Last Updated on May 14, 2023 by Admin
Whether you’ve got an interview coming up or are still in the process of applying, it’s always helpful to know how to prepare for a job interview. Refer to this guide on how to prepare for a job interview for your next job. We take a look at everything you need to know to ace yours.
Job interviews can be tricky. You’ve already gone through perfecting your CV, filling out the application form, and waiting for a response. Yet, the final hurdle(s) can sometimes seem daunting. Yet with a bit of know-how, you can prepare for a job interview in a way that’s going to maximize your chances.
As you might expect, there are a few different things to consider here. So, as well as exploring how job interviews look during current circumstances, we also give a detailed breakdown of everything you need to do to prepare for a job interview.
Table of Contents
Job interviews during COVID-19
Before we get into the finer details of preparing for a job interview, let’s take a moment to think about how the process might differ during COVID-19. As with many areas of life, the pandemic has meant many organizations adapt their hiring process. As such, you might experience a different interview process. Here are some things that might be different:
- Phone and video interviews. Many companies are using remote and virtual interviews at the moment. This can give a slightly different feel to proceedings, as you don’t get immediate feedback like in-person interviews.
- Canceled or rearranged dates. Due to self-isolation for those with symptoms, it’s not uncommon for interview dates to be moved. Plan for the agreed date, but be aware that it might be subject to change.
- Social distancing. Of course, some interviews can’t be conducted remotely. We’re all fairly used to social distancing measures at the moment, but it can be odd in an interview setting. Things like handshakes and significant panel interviews are off the table, and you’ll need to pay attention to the measure in place.
- Hand-outs. We’d advise taking printouts of your CV and presentation material (if applicable) at standard times. However, it’s not the ideal protocol at the moment. So instead, consider emailing these documents in advance of your interview.
- Follow-ups. Given the current circumstances, it’s not surprising that some organizations are slower at giving interview feedback. So although you should still follow up after the event, you might want to give it longer than you usually would.
Despite all of these factors, much of the advice we outline here is applicable no matter the circumstances. These are just some extras to bear in mind as you go through the process.
How to prepare for a job interview
Now that we know about some of the extenuating circumstances you might encounter let’s prepare for an interview. First, it’s worth noting that many of the points we’re covering can apply to just about any discussion, whether it’s virtual, face-to-face, a panel interview, or other types.
The pre-interview work can be broken down into three main areas – research, preparation, and practice. As we’ll see, there are several factors to consider within each of these.
Research
First on your to-do list is some research. You’ll want to know as much as you can going into the interview, as it will help reduce your nerves and improve your performance. There are three key areas you need to research:
The role
Your ultimate goal with the interview is to demonstrate to the interviewers that you are the best candidate for the role. To do that, you’ll need to know the position inside out. In addition, you’ll have to show that you understand the responsibilities you’ll be taking on and the company’s expectations.
An excellent place to start here is with the job description. This should have most of the details you’ll need, including the skills, knowledge, experience, and professional qualities the employer is looking for. Spend a few minutes writing down these key points and writing in your own words what the job is about.
You can also expand your research to other similar roles in the industry. What’s unique about this one? Are there extra responsibilities? Or is the scope slightly more limited? Knowing these key points can help you better prepare for a job interview within your industry.
If you’re going for a job after university, our course on how to get a graduate job can help you find what employers are looking for and how you can get workplace-ready.
The company
As well as researching the job, you’ll also want to take a look at the company that’s offering it. You’ll want to find out as much as you can about the business, its aims and ethos, and the work culture. It seems like a lot of information, but much of it is readily available.
Once again, doing this research shows that you’ve taken an active interest in the role and company, but it also helps you work towards a better performance in the interview. In addition, it means you won’t be caught out by questions about the organization and can have some of your own ready at hand. You can also visit websites like The Assessment Center HQ to help you prepare for any test companies use to filter candidates. Preparation is the key to success.
Here are some of the ways you can research the company as you prepare for a job interview:
- The company’s website. Most organizations have an ‘about us’ section on their site. These often cover things like the history and development of the business and things like their mission statement and ethos.
- Social media. Just about every company has a social media account these days. As well as sites like Twitter and Facebook, you can also check their LinkedIn presence. They may have some industry-specific articles that can inspire you.
- Review sites. You can get both an internal and external look at what people think about a company using review sites. For example, use Glassdoor for team member reviews (and even interview questions) and Trustpilot for customer reviews.
You can also ask people you know who currently work there or have done so previously. As you do your research, note down any recurring themes, essential qualities, or standout points.
Your CV
When you’re writing your application, you’ll undoubtedly have already spent time perfecting your CV. So why revisit it now? There are a few reasons to do so as you prepare for your interview.
First, it gives you a refresher on what you’ve already sent over to the company. Whether it’s employment gaps or specifics about previous roles, you’ll need to be able to explain them. The interviewer will likely have a copy of this to hand, so you don’t want to get caught out by any questions they have about it.
The second reason to revisit your CV is to compare it to the lists and notes you’ve already made. When it comes to the job description, you’ll want to pull out all the relevant skills and experience in your CV. Similarly, you can find related examples in your document for the company’s aims, ethos, and culture.
It’s always a good idea to remind yourself of some of the essential skills for your career that you can talk about in the interview.
Preparation
As the adage goes, proper preparation prevents poor performance. Trite as it may be, it’s undoubtedly true. If you want to ace your interview, you will need to do some groundwork for the day itself – it’s a vital element as you prepare for a job interview. Again, the exact format of the discussion may differ, but the basics will remain the same. Here are some of the things you’ll want to prepare:
Some solid answers
When it comes down to it, interviews are often a matter of how to sell yourself. First, you need to know your key strengths and skills and how they relate to the job. We’ve already covered how to link these two points, so you now need to consider how to bring them into the interview situation.
An excellent place to start is to think about some answers to common interview questions. Of course, it’s impossible to know exactly what they will ask you, but you can adapt them for the situation by having some stock answers.
As well as some industry-specific answers about your achievements, experience, aims, and salary expectation, it would help if you also thought about some of the broader questions, including:
- Why do you want to work here? Your company research comes in handy, as you can speak in terms of specifics about what appeals to you. Think about the work environment, ethos, and potential of the business.
- What is it about this role that interests you? Again, having spent time researching the job at this company and across the industry, you should be able to talk about what makes this position unique. You can mention your aims and interests and bring in some essential skills and experience.
- What are your most significant weaknesses? Unfortunately, this question overwhelms many people, and vague, self-flattering answers won’t cut it. Instead, it would help if you showed you’re self-aware and honest about your shortcomings and taking steps to improve and overcome them.
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Some insightful questions
After you’ve successfully answered some grilling questions during the interview, the last thing you want to do is not have anything to fire back with. However, having some insightful questions to ask the interviewer(s) can show that you’ve prepared and demonstrated your thought about the role and the company.
Once again, you’ll find that your research phase has served you well here. You should develop some thoughtful questions by looking at the role, company, and what other people have to say about them. Whether it’s about their adoption of current digital workplace trends or cultural diversity, make sure you have a few. Some useful ones include:
- What do you enjoy most about working here? This turns the focus onto the interviewer and can reveal a lot about the company and culture. It also shows you care about the other employees.
- What are the opportunities for development? With this question, you’re showing that you’re a self-starter eager to learn and continue to develop.
- What does a typical day look like in this position? Here, you’re showing that you want to learn more about the inner workings of the role.
How to get to your interview
You’ve researched, prepped some questions and answers, and are fired up for the main event. But you get lost on your way and end up being 20 minutes late without being able to call. Disaster. To avoid such an incident damaging your chances of getting the job, plan out how you will get to your interview.
Please look at the route and how long it will take. Then, give yourself plenty of extra time to account for traffic or other unforeseen delays. You can even practice the route if it’s nearby, as this can help reduce some of the anxiety on the interview day.
If your interview takes place remotely, you don’t have to worry about route planning. However, you need to make sure that you have your technology tested and working. A quick brush-up on your digital technology skills can help if you need to.
A quick run-through of things like your webcam, headset, internet connection, and presentation (if applicable) is essential to preparing for a job interview online.
Practice
The final part of your interview prep should be practice for the day. Even if you have everything planned out in your mind or written down on paper, you’ll want to spend time perfecting how you will say it. Here are some areas to focus on:
Your voice and body language
You want to make a good and lasting impression in your interview. Upbeat and confident body language and a strong and clear voice can go a long way to making you stand out. Whether it’s a face-to-face interview, sit up straight and smile. If it is an in-person interview, make sure to maintain eye contact. Don’t slouch, cross your arms, or fidget too much.
You can learn what makes an effective presentation if you need to deliver one as part of your interview. We also have a course on presenting your work with impact, which can help you effectively get your message across.
The good idea is to record yourself as you practice some of your answers. Then, when you listen back, you’re sure to spot areas you can improve on.
Your interview
If you want to take things one step further, you can recruit a friend or relative to help you run through a mock interview. Then, after you’ve brought them up to speed on the role and the company, you can give them pre-set questions or let them use their creativity.
Approach this trial run as if it were real, from greeting the ‘interviewer’ to entering the room to the body of the interview itself. This gives you the chance to practice your answers and questions, but it also means you can get feedback from someone else.
You can also check out our course on how to succeed at interviews. Here, you’ll learn some of the tools you’ll need to follow, no matter what type of interview you face.
After the interview
Now that we know how to prepare for a job interview, it’s time to consider the next steps. First, your hard work isn’t entirely done when you walk out of the door. Instead, you’ll want to think about sending a follow-up note afterward.
You’ll want to thank the interviewer and mention the job role you interviewed for in this message. Connect this point to your ambitions or skills. You can also refer to any areas that seemed especially relevant to the interviewer. Finally, sign off by saying you’re happy to answer any additional questions and look forward to hearing from them.
Courses to help
Throughout this article, we’ve highlighted some beneficial courses related to interview preparation. However, to help you get ready, we’ve also picked out some others that you might find helpful as you prepare for a job interview:
- Team member Engagement and Motivation. A helpful course if you’re applying for a management position.
- English for the Workplace. You can learn some of the key vocab and grammar around the application process for those with English as a second language.
- Digital Skills for Work and Life. Learn about how technology is changing the workplace and how you can keep up with these changes.
- Wellbeing and Resilience at Work. Find out how to be resilient and adaptable in the rapidly changing workplace.
Conclusion: The Interviewing Mindset
Once you complete your preparation, remember to keep an open mind. Remember, interviews are an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your ability to think independently! While you can’t know precisely what will happen in any interview or what specific questions you’ll need to answer, you can practice beforehand to build your confidence. In addition, you can use this guide to develop strategies to help you navigate the unknown.
Doing your research ahead of time is critical, but it’s also essential to avoid assuming you know everything about the role because you’ve done your homework. For example, job descriptions can be imprecise, hiring managers might have special requirements, and other factors may play.
If you better understand the role during the interview, you will feel more empowered to decide whether it’s the right fit instead of waiting for the employer to choose for you.
Positivity is contagious. You can project it by smiling, being genuinely excited about the role, and focusing on the good in your past. Avoid negative talk at all costs—whether about what traffic was like that morning or what you didn’t like about a previous employer.
More than anything else, you want to make your interviewer see you as a great candidate for the role. So share your positivity, and they will remember you as someone they want to work with.
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