Landing the job of your dreams can be stressful. You might be called for the first interview but if you are not prepared and ready for the questions you will be asked, you will not make it to the second.
Without preparation, you can be charismatic and well versed in the industry and still not succeed in the interview. Your preparation begins weeks before you ever walk into the office. After all, proper preparation prevents poor performance!
Got an upcoming job interview? Here are the three things you should do before the day comes.
1. Research the company and the position
The very first thing is to research the company and the position you want to be hired for. It looks bad if you have to ask, “So, what does your company do?” That is admitting you have not done any research about the company and displays your lack of interest in joining the team.
To make a good impression, find out everything you can about the company – from who is the chief executive officer to how the company was started and how many branches it has to what positions are available. Then, learn about the position you are applying for. Know what the position involves and the skills the company expects you to have.
2. Be prepared for questions
Familiarise yourself with the questions that could be asked. Most questions are similar with slight variations in most job interviews. If you familiarise yourself with the basic questions that could be asked, you will be ready for anything they throw at you.
The first is usually “Tell me about yourself”. When a potential employer asks you this, they are not asking about your hobbies or interests. They are asking, “Why are you the person we want for this position?”
Tell them about yourself (in reverse chronological order) detailing the skills you have learnt that are related to the job. If this is your first job interview, tell them about your education and any jobs you may have had while you were a student and try to connect the skills you have picked up to the job you are applying for.
The next question to prepare for is “What are your weaknesses?” This can be a tricky one to answer. You should be honest about a weakness and then tell them what you have done to overcome it and improve yourself.
That aside, recruiters want to find people who are confident and speak without hesitation, but it is okay to be nervous as long as you are prepared.
3. Dress for the job
A common mistake when going for an interview is dressing too casually. People do not want to be overdressed for an interview so they err on the other side. Dress professionally rather than in business casual. The interviewer will take you more seriously and treat you with more respect.
To conclude, it is not hard to land the job of your dreams if you prepare well for the interview. Do your research, be ready for the questions you could be asked and plan your outfit beforehand. This shows you are a serious, suitable candidate for the job.
This article first appeared in jobstore.com.
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