In today’s competitive labor market where jobs are scarce and hundreds of candidates complete for all too few positions, Job interview has become more like a final exam in the university, filled with trick questions to shake you out
Companies have been forced to become incredibly selective as they sort through resume after resume from scores of qualified candidates.
While the average job interview still lasts for approximately 45 minutes, it could well be the most important forty-five minutes of your life. So, it is important to prepare for this big day and avoid common job interview mistakes.
12 things to do when preparing for your next job interview.
Do your homework well
Stuttering through a question like “why do you want to work with us” can be a deal breaker and to avoid this, you must know the company you plan to work with very well.
Research the company and its background beforehand. Search for information online. Find out who will be interviewing you, and review the job description in detail so you understand it inside out. It’s also worth researching news or activities relating to the specific industry, as this shows interest.
Understand the job profile and requirements
Before you apply for a particular job, be sure to understand the job profile or description well. This will help you assess the kind of work you will be expected to perform and the salary you can accept.
One of the most important things you can do is to look up anything you’re not familiar with.
Carefully read job description, highlight key requirements & skills, look up any terms you don’t know, brush up on key skills not recently used.
Know your CV
You should know your CV like the back of your hand. Have all details like the posts you held, the projects you worked on, the companies you worked with, etc. memorized.
Any questions related to you CV should be answered correctly with immense confidence.
If you’ve written your CV and don’t know how to defend what you’ve written in there, it will be so disappointing..
It is important to pay attention especially to any experiences that relate to the new job you’re hoping to get.
Prepare your answers
Nervousness is a factor that must be accounted for. Prepare answers to commonly asked questions and practice them in front of a mirror or even better, ask a friend for help. Ensure you speak clearly and look out for body language and posture.
Practice! Practice! Practice!
Take the time to practice answering each one of these 63 sample job interview questions and answers. Get comfortable talking to yourself, record yourself if possible and imagine you’re doing well in the interview room
Download our free book: Save to your device for quick reference or eve print for offline use.
Craft JOB-WINNING answers to even the trickiest questions
Decide on what to wear
It is extremely important to select a dress that would be appropriate for a job interview. Your first impression is based on what you wear.
Dress according to the kind of job and post you’re applying for. It is better to be overdressed than to be under dressed for an interview.
Don’t make a last minute decision about what you’re wearing as this can be very stressful. You don’t want to find your shirt missing a couple of buttons, do you?
The right way to proceed is to lay your clothes out the previous night and ensure they’re in good condition, washed and ironed.
Dress Appropriately
Make sure you dress appropriately for the job interview. You must look professional. Try checking out the LinkedIn profiles of the company’s employees to get an idea on how they dress.
Don’t leave ironing clothes to the last minute – it’s best to do this the night before, so you feel as organized as possible.
Plan your journey and make travel arrangements
Plan what time you want to leave and what form of transportation you’re taking. Ensure you chose a route that is least congested, so that you can reach well in time.
Plan how long the journey will take and aim to arrive about 25 minutes early.
Don’t forget printouts
Make sure you’ve got printouts of your CV with you, as well as any other supporting information. Pop a notepad and pen in your bag just in case you need to write anything down.
Reach before time
Reaching twenty-five to thirty minutes early allows you to remain stress free and calm. It also allows you to check your appearance and compose yourself before the interview.
On Arrival at The Job Interview, Do The Following:
Switch off your smartphone on or turn it on silent mode before entering the interview room
A ringing mobile phone or even one that vibrates on a table can be extremely distracting for you; it can also annoy the interviewer. However, your smartphone can be a useful tool when interviewers ask for your Facebook login details.
Wait professionally
Adopt a professional approach when you’re waiting for the job interview, using positive, confident body language. Now isn’t the time to check your social media accounts or WhatsApp your friends.
Switch off your phone before you enter the building and leave it alone until afterwards. If there are any corporate brochures to hand, flick through these while you wait.
Create a positive first impression
[Tweet “”One painful thing about first impression is, you never get a second chance””]
As soon as the interviewer approaches you, ensure you come across as personable, professional and courteous. Stand up straight, smile, make eye contact and extend your hand.
Say hello and introduce yourself, stating that it’s a pleasure to meet them, and thank them for taking the time to see you today. Attention to detail can go a long way to securing your dream role.
In summary, give yourself the best chance possible for interview success by preparing well in the lead up to your interview.
Use the week before to brush up on your techniques and knowledge of the company, the night before to get a good night’s rest and the interview itself to showcase your organization and diligence in preparing for this interview.
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