Be sure to convey a positive attitude about yourself, the position you’re going for and your past experience
Even the most confident people get nervous at the prospect of a job interview, but a little bit of preparation can go a long way. No matter what job you’re going for or the type of interview, the checklist below will help you to prepare for success.
- Do your research. Read the job description very carefully. What skills and strengths are they looking for? What kind of company is it? Check out its website - understand what it does and what its goals are. If you’ve done your research you’ll be able to explain in the interview how your personal qualities match up with the company’s needs.
- Review your CV. A job interview can put you under pressure making you forget important things. Make sure you review your CV, because your CV could be the focus of the interview. Stay calm, relaxed and be prepared.
- Arrive on time. Write down the company’s address, work out how you’re going to get there and, if you can, do a practice run. Aim to arrive 15 minutes before the interview is scheduled to start.
- Dress appropriately. Appropriate clothing for an interview varies according to the industry, but your clothes should always be clean and smart. Err on the side of caution, which means formal business attire – a suit or dark trousers/skirt with a smart shirt or blouse.
- Be positive. Be sure to convey a positive attitude about yourself, the position you’re going for and your past experience.
- Go into detail. Think of several examples from your previous experience where you accomplished something important. Be very specific about what the task was, how you went about it, any problems you faced and what skills or strengths you used to succeed.
- Emphasise all of your skills. There are probably lots of people going for the job with similar work experience and qualifications to you. How do you make yourself stand out from the crowd? Highlight those skills that aren’t just a result of a job or a course. Are you a natural-born communicator? Are you persistent and hard-working? Let your interviewer know and it could make all the difference.
- Be honest. Never lie in a job interview. It’s very easy to get caught out.
- Listen. It’s tempting to try and win over the interviewer with lots of talk, but listen carefully to what they say and wait until they have finished.
- Ask questions. Asking questions at the end of the interview not only shows you have an enquiring mind and are genuinely interested in the job, but it’s also an opportunity to clarify anything you’re still unsure of.
Got a competency-based interview coming up? Read Succeeding in competency-based interviews
Teaser: Congratulations, you’ve got an interview! Now it’s time to polish up your interview skills.
