Locking down an interview can be a challenge in and of itself, but preparing for the interview poses its own set of challenges. It’s crucial to prepare for the interview properly. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your interview.
Briefing on the job and company
Before you prepare for the interview, ensure you have all the necessary details about the job, such as the tasks, travel requirements, and salary range. Having all of this information will allow you to customize your questions and make it sound like you have a good understanding of the job. Another important aspect you should consider is to familiarize yourself with the company’s website.
Briefing on the people
Your online sleuthing skills will be handy when it comes to answering the interviewer’s questions about the company and the individuals involved. The interviewers will have all the details about you courtesy of your CV, so it’s only fair that you do some digging as well. You can also look up information about the company through various social networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn.
Format
The agenda and the format of the interview will determine how prepared you are for the event. Most likely, you will be meeting more than one person, and they will have organized the topics and questions into a variety of topics so you can be mentally prepared.
Prepare for their questions
Before you start preparing for the interview, make sure that you have all the necessary details about the job, such as the tasks, travel requirements, and salary range. Ask yourself what you would like to ask a candidate with this profile. Then, take part in a role-play with a friend to come up with ten questions that will most likely be asked. After you have answered the questions, go for the next set.
Attire
Before you start preparing for the interview, make sure that you have all the necessary details about the job, such as the tasks, travel requirements, and salary range. Also, make sure that you have the necessary knowledge about the company’s dress code. This will allow you to easily match the clothes the interviewers will wear. One of the easiest ways to find out this is by calling the company’s reception or line manager.
Arrival
Greet the receptionist and make sure that you leave a positive impression. After you have been picked up, give the interviewer a firm handshake and start talking about the meeting. By doing this, you can make the other person feel more comfortable during the first few minutes of the meeting.
Selling yourself
You should also talk about your personal experiences, achievements, case studies, and examples. Your interviewer will most likely want to hear about a good story, and they will most likely want to hear about how you dealt with a conflict or how you are a great team player. Having a compelling story will help the other candidates think about you and the company, making them feel like they are getting a good fit.
Clarity
Your interview should also be about what you want to achieve in your career, and it should be about how you can make a positive impact on the company and the people around you. Although nobody can predict where you will be in five years, having a clear vision is important.
Strengths and weaknesses
Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses, and the best athletes in the world will typically tell you their main weaknesses right away. This shows that you are aware of and working on these, which is very important for any company. The interviewers will most likely hear the term “workaholic” or “perfectionist” more than you do when you talk about your hobbies.
Interview the interviewer
After the incoming shells have been fired, it’s your turn to return fire. Before preparing for the interview, ensure you thoroughly understand the company’s culture and goals. You should also ask about the various factors that affect the team’s success, such as how many conflicts there are and why people have left in the past.
Buying signals
One of the most common buying signals that an interviewer will give you is their salary expectation, as well as their potential start date and vacation days. They will also look into other areas of interest, like your language skills and whether or not you could work in the same field.
End of the Interview
You should close the interview by asking for feedback right away, as chances are that the interviewers already have a decision on you. By showing interest in the company and asking questions that are relevant to the position, you can impress the interviewers. If you are a salesperson, you can only guess what the impression will give if you don’t ask the questions to close the sale.
After the Interview
According to Dale Carnegie, one should send a thank you note to the hosts of every interview. This is a way for you to show that you are genuinely interested in the company and the job, and it will also help you stand out from the crowd.