It’s human nature to shudder at the thought of an interview. I mean, who likes being forced into an uncomfortable and intimidating situation and grilled for an hour all in an attempt to impress somebody that may or may not give you a job…?
Unfortunately interviews are something that we all have to go through, so here are a few top tips on how you can prepare and calm those pre interview nerves.
Change your perspective
Take the first paragraph of this post for instance; interviews are built up to be stressful. However, if you actually think about it they’re not that bad at all. The company want to see you because your CV has impressed them. In a way, you almost have the upper hand. If you can go in there and demonstrate how everything they liked about you can work for their business then theoretically the job’s yours!
Think of the interview as more of a two way street. It is an opportunity for two parties to come together and have a mutually beneficial conversation.
Research the company
You get the idea. Check out the company’s website, social media pages, blog etc. – all of this information should be readily available online.
I would also recommend reading up on any recent news within the industry, especially things that could potentially impact the business.
Prepare for the questions you may be asked
Stating the obvious, but I would strongly recommend that you prepare for the types of questions that may come up. Earlier this year Glassdoor sifted through thousands of interview reviews to find the 50 most commonly asked questions during job interviews. Here are a few examples.
Click here for the full list!
I would also recommend that you think about how your skills, experience and achievements relate to these questions. Being able to elaborate on your answers and relate them to experiences of your own is very important.
What do you want to know?
Think about the kind of questions you would like to ask during the interview. When you’re doing your research on the company I’m sure there will be a few things that you come across that you would like to know more about. Write them down and if you get an appropriate time to ask them during the interview, then do. The interviewer will likely be impressed with your keen interest in the business.
Plan your outfit
Seriously, plan your outfit the night before.
Plan your route
Make sure you know exactly where you are going and how long it is going to take you to get there. I’d also recommend setting of 15-20 minutes early just in case you come across any unexpected traffic.
