Got a job interview? Heres how to Prep
Do you find interviews nerve-racking?
I get it – we all do! That’s why preparing for an interview is so important – not only will you walk (or zoom!) into that meeting room ready for anything, but you’ll feel less nervous if you know you’ve done all you can to prepare.
But while prepping for an interview is crucial, before you even begin to prep it’s important you ensure the new role you’ve applied for aligns with what you’re looking for in a job, career or workplace. Essentially, there’s a pre-prep step: knowing the role is right for you.
Pre-prep step: Make sure it’s the right role for you
Before you start researching the company, think about what your main reasons for leaving your current role are.
➔ Are you unmotivated, stagnant or bored in your current role? If so, why? (Is it because you’ve outgrown the role, aren’t challenged or learning, or something else?)
➔ Do you feel undervalued at your current job?
➔ Are your current manager or team not a good fit for you?
➔ Do you love your role, but find it’s a hard or toxic culture?
➔ Or is it the actual industry you’re currently in?
Ask yourself these questions and answer honestly – whether it’s you or them – so that you can ensure the new role you’re applying for is going to tick the right boxes and you won’t find yourself in the exact same position in six months time.
Before the interview prep
Prep-step 1: Align yourself to the role and company
Now that you know this is the job for you, it’s important to articulate why.
Your interview is your chance to show the hiring manger that you’re the best person for the job, and help them see why you’d be an asset to their team.
How does this role excite you?
What parts of the role do you think you’ll excel at?
Why are you a good fit for their company?
Why do you want to work for this company?
Be proactive and get to your know your interview audience:
Spend a few hours learning everything you can about the company—from as many sources as possible:
Talk to friends and contacts
Read current news releases
Spend some time on Google – but don’t just focus on the company's website and social media, read articles about the company, reviews, etc. Often, candidates just look at the information a company is publishing, rather than looking in depth at what customers, clients or the community is saying about their company. (By doing this, you’ll get the full picture of the company – including any negative press).
Get a sense of “who” the company is and what their brand is, from there you’ll be able to see the type of person or personality they’re trying to hire:
Start by reading the company’s blog and Facebook page—the tone of the company’s content on these sites will speak volumes.
Try reading individual employees’ articles or blogs to figure out what type of people work – and perform well – there.
This isn’t just important for interview prep, but also ensuring the company aligns with your values and offers the right work lifestyle for you.
Prep-step 2: Study the position or job description
Once you have a feel for the company, you can focus on the job description. Ask yourself: “how does this role align with my experience and what I’m looking for?”
The employer’s job description is a guide for you to use – the list of qualifications, qualities and background the employer is looking for in an ideal candidate gives you a sense of what they’re trying to accomplish.
If you have a sense of what the employer wants this role to achieve – even if you don’t have the exact experience – you’ll be able to align your skills to the outcomes and show them in the interview why you’re the best candidate.
The more you can align yourself with the details in the job description, the more the employer will be able to see that you are qualified.
The job description also gives clues and ideas about the type of questions the employer may ask. (I’ll cover this more in the next blog on answering interview questions.)
Prep-step 3: Think about what you’ll wear to the interview
It’s a great idea to ask the manager, recruiter or HR team member you’re communicating with about the dress code – don’t be embarrassed! They’ll know it’s because you’re committed and invested, and want to make a good impression.
It’s important to know if it’s a suit and corporate clothes wearing office or a more casual vibe, not only because it’ll help you plan your outfit but also give you a sense of the office atmosphere. If you discover it is a super formal office, it’s also worth thinking about whether or not that’s something you’re going to be okay with.
Plan – and try on – your outfit ahead of time so that you don’t have to decide what to wear on the day. The less decisions you have to make on the day of your interview, the calmer you’ll be. (Plus there’s nothing worse than waking up in the morning and finding your favourite work shirt is in the wash.)
I recommend:
● Wearing something you’re super comfortable in and feel confident wearing
● Wearing your ‘favourites’ as it’ll help you feel good
● Aligning your outfit to the company’s dress code, but also showing your personality
Prep-step 4: Plan your journey to the interview
You want to be as prepared as possible before the day of the interview, so I recommend pre-planning how you’ll get to the interview. By having your travel plan mapped out, it’ll be one less thing to worry about on the day.
If you're driving, think about traffic and where you’ll park. If you’re catching public transport, make sure there’s a route that gets you there early.
And if it’s a video interview, plan your set-up. Ensure you have an appropriate location (with nothing suss in the frame!), that you won’t be disrupted and – most importantly – that your internet is going to work!
On-the-day of the Interview Prep
Before you go to the interview:
Don’t do anything that will make you more nervous or stress you out – focus on activities that will get you in the right headspace and help you feel empowered (such as the gym or going for a run, listening to an uplifting playlist or talking to someone who’ll give you confidence)
Give yourself ample time to get there – you don’t want to feel rushed!
Check yourself in the mirror – do you look professional? You’ll feel more confident if you look good!
When you arrive at the interview:
Arrive early – enter the building 10 minutes before your appointment (but don’t get their too early as it’s likely the manager won’t be ready and it’ll rush them)
Review your prepared answers and examples of your work
Go to the bathroom and check your appearance one last time
Communicate to the receptionist or front desk person in a professional and friendly manner (pro tip: lots of hiring managers check in with all the people you communicated with!)
Greet your interviewer with a heart handshake (if that’s appropriate – due to COVID, it might be an elbow bump)
Smile and maintain eye contact, even if you’re nervous – fake it till you make it!
Remember: interviewing is nerve-racking and stressful but the most important thing you can do is have a positive attitude. Keep your thoughts positive, focus on what could go right and you’ll do great.
If you’d love to get an interview coaching session or learn more about acing your interview, get in touch with me to organise a coaching session.
