No matter how many interviews you’ve been to, one thing that is certain is that job
interviews can be quite nerve-wracking. As a job seeker, your focus would naturally be on
defining the skills and qualities that you would like in a job and employer.
Taking the time to prepare in advance will help you secure a job offer. When preparing for an
interview, it is important to firstly, take the time to analyse and research the position you are
interested in. Make sure you know what the job entails and what the employer is seeking in a
candidate. Highlight the skills and the professional and personal qualities that you think the
employer is looking for.
Once you cover this base, dive into what the companies you apply to are about. Crucially
research the brand and company to get a sense of what their company is about and how they
are different from their competitors. By doing this, it will help in an interview as your
understanding will be reflected in the conversation. By understanding the content in which
the employer works, it will assist you to tailor your answers in a way that is relevant to the
employer.
Most interviews start with a simple “Tell us about yourself” and how you answer it will affect
the result thereof. Make sure you answer it with confidence and find a good balance between
being confident and not coming across as pretentious.
Try coming up with questions of your own to ask. Usually, towards the end of an interview,
the interviewer will ask you if you have any questions that you would like to ask. Use this as
an opportunity to gain more information that you may need, to figure out if the job would be
a suitable fit for you and something you would be good at.
Another crucial part of preparing for an interview is to dress for the part. This is quite
important because before you even start with an interview, the first impression is given by
your dress code. The way you dress or choose to dress for an interview showcases to an
interviewer how you represent yourself, it showcases whether you find the interview
professional or unprofessional.
Lastly, don’t worry about your nerves. It is quite normal to feel nervous before an interview,
no interview is perfect. Your goal should be to give a good impression, highlighting that you
are suitable for the job while showcasing how you would excel at it.
