Transcript
How to prepare for a job interview?
Congratulations! You have been selected for a job interview. You have passed the basic elligibility requirements and now the employer would like to meet with you in person to further discuss about the job that you applied for, and of course, to know more about YOU. This would be the employer’s next step in deciding whether you would be a good candidate to join the team or not. Now that you have been invited to an interview, how do you prepare for a job interview?
- RESEARCH ABOUT THE EMPLOYER, THE JOB AND ABOUT THE EMPLOYER’S GOALS
Browse through the company’s website, LinkedIn and/or FaceBook Pages and learn more about the kind of work they do. Read through about their goals and business plans. Use LinkedIn and other social media platforms to identify and talk to your network to know first hand information about the company, its work environment, their primary services or products, their long term goals etc.
Also learn more about the position that you applied for, the job requirements and its scope for future growth.
- IDENTIFY AND LIST YOUR STRENGTHS – Why are you a better choice?
Believe in yourself, your strengths, training, education, and experience. Identify your own training, skills, resources and experiences that make you the best choice for the job you are being interviewed for. Write down or sit infront of a family member or friend and explain why you are the best person for the job while connecting the specific tasks listed in the job posting to your own strenghts.
- PREPARE TO BOAST A LITTLE ABOUT YOU.
Afterall, the interviewers want to hear why you are better than all the rest. So prepare to boast a little without straying off from the topic. Exploring ahead of time the type of questions that might be asked will help you mentally be prepared for such questions. When preparting, make sure to keep the job elligibility requirements and skills required for the job always in your mind. Be sure to add examples from your own personal or previous work experience. Be ready to list some obstacles or challenges that you have successfully overome. Highlight peer recognitions and awards from previous employers.
- BE READY TO SPEAK ABOUT YOUR COMMITMENT, MOTIVATION, AND INTER-PERSONAL SKILLS
You are going play an integral part in the success of the employer thus your inter-personal skills, your commitment, resourcefull-ness, motivation, your ability to work as team and on your own are all going to be assessed. So be ready to speak about those as well.
- BE PUNCTUAL, CONFIDENT, AND PROFESSIONAL
Be at the venue early and show the employer that you are committed and enthusiastic about the opportunity and that you are a punctual person.
Dress professionally, show warmth and enthusiasm for the task ahead, and carry yourself with confidence. Speak in a confident and calm voice.
- SHOW ENTHUSIASM FOR THE JOB
Do not assume that the interviewer knows you are interested simply because you agreed to the interview. Express interest in the job position and how you see this position will help you with your career. Be enthusiastic. Ask questions about the job and the company. Before you leave the interview room, be sure to ask when you can expect to hear from the employer.
- THANK YOU
When the interview winds up thank them for meeting with you and tell them it has been a pleasant experience. Make sure to get the business card or contact information of the interviewer.
- FOLLOW-UP: Write to them within 48 hours thanking for giving you the opportunity to meet with them. Clearly tell them who you are and indicate your telephone number and other contact details. This thank you note will reinforce the interviewers who you are and would give you an edge when it comes to the decision making process.
At the end of the day, the outcome of the interview may not be positive. But facing a job interview in itself is a learning experience that would give you strength and confidence to successfully face job interviews in the future. So be ready to learn from each and every interview.
Outshine others! Get the job! All the best!