of what it might be like to
work you as a colleague.
14.
Practice common interview questions:
You can and should familiarize yourself with common
interview questions, but don’t prepare by writing out your entire answer;
instead, jot down a few notes or bullet points and keep them on hand for the
interview itself. You’ll ensure you cover the bases, without reading from a
script. Practice looking in the mirror and answering them out loud. This prep
work will help you clarify your thoughts and make you much more comfortable
during the interview.
15. Think
about body language:
Brush up on what certain body language conveys. Be aware of
what you’re communicating through your posture and stance—and make sure it’s
good. (For example, sitting with your arms and legs crossed sends a message
that you are closed-off or feel defensive.) Think your movements through ahead
of time so you’re not distracted (or distracting) during the interview. If
you’re on video, think about how you’ll show that you’re actively engaged in
that format—putting the Zoom window near your camera so you’re not looking away
from your interviewer, for example, or making non-verbal gestures or
expressions to show that you’re listening without cutting off their microphone.
16. Try
some mock interviews:
If you have the time, do a few mock interviews with a friend
or loved one. You’ll be much better at answering, “What would you bring to the
position?” the 100th time you do it and you’ll know ahead of time where you
want to put your hands or how you want to sit.
17. Write
down questions you’ll ask them:
Most interviews will wrap up with “Do you have any questions
for me?” and you should absolutely have some questions. You can start with this
list of interview questions to ask, but you should also plan some questions
that are very specific to the job and company. And prepare more than you think
you’ll need—you don’t want to ask questions that have already been answered or
be left without any backup options if the interviewer already touched on your
first two questions during your conversation.
18. Plan
for what you’ll do if you’re caught off guard:
You can’t prepare for everything, but you can prepare to
handle the unexpected—like an interview question you don’t know how to answer.
For example, you can come up with a go-to phrase that’ll help you avoid dead
air if you need time to stall and gather your thoughts. Two strategies that
work well are repeating the question thoughtfully before answering or saying
(slowly), “Now, that is a great question. I think I would have to say…"
19. Prepare for technical interviews or skill tests:
If you’re getting ready for a technical interview or you’ve
been told there will be a skill test during your interview, start preparing and
practicing as early as possible. Working through a prep book or sample
questions will not only give you good practice, but it’ll also put you in the
right problem-solving mindset.
Source: The Muse
Website link: https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-ultimate-interview-guide-30-prep-tips-for-job-interview-success
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