{"id":83,"date":"2019-07-01T16:29:01","date_gmt":"2019-07-01T16:29:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dev.joblookup.com\/explore\/?page_id=83"},"modified":"2024-07-22T11:55:41","modified_gmt":"2024-07-22T10:55:41","slug":"how-to-prepare-for-an-interview","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/joblookup.com\/explore\/how-to-prepare-for-an-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Prepare for an Interview\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s probably fair to say that no one enjoys being interviewed. It\u2019s an unavoidable part of the employment process however, and normally the final hurdle on the journey to your new job. Nerves are probably going to be your main concern, and if that wasn\u2019t enough, there are more than just face to face interviews to think about these days.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, there are a number of things you can do to help make any upcoming interview as relatively stress free as possible. We\u2019ve put together a complete list of everything you can do to help maximise your chances of success, whilst also keeping your nerves under control as much as possible. Use these tips alongside the advice found in our Ultimate Jobseeker Guide<\/a>, and we’re sure you’ll find the job you’re after in no time.<\/p>\n

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Types of Interview<\/h2>\n
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While the face to face interview is still by far the most preferred method, video and telephone interviews are quite prevalent too. A video interview could be the only practical option if you\u2019re applying for a role abroad, and if you\u2019re going for telephone based role, you can guarantee potential employers will want to know how you come across on the phone. Here are a few things to bear in mind for each one:<\/p>\n

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Telephone interviews<\/b>
\ntend to be used quite early on in the process, and generally don\u2019t last too long. You can expect to be asked about your last role and what responsibilities you might have had. They may also ask about salary expectations, and why you\u2019re interested in the role you applied for.Overall, it won\u2019t be that different to a face to face interview in terms of potential questions. Some people find these interviews a bit less stressful, thanks to the fact you only have to talk on the phone. That said, a phone interview alone is unlikely to net you the job, so you want to do as well as possible at this stage in order to secure a face to face interview.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Video Interviews <\/b>are essentially a cross between a telephone interview and a face to face one – the interviewer will be able to speak to you directly, which means body language and presentation are important. They might be live, or pre-recorded. A pre-recorded video interview is arguably less stressful, as you can at least take the time to edit and re-record your submission if you\u2019re not happy with it.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Face to Face Interviews <\/b>are the most common, and probably the most familiar form of interview for jobseekers. You\u2019ll usually be interviewed by at least two company representatives (or more, depending on the nature of the role and type of company you\u2019re applying to), at least one of whom will be directly involved in your department on a managerial level. They tend to last around an hour. This kind of interview will normally involve a conversation about the role and company, questions from the interview panel, and sometimes short tasks or tests.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Now you have a good idea of what each interview entails, here are four steps to help ensure you do the best you can:<\/p>\n

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Step 1: Do Your Research<\/h2>\n
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The first step to a successful interview is making sure you fully understand the role you\u2019ll be doing, the company you\u2019ll be working for, and what they expect from a candidate. The more prepared you are, the better you\u2019ll feel; The better you feel, the more confident you\u2019ll come across.<\/p>\n

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The Role<\/h5>\n
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Make sure you\u2019re really familiar with the role you\u2019ve applied for. It can be all too easy to fire off CVs every day and then forget the details of every specific job you put yourself forward for, so go over the description a few times to really get to know the position that\u2019s available. You want to make sure you can clearly explain how your skills and experience fit with the role, why you want the job, and why it\u2019s in the interest of a potential employer to get you on their team over someone else.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The Company\/Employer<\/h5>\n
Walking in to any interview situation without knowing anything about the employer or company you\u2019re applying for a position with is a big no no. Instead, visit your potential employer\u2019s website and go through recent press releases and blogs – what are the company\u2019s latest projects? Have they been mentioned on TV or in the press? Have they won any awards recently? What\u2019s their overall philosophy and workplace culture? All these things can help you score points with an interviewer, because it shows you\u2019re serious about the job and that your values align with theirs.Additionally, the information you discover on a company\u2019s site could give you lots of inspiration for interview questions. A general example of how you can use this information to your advantage might be: \u2018\u2018I read about your recent project with X – are these kind of projects common for your company, and if so, how would my role fit into the broader picture?\u2019. This shows you\u2019ve done your research, understand what the company provides, and that you\u2019re already thinking about how you could contribute.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Questions for the Interviewers<\/h5>\n
It might not seem like a deal breaker, but not asking any questions in your interview can raise red flags – It could be interpreted as a sign that you\u2019re not that interested in the job. While that probably isn\u2019t the case, going in with a few questions prepared can set aside any doubts in the interviewers mind.You can find more details on what to ask (and what not to ask) in our handy interview questions guide<\/a>, but generally speaking, think about what you want from your employer as well. Interviews are actually a two way process after all. It could be that you won\u2019t be a good fit with the company culture, or that there are only limited career advancement prospects, and so on.<\/p>\n

Asking direct questions like: \u2018What are the opportunities for progression within the role?\u2019, or \u2018What are the challenges the company currently faces?\u2019 can show your interviewers you\u2019re thinking about the long term and bigger picture. You don\u2019t need to prepare a 100 question quiz of course, one or two should be enough to build rapport and start conversation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The Interviewers Themselves<\/h5>\n
You\u2019ll normally know exactly who is interviewing you, as well as their position\/job title. Using some online resources to learn a little bit more about your interviewers can help you connect with them from the outset – maybe you have some common interests or achievements.Checking a company\u2019s page on Linkdin is a good way to do this, and you can also see if your interviewers have turned up in industry press articles or interviews. Perhaps they\u2019ve spoken at events, or authored some interesting opinion pieces. All this gives you something to talk about and connect over during (and potentially after) the interview process.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Step 2: Practice and Prepare<\/h2>\n
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Practice<\/h5>\n
When you go to see a film, music gig, or theatre show, what you\u2019re actually seeing is hours and hours of preparation for a final performance. All that practice builds confidence, and it makes the end product look effortless and engaging. Job interviews aren\u2019t that different. Taking the time to practice how you\u2019ll present yourself, respond to questions, and ask questions, will make you feel much more confident when the interview day arrives.Not only that, but practice can give you something to fall back on if nerves get the better of you, and you draw a dreaded mental blank during the process.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Prepare<\/h5>\n
An interview is stressful enough, so you don\u2019t want to create more difficulty for yourself by having to rush things at the last minute. Instead, try the following approach:<\/p>\n