Own that interview: how to prepare

Career success

You have matched with a great job, sent off your resume, and you have an interview! Well done! Now to prepare for the interview, and make yourself stand out as the best candidate for that job. Don’t beat yourself up if you feel nervous, because that happens to the best of us. The secret is to be as prepared as possible so you feel relaxed and in control of everything you say and do.

Always be yourself in an interview, because finding the right fit with a company means they must fit well with you too! Here are some simple, supreme tips to help you be the best version of yourself and make an excellent impression.

Plan ahead

First impressions really do count in a job interview, and getting to the interview on time, feeling calm and well-prepared, is key to making a great first impression. We believe planning is everything and every detail is important, so get started as soon as you have the details of the interview.

How will you travel to the interview?

Do you need to book time off from your current job?

Is there anything else you need to arrange for that time, like asking someone to pick up your kids from school?

What time should you leave for the interview?
Remember to allow some extra time in case of traffic jams or other delays.

What will you wear? Do you need a suit, or are they more casual? Think of what you would wear to an important meeting as a representative of that company. If you would be wearing a uniform or overalls while working, you could choose to wear something smart-casual to the interview, but avoid jeans and sneakers.

Is there anything you need to remember or learn before the interview?

Remind yourself of your strengths and best selling points, and be confident (but not arrogant) about how you can add value to the company.

Do your research

It’s important to know where you’re going, and you can use that information to tell your interviewer why you want to work there and why you’re an excellent candidate for that role.

Research the company, the position you’re applying for, and the sector and competitors if that’s relevant. If you’re applying for a job involving technology, it’s good to know the tech they use and how it is developing, so you can tell them how you plan to be ready for those changes and make the best use of new tech on the horizon.

Read the job description and advert again, and any additional information they have sent you, and think about what makes you match well with the company, the role, and all their requirements.

Prepare questions and answers

Why are you such a good match for this job, and what can you bring to the company with your skills, experience, and other personal attributes? Read through the resume and cover letter that you had sent in your application, to make sure all those details are fresh in your mind and you can answer questions about them.

There are a number of popular interview questions that are a good idea to prepare for, as they come up frequently. Practice answering these questions – either ask a friend to help or talk to yourself with a mirror – so that the answers feel natural. Honesty is essential in every answer, so if you have taken a career break or if you were fired from a previous job, don’t try to hide it. Interviewers will respect you for being open about a bad experience, sharing what you learnt from it, and outlining how you will do things differently in the future.

Some common interview questions:

Why do you want this job?

What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

Tell us about yourself?

Why did you leave your previous job? / Why do you want to leave your current job?

Why do you want to work for our company?

What do you want to be doing in five years?

What are your career goals?

What salary are you looking for?

Think about questions you could be asked that relate to this specific job. Interviewers often ask for real-life examples of how you have tackled a project, or how you would handle common problems that can come up.

You should also make a list of questions you want to ask the interviewer about the company, the job, what they expect from you, and your potential career path.

You can ask when to expect to hear from them, if they need any further information from you, and what the next steps in their hiring process would be.

What to take to the interview

Don’t take too many unnecessary items into an interview, but do take the important things. It’s always a good idea to take a printed copy of your resume and the job description to start with.

Make sure you have the interviewer’s contact details with you, in case you are delayed for some reason, or if you need to check directions.

If you’re presenting something during the interview, check what equipment is available and what you need to bring. If you’re taking your own devices, make sure they’re fully charged and you have backup power if possible.

Do you need to take a portfolio of work, or letters from previous employers? How about references?

Some employers will ask you to bring identification, certificates of your qualifications, or other documents. Check their interview email and anything else they have sent, and make sure you have everything you need.

If you need to take printed documents to your interview, don’t wait until the day of the interview to print them out! Have everything ready at least one day early, just in case there are any issues with the printer and you have to find an alternative.

Being prepared for your interview will help you feel and appear confident. It will help you to be yourself, make an excellent impression, and find out if you’re a good match for that company and role. End on a positive note by thanking the interviewer for their time, and tell them how much you enjoyed meeting them and learning more about the company. You could even say you hope you’ll have the chance to show them what you can do in an area you have discussed during the interview, and that you look forward to hearing from them.

Every interview is also a chance to practice your interview skills, so if you have to go to a few before you find the right job, that’s not a problem. Don’t be discouraged; look at it as an opportunity for growth and learning, and keep searching for the best match that puts you and your career on the right track.

Own that interview: how to prepare

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