HOW TO PREPARE FOR INTERVIEW

How do I prepare for a job interview?
Fail to plan, plan to fail. You are certain to be
asked specific questions about your potential
employer, so make sure you’ve done your
homework on things like their last year’s
profits and latest product launches. Nothing is
as disappointing as when a candidate oozes
enthusiasm and then doesn’t even know the
most basic facts and figures about a
company.
Here are a few places you can find some
useful information:
An online search
The company’s website is the best place to
start. It shows the company as it would like to
be seen and the products and services they
offer. You’ll get a feel for the corporate style,
culture and tone of voice. Check out the
annual report and look for a press or company
news page.
As you filter all this information, consider how
the role you’re applying for relates to the
company’s mission. You may also be able to
use the site’s search facility to discover more
about the person or people who will be
interviewing you.
You should spend some time looking online
for any other information you can find about
the company. Put their name into Google
News to see if they’ve had any recent
interesting stories written about them. You
could also discover some information written
by their current employees on what it’s like to
work there.
It’s also worth searching for your own name
to see what crops up – your potential
employer may be doing the same thing.
Industry sources
It’s not just information about the company
you need – you should also have a good
background knowledge of the industry so you
can impress at the interview. Browse through
business publications and websites to see
what they are writing about your potential
employer and their industry. Have a look on
the newsstands at the big magazine retailers
– there’s an amazing list of publications out
there.
You may find back issues of trade publications
at university or public libraries, or you might
be able to access them online. Some journals
are even available for free or by subscription
through their own websites.
If you’re already in the same industry as your
potential employer, it may be possible to
discreetly ask colleagues or your suppliers if
they know anything about the company you’re
interested in.
Preparing yourself
This is the bit most people forget to give
enough time to, so don’t get caught out. Just
like when you’re going into an exam, feel
confident that you can field any question they
throw at you, and try to feel as good about
yourself as you can. It shines through.
Here are a few top tips:
Have a mock interview with a friend based on
the common interview questions you’re likely
to face.
Be sure you know the time, date and location
of the interview and the name of interviewers.
Decide how you will get there and when you
need to set off to arrive in good time,
anticipating any delays. Do a dummy run if
necessary.
If you look good, you tend to feel good too.
Avoid any last minute panic by preparing what
you’re going to wear the night before.
Don’t go into the interview with lots of
baggage – psychological or physical. Take the
bare minimum with you so you can
concentrate on the interview, and nothing else.
If you are asked to bring certificates,
references, etc, get them ready well in advance
to avoid having to chase around on the
morning of the big day.
It may sound patronising, but make sure you
use the toilet before you go in – you don’t
want to be bursting to go when you’re mid-
interview.
Be methodical
Sit down with your CV and make notes, just as
if you were preparing for an exam. Study your
work record and what you have achieved. How
do you see yourself? What have you done?
What ambitions do you have? Make notes and
prepare and rehearse sound bites about
yourself. Do this out loud, even if it makes you
feel weird.
Try to relate specific areas of your CV back to
the job description. It will make it clear to the
interviewer why they should hire you.
Remember, one of the most common interview
questions is “Tell me about yourself.” Prepare
a balanced and succinct answer to this
question, not a life history. Keep it
businesslike and don’t stray into personal
feelings or family relationships. Avoid
anything to do with politics or religion like the
plague. Interviewers use this question to learn
about your personal qualities, not your
achievements – they should already have
those from your CV.