Ever walked out of a job interview thinking that it didn’t go as well as you’d hoped or planned? Chances are, that’s because you didn’t get your interview preparation right.
Job interview preparation isn’t about forcing yourself to spend hours reading a company’s website, planning an outfit, or practising your handshake. Rather, it’s about using your time in the most effective way so you feel confident about presenting your “best self” on the big day.
As with so many things, it’s not about working harder — it’s about working smarter. To help you out, we’ve put together this ultimate guide on how to prepare for an interview.
How to prepare for an interview: General best practices
Whether your upcoming interview is in person, on the phone, or online, be sure to follow these interview preparation best practices:
Scrutinise the job specification
Your interview preparation should start with the job specification. Your goal here is to dig into exactly what sort of candidate the hiring manager is looking for, which will help you tailor your answers accordingly. Specifically, look out for:
What qualifications are required
What skills and experience levels are necessary
Which, if any, of those qualifications and skills are most important
Research the company and industry
The hiring manager doesn’t just want to know that you’ve got the necessary skills and experience to fulfil the job specification. They also want to know that you want to work for their company and are passionate about the industry. That way, you’re more likely to stick around if you get the job.
Prepare answers to common interview questions
While you can’t second guess everything your interviewer will ask, there are some interview questions that crop up time and again, such as:
Tell me about yourself
Why do you want to work here?
Where do you see yourself in five years?
What is your greatest strength?
What are your salary expectations?
Plan answers to questions like these, always remembering to link your response back to the job specification.
Plan your route
Interviews can be stressful enough, so if yours is taking place in person, don’t leave yourself rushing around or struggling to find the office on the day.
Confirm in advance where the interview is taking place and if there are any quirks about how to access the building. If you’ve got time, travel the route ahead of the big day so you can be absolutely certain you know where you’re going. It’s one less thing to worry about.