A job interview is a key step in your job search journey. Whether or not you ace your job interview depends a lot on how well you prepare for your interview. Preparing ahead of time can help you remain calm during the interview and perform well.

What steps should you take once you have an interview confirmed?

1. Do your research on the company

Take your time to learn as much as you can about the company before you go for the interview. You can gather a lot of information about the company from its website, social media pages, and online employee reviews. What should you look for? You should look for information on the management and the clients that the company works with. Check if the company has been in the news lately. You should be able to gain valuable insight into the growth prospects and future business plans of the company.

Knowing about the organisation that you are interviewing for can help you make a good first impression on the interviewer. You will also be able to align your resume accordingly when you have a better understanding of the company’s line of business.

2. Research the job role

Go through the job description carefully to understand the job role and the kind of candidate that the company is looking for. Usually, companies use certain keywords and key phrases to describe what they are expecting. If you align your qualifications and skills with what the company is looking for, you have better chances of securing a job offer.

One of the primary goals of the interview process is to see how you suit a certain role. Reading the job description thoroughly will help you understand the role and how your skills and qualifications match the job. You will also understand why you want the job and why the employer should choose you over other candidates.

3. Check out your interviewers’ LinkedIn profiles

While you research about the company you are interviewing for, you should also try to find out who will be interviewing you. In most cases, you can find this information on the interview invite email that you receive.

Once you know who your interviewers are, you should look up their profiles on LinkedIn. You can also check the company website to see if they have some information on them. When you go through their profiles, chances are you will find out a lot about their work experience and professional interests. It will help you connect better with your interviewers during the interview and create a positive first impression.

4. Research career opportunities in the organisation

Researching the job role is important, but it is equally important to research what kind of career path you can take within the organisation. How does that help? When you are aware of what career path you could take in the company, it shows that you are thinking long-term. It also reflects your seriousness about the job. Another benefit is that you will be in a better position to answer questions about your career goals or future plans.

If you think it is appropriate, you could also show an interest in training and development opportunities within the organisation. This will show your proactive attitude, which will work in your favor.

5. Practice mock interviews

There are some common questions that interviewers ask in almost all interviews. You should try and make a list of all such questions and prepare thoughtful or impressive answers to those. Certain questions could be big opportunities to highlight your interest and skills for the job.

A few of these common questions are:

🍀 Tell us a little about yourself.

🍀 What are your strengths and weaknesses?

🍀 Why are you looking for a job change?

🍀 Where do you see yourself five years from now?

Do not just memorise these answers but practice them as well so that your answers do not seem more natural and less rehearsed. Mock interviews can be a big help. You could ask your friends or family to conduct mock interviews for you. It can help create a real-time environment and boost your confidence.

What can you do if you cannot find anyone to play the interviewer? Practice in front of the mirror.

6. Take care of the little things.

A few small details, although overlooked, can play a significant role in your job interview. Ensure that you have all the necessary documents neatly organised in a folder before you go for the interview. You don’t want to be fumbling for documents in front of the interviewer. Choose a dress beforehand that you will wear to the interview. Ensure that it is clean and ironed.

Also, make travel arrangements or familiarise yourself with the location of the company. The last thing you want on your interview day is to get late because you do not know the route. Punctuality always makes a good impression.

Being nervous or anxious before an important interview is quite normal. However, don’t let that keep you up late at night. Have a good night’s sleep and wake up early so that you have plenty of time to reach the interview location. Being well-prepared is the key to successfully securing a job offer.