How to Prepare For Your Dream Job Interview
How to prepare for your dream job interview
By Lilly Croucher
So, you have just nervously opened that email from the company you’ve eagerly applied for, and they have offered you an interview – amazing. However, you’ve realised you’re not sure how to prepare for it.
Job interviews can be slightly bewildering if you are not used to them, but there are ways to prepare for them – yes, it’s more than just googling the company name. You should always try to make the best first impression you can with the correct outfit, knowledge, and attitude.
Getting ready for that all-important job interview can be nerve-racking but rest assured – our top 30 tips will cover everything you need to smash the interview and bag you that job.
Knowing the company and their product
This is essential knowledge you’ll need that will most likely come up in the interview.
1. Learn everything you can about the company
Make sure you spend a good amount of time learning everything you can about the company. Look at the website and it’s ‘About’ section. Learn the company’s history, values, and mission. Look at their social media to see their public presence online. Try to go further in your research so as not to get only the company’s point of view but others’ as well. Google’s news tab will show you when the company has been in the news, for good or bad.
Ask people in your network or use LinkedIn to find recent posts about the company. Find out their connections to other companies through investments or the charities they support. This will give you a broader sense of the company which you can discuss and ask questions about in the interview. You can always look up their competitors to really show off your knowledge of the industry and give you an edge.
2. Use the company’s service or product
If you can, try out the service or buy the company’s products as this will give you first-hand experience of the service or product. As a user, you will know the product better and will be able to suggest changes and solutions to improve the product’s value. As a candidate, this will show to the interviewer your interest in the company and that you have a solution-based approach.
Understanding the position
Knowing what to expect from the role is crucial for you and the interviewer to understand.
3. Know the role you have applied for
Employers need to know that you are the right fit for the job. The easiest way to do this is to revise the job posting for the role. Learn the key skills and experience the company is looking for and emphasise these points in your answers. Is there a certain qualification needed? What experience are they asking for? Focus on these specifics throughout the interview.
4. Research the salary
Be prepared to talk about money. It may or may not come up but be ready for it either way. It can be an uncomfortable conversation for some people but researching a figure you’re happy with will make you more confident when answering questions about salary expectations.
Knowing what to expect from the interview
Understanding what you will face in the interview will make the process seem less daunting.
5. Find out what type of interview you’ll be doing
Knowing the kind of interview you’ll be going for will help you better prepare ahead of time. Some examples of interview types are one-to-one, group interviews, panel interviews, telephone, or video calls. You may even be asked to do a presentation during the interview. Make sure you ask the recruiter or manager what type of interview you can expect so you can plan accordingly.
6. Know who the interviewers will be
No, this is not about stalking their private social media but learning about them as professionals. You should try to find out who they will be, what their role in the company is, what their relation to you will be and possibly some related experiences. Maybe you both went to the same university or worked in the same industry, or you simply have common interests.
You can find these people on LinkedIn, or the company website might have a ‘Team’ page. These connections will help you become more memorable to them.
Preparing for the interview
They say ‘fail to plan, plan to fail’ which is mostly true for interviews as well. Make sure to prepare ahead of time to give yourself the best chance of success.
7. Know why you want this position at this company
This question is likely to come up but if you can’t answer this, then you really should be thinking about whether this is the role for you. What is it about the company you like? How will you fit into their work environment? What excites you about this position?
Align these interests with your strengths and make sure to convey your passion or excitement for the role.
8. Learn the classic interview questions
Prepare for the most common interview questions like ‘Tell me about yourself’ or ‘Talk me through your experience’. The key here is to have this answer ready, make sure to keep it short and sweet with relevant points that are tailored to the positions’ requirements (Hit those key skills from the job posting)
9. Discover your Unique Selling Point
Everyone is unique but what sets you apart from the other interviewees? Think about your accomplishments, different experiences, and skills. How do these make you the best choice for this role?
Ask yourself, why are you qualified for this role and is this something that no one else has? Are you good under pressure? Do you have great leadership skills? Once you have worked this out, lead with it throughout the interview.
10. Note down some hard numbers
Find some figures on anything to do with the company which you can refer to in your answers. This could be to do with revenue, employee numbers, team sizes, budgets, or online engagement. Have these numbers written down in your notes and refer to them by weaving them into your answers. This will show the interviewer you have a deeper understanding and interest in the company.
11. Have your stories ready
You could be asked about how you used a particular skill or ability in a past position. This is usually to find out how you would react in certain situations. Prepare a few examples of past experiences where your actions influenced a certain outcome and adapt this for the specified quality they ask for.
12. Use the STAR method
When answering questions that require you to talk from past experiences, the STAR method is the best way to keep your answer short and to the point. They could ask you to demonstrate anything from a specific skill, behaviour, or quality. No matter what it is, the STAR formula will keep your story structured and works for almost all variations of this question.
The key is to be clear and concise by giving enough context and indicating an obvious change which was influenced by your actions.
SITUATION: Briefly explain the scenario with only the details needed to understand the story.
TASK: Explain what your role was in the situation.
ACTION: Explain what actions you took and why you did them.
RESULT: Conclude with the outcome of the situation and what you took away from the experience.
13. Practice, practice, practice
Make sure you practice the most common interview questions like ‘Tell us about yourself?’, ‘Where do you see yourself in 5 years?’ and ‘Why have you applied for this position?’. Keep a few bullet points with you for each question to help you in the interview. Practice these answers by saying them out loud to yourself to see where you might need to explain further or be more concise.
14. Conduct a mock interview
Now you are prepped with your notes, and you have practiced your answers for each question, you could attempt to do a mock interview with a willing family member or friend. By staging a practice interview, you’ll be more relaxed for the real thing and will easily be able to answer the most common questions.
You’ll know how to sit and where you should be looking, and your ‘interviewer’ can pick up on things you may not notice you’re doing, like fidgeting.
15. Prepare questions to ask the interviewer
More than likely the interview will conclude with asking if you, the candidate, have any questions. Always have a question ready. Make sure to have lots of questions ready ahead of time, as some may have already been answered during the interview and you don’t want to be left scrambling for a question. Don’t ask closed questions with a yes or no answer and make them specific to the job or company.
16. Expect the unexpected
Whilst you can prepare every note, figure, and story, you can’t prepare for everything. Some questions may catch you off-guard and you need to know how to handle this.
Fill the silence whilst you give yourself time to think. You can repeat the question and weave it into your answer, or you can buffer your answer with something like, “That’s a great question, I would say…”. Answering like this under pressure is something the interviewers will be looking for and will earn you points if done well.
17. Print out hard copies of your CV
For an in-person interview, have a few hard copies of your CV with you to give to the interviewers in the room. For you, it makes it easier to reference when talking about your experience. The interviewers will most likely have already seen your CV but may need refreshing after seeing so many candidates that day. This will help them to remember you after the interview.
18. Have your references ready
You may or may not be asked for references during the interview but if you do, be prepared. Have the person’s full name, title, company, relation to you (line manager) and contact details. Print it out as a hard copy and save a digital one if they ask for it later.
19. Make an interview summary sheet
Make a summary of all your interview notes and figures you have collected from your research. Revise this before the interview and take a hard copy with you.
20. Pack your bag the night before
There is nothing worse than leaving the house in a rush and realising you’ve forgotten something but it’s too late to go back.
To avoid this, make sure your bag is ready so you can just grab it and go. Remember things like your CV copies, laptop, passport or ID, planning notes and pens (bring more than one because it will inevitably stop working just when you need it). If you have a presentation, send it to yourself over email and back it up with a USB.
Even things like an umbrella, a bottle of water, a snack (nothing smelly) and tissues can help in unexpected situations.
21. Plan your trip (aim to be early)
It’s no good just turning up at the station and all the trains are delayed or the traffic on the main road means you’ll be late. Make sure you know your route ahead of time to avoid these types of situations that might make you late.
Aim to get to your destination 10 minutes before your scheduled arrival to avoid rushing and to give yourself time in case of unexpected delays Check traffic news, train times and parking beforehand and know exactly where the location of the interview is so you don’t get lost.
22. Test your tech set-up
Imagine, you have only several minutes till your video interview, you open your desktop, and the WIFI is down.
If you are doing a video interview it’s important to make sure your tech works so everything goes smoothly on the day. Make sure you are signed into the right software, have the correct link set up and checked the speed of your WIFI connection.
23. Be aware of your background
When on a video interview make sure you are in a quiet place away from any distractions. Tell the people you live with not to disturb you during your interview time. Be aware of your background – don’t have any mess or anything inappropriate behind you. It is best to have a plain, well-lit wall that you can comfortably sit in front of.
24. Revise for skill tests
Some interviews may require you to do a test that will examine a particular skill or technical ability. Practice this early and revise regularly before the interview date to give yourself the best possible chance of passing. You may be able to find sample questions online that will help familiarise yourself with the test.
Presenting yourself
Now we know you can sound the part – let’s make sure you look the part. First impressions count so make the most of this by taking care of your appearance.
25. Find out the dress code
There are high expectations for candidates to look smart and polished as it shows pride and professionalism. Even for a video interview, you will be expected to dress appropriately (yes – this includes trousers).
If in doubt, ask the company what their dress code policy is. You can reach out to the recruiter, an employee or look at photos of previous events on social media. Most companies will expect business suits, but some are more relaxed with a smart casual environment.
26. Look the part
You are an intelligent, respectable professional so your appearance should reflect this too. Take care of your appearance. If you care, they will care and will see you as the serious candidate you are.
Do what you need to do to look your best. Maybe it’s having a sharp haircut and a well-groomed beard or it’s softly styled hair and natural make-up. Make sure your outfit is clean and pressed, with no creases or snags. Clean up your fingernails, wear some perfume and polish your shoes.
What if you can’t afford a new outfit? You may have a generous friend who you can borrow from, or you can try charity shops which have loads of second-hand suits and shoes.
If you know you look good, you will feel good, and that confidence is what you will need to smash that interview.
27. Body language
It is said that most communication is non-verbal. Body language and other indicators make up 55 per cent of what we communicate to other people. Be aware of how this reflects on you.
A good posture is more professional and alert whilst crossing arms or legs makes you seem more closed off. Make sure you’re sitting up straight and not fidgeting as this can be off-putting for interviewers.
Nodding and making facial expressions shows you are actively listening and helps convey emotions.
28. Work on your soft skills
Unconscious habits tell a lot about a person. Whilst the answers to your questions will be important, it is not the only thing you will be judged on.
Being conscious of your softer skills are things employers want from a potential employee. Show you’re actively listening by rephrasing the question in your answer or by asking follow-up questions. This skill will be important for meetings, telephone calls, instructions and understanding complex demands.
29. Look after yourself.
Taking care of yourself is a surefire way to make sure you wake up ready and refreshed. Make sure you have a healthy meal the night before and for breakfast. Treat yourself to a relaxing bath or watch a movie and go to bed early to get a good night’s sleep.
30. Unleash your confidence
This is probably the hardest part as most people generally feel very nervous before an interview. Believing in yourself and being confident will ultimately be what will shine through during your interview.
Plan what tools you will need to get yourself in the right frame of mind and try and do these as close to the interview as possible.
If you can, exercise for 30 minutes before heading off for your interview or walk the last 10 minutes to the location instead of using transport to clear your head. Talk to a friend on the phone for encouragement and assurance. Listen to music or a podcast on your journey there.
Breathing exercises can help calm your nerves and avoid caffeine if you can. Repeat affirmations to yourself to boost your self-confidence and try power poses in the mirror which can help you feel stronger and more in control.
No matter what you do to get you charged for that interview, remember to remain calm and positive – you got this!
If you feel you need to prepare a little more for your next interview, check out my 5 top interview tips.