So you've got the call that you've made it to the first interview. What now? Nobody's told you what to prepare for, so while you're shaking off your nerves, it's best to start with a checklist.
Luckily we've got you covered!
Top tips for succeeding in an interview
- Visit the interview site the day before your interview, so you don’t get lost looking for it right before you're supposed to arrive.
- Arrive at the site 10 or 15 minutes early. Take time to collect yourself, visit the restroom, and sneak one last peek in the mirror to make sure there’s no spinach in your teeth.
- Thoroughly research the company and the position you’re seeking within it. This is huge. Read newspapers, magazines, and blogs. Study the employer’s website. The more you know, the better prepared you’ll be.
- If this will be a virtual interview, consider your background. Position yourself with a professional-looking background, with perhaps some objects and pictures which show off a little of who you are!
- When the interview is arranged, try to find out who you’ll be talking to (LinkedIn). The project manager? An HR manager? If you know who you’ll be meeting with, you can better prepare for that conversation. But be flexible. This could change at the last minute.
- Wi-fi issues will happen, and any interviewer worth their salt won't penalise you for it, but they're still something you want to avoid! We recommend downloading a gigabyte of phone data and using your phone as a hotspot - it's typically much more reliable!
- Make sure what you plan to wear is clean, in good condition, fits you properly, and suits the environment where you seek to work. The classic tip is to visit the workplace, check out how people there dress, and then wear something a little nicer.
- Get enough sleep the night before. If you can’t actually sleep, then at least get some rest.
- Eat breakfast that morning. You’ll need the fuel; besides, you don’t want your stomach growling mid-interview. Go easy on the caffeine.
- Make a list of questions to ask the interviewer - and bring them with you. That way you won’t draw a blank when asked if you have any questions (Just try not to read from the 'script' – it breaks authenticity).
- Identify your strengths. Practice talking about them. Knowing your worth can make you feel more confident.
- Identify your weaknesses. Practice ways of talking about them that are honest, yet also put you in the best possible light.
- Practice talking about why and how you left your last job. The tone you use is important here. Try to keep it positive.
- Here’s a biggie: Practice talking about what you, specifically, can offer this employer. You do this by relating your strengths to what you know about the company’s needs.
- During the interview, focus on your interviewer. Listen carefully. Take notes (without trying to break eye contact – but don't stare)! Ask questions. Putting your attention on someone other than yourself is a time-tested way to “forget” anxiety.
- Think of this meeting not as an interrogation, or even as an interview, but as a conversation. You are two people working toward the same goal—filling a need
- Remember that you’re allowed to think before answering. It’s okay to pause for a few seconds before speaking. You can even say, “That’s a very interesting question. Let me think about that."
- Have your references ready, a typed list that you can hand over. Make sure your references know in advance that the potential employer might contact them.
- Bring a notebook, two pens, extra CVs, business cards (if you have them), and your calendar (in case they want to schedule another interview!)
- Have a mobile phone with you, just in case something unexpected happens that causes you to be late. Traffic does not count as unexpected, so give yourself extra time to travel to the interview site. Don’t forget to turn off your phone during the actual interview.
- Don’t schedule anything immediately after the interview. If it goes long, you don’t want to have to rush out. Or worse, cut it short.
- In a way, a job interview is like a theatrical performance, with the proviso that everything you do and say is true. You’re putting on a one-person play, starring your best, most-authentic you. With enough preparation, you may not feel anxious at all.