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How to prepare for a job interview?

How To Prepare For A Job Interview?

You just got a call about that job application you’ve been raving about. Summoned for an interview, this is the chance to show your future employer that you were made for the position. This interaction can make or break the chances of someone getting accepted in a company. So, how to prepare for a job interview? A crucial part of job hunting lies in mastering the art of nailing job interviews. This starts with knowing how to prepare for one, and if that’s what you’re here to learn, whether you’re new to the job hunting scene or a veteran here to refresh your memory, you’ve come to the right place.

First thing first, reread the job description thoroughly.

Sometimes, it might take a while before you get an answer about your job application, and so it’s perfectly normal to have forgotten some detail in the initial job description. This is why it is important to thoughtfully read the job description again to be sure of what the employer might expect of you. And even if you’ve applied to the position only recently, you might have missed some essential detail that you might be asked about. Nothing is more detrimental to your chances than looking like you’re not even sure of what the job you applied for is in the first place.

Research the company, its culture, and history beforehand.

It is important to know what you are getting into before going to interview in a specific company. Go see their social media presence, their site, their general policies. It will help you get an understanding of the companies culture and work ethics.

Furthermore, it is also recommended understanding the company’s placement in the industry in which it belongs. Is it one of the most internationally renowned company? Is it a rising start? Was one of their work eligible for an award?

And most importantly, learn what there is to know about the company’s history. See in what year it was created and by whom. Search up what it was its initial purpose and if or how did it change. It’s also important to try and find out more about the important employees in the company like its CEO and the person that is interviewing you if you can.

All of these pieces of information will come in handy during the interview.

Anticipate the questions you might be asked and prepare your answers

Having read the job description and know all there is to know about the position you are applying for as well as the company, you can now have an idea of what kind of questions you might be asked. You should also do some research to familiarize yourself with the classic types of questions that might come up during any job interview.

With these pieces of information in mind, the next step is to come up with fitting and appropriate answers to these questions. Another good thing to do is try to say them aloud or do a mock interview with someone to train your eloquence. This way when the time comes you’ll be ready won’t be taken by surprise, and comfortable with answers. It would give the image of someone confident who knows what they want, which is something employers seek.

Plan the questions you want to ask the interviewer.

After having to answer the interviewer’s questions, you’ll be given a chance to ask your own. This is an important chance to acquire anything you want to know about the job, the companies work ethics, your predecessor, and any inquires that you find crucial to your working life.

Also, ask about things that might fit your situation and that might be necessary to know, especially if you have some health issue or if you have a family that might need you to leave early some days.

It also sends the message that you, as a potential employee, know what you want from your working life, and know your worth. You can also do some research to see what are some interesting questions to ask if you seek some inspiration.
Check out these 15 great questions to ask during a job interview.

Plan your trip to the location of the interview beforehand

No interviewer or future employers like tardiness. But it happens, sometimes unpredictable issues come up, or you might arrive late because you’re new and it’s your first trip to the location. But, these can be avoidable by planning the trip before the interview. Drive to the location some days before, see the possible road you can take to reach the wanted destination from your home. Also, see which one can have traffic and at what time in the day to either avoid going at that time or from that road. As such, it is important to plan a multitude of possible routes in case of unexpected traffic or accidents.

Depending on the location of your interview, it might be good to find parking places if the location is very crowded and thought after. Most importantly though, be sure your car is in good condition and fill the thanks the night before to avoid any complications.

Finally, make sure that you leave your house at least half an hour early because even with all of the previously mentioned preparations, some unpredictable issue might rise ad so, you’ll have given yourself some time to deal with the issue and still get to the interview on time.

Prepare the necessary papers you might be asked to provide to your interviewer.

You might be asked to bring with you some important documents such as your resume or CV to an interview and even tho today’s world is digital, it is still important, and greatly appreciated when someone brings printed copies of their files.

It also acts as a plan B in case of some technical problems. Without forgetting that some legal documents in authentic form, such as a birth certificate, might hold more value in its paper form and not scanned. Some employers even prefer this form to be sure that you didn’t fake any documents.

As such, it’s important to print them beforehand to avoid any complications and to put them somewhere where you won’t forget them.

Dress the part.

It’s important to choose an appropriate outfit for the interview. Find out the company dress code and abide by it if you can and be sure that your outfit is clean and well ironed.

Choose an outfit in which you feel confident without making you seem pretentious or unapproachable, an outfit that fits your personality and the image of yourself you want to project to the interviewer. After all, don’t forget, as mentioned earlier, confidence is key in any job interview.

Let it also be practical too, something you are comfortable in and that can hold on for at least a couple of hours. For that to happen, your outfit should also fit the weather and not leave you too cold or sweating after ten minutes, it wouldn’t leave a great impression.

Take good care of yourself the night before the interview.

After finishing your preparation, it’s now time to relax to guaranty that you’re on your best tomorrow.

Make sure to eat a healthy dinner and breakfast before leaving, eat something you like but also something you have eaten before to lessen the chances of having some digestive issues or complications before the interview.

Sleep well the night before, so you can be awake, well-rested, and focused when the time comes. And if you can, do some meditation or something you know will personally put you in a good mood. This way you can alleviate a little of the stress that comes with getting ready for an interview and avoid the possibility of you falling ill the day of the interview. Sometimes your worst enemy can be yourself and so it’s important not to neglect your wellbeing for the sake of preparing your interview, or it might backfire.

Send a thank you letter to the interviewer when you’re done.

When you’re finished with the interview, think to follow up with your interviewer. Thank him for his time and the opportunity. It’s a nice gesture and it puts your application back in their line of sight which can be very beneficial depending on the number of competitors you might be facing. It shows your possible employer how dedicated and invested in this application you are.

It’s also a great chance to ask questions or let them ask questions that might have not come to mind during the interview.

Going to a job interview, no matter how many times you’ve gone through this experience, can be an exhausting and stressful considering that it’s such a crucial part of getting the job. As such, it’s understandable that you might be a little lost or confused as to what to do to optimize your chances, especially if it’s your first interview. But if you follow these directives, I can guaranty that It will help you make your interview go as smoothly as possible.