Preparing the job interview with dedication is essential for managing your nerves and. It is also of great importance to highlight your strengths and present yourself as the ideal candidate. Remember that if you have been called for a job interview, it is because your CV fits the company’s needs, so transmitting a sense of security and confidence is crucial. We have written this article to help you achieve your professional goals.
How to prepare for a job interview – tips and tricks
We recommend that you do the following preparation exercises; in this way, you will gain much more confidence in yourself:
1. Find out what type of job interview you are going to have
A personal interview is not the same as a group or a Skype interview. So if you receive a call to do an interview, remember – in addition to thanking for the opportunity and confirming the contact details – ask if it will be a personal interview or a group one. In this way, you can fine-tune better in your subsequent preparation.
2. Review and, if necessary, modify your resume
Once you have analyzed your strengths and weaknesses, taking into account the requirements of the company and the specific position. Also, check if your advantages are most directly related to the job you have applied for. If necessary, modify your CV and bring several copies with you. Yous need to make sure that everything is up to date. Also, you should visit Research Prospect and check out the best academic support service. It could be of great help to you.
3. Find out what the company expects from its ideal candidate
If you are clear about the position for which you are going to be interviewed, and you know what kind of company it is, it will be easier for you to get an idea of who will be the ideal candidate for the company. If they have published the offer along with a description, read it critically and write down what kind of candidate you think would be perfect for them.
4. Analyze yourself critically
After creating the ideal candidate, look at your CV: What are your strengths? Do you have the required experience? And what about technical knowledge, academic training, interpersonal skills? You must analyze these points critically since if you falter in any aspect, the interviewer will notice if you try to hide it.
However, it is always good to think about the ways you can improve yourself. For example:
– If you lack training, you could consider doing it (and it is something to highlight in the interview);
– If you have little experience, you can highlight your training and motivation to learn.
5. Research the company
You need to be well informed about the company and the position you’re applying for. Also, the more information you have about the philosophy, objectives, and the type of company that has preselected you, the easier it will be for you to answer the questions. You’ll know which aspects of your resume and your personality may interest them the most.
So, our advice to you would be to study their website. If the company has a newsletter, subscribe. Also, use the Google search engine to find out what is said about them and if the firm has an appearance in the media. Besides, don’t forget to follow them on social networks since they probably update them more frequently than their website. Social networks will help you get an idea of the work environment and will give you some useful clues about what type of interview you will face.
6. Prepare your presentation
It is common for recruiters to ask you to tell them about your career path or to introduce yourself. Improvising this is very difficult (and not recommended), so be prepared. It is not that you have to learn it by heart (although practicing with someone is highly recommended since they can give you their opinion), but rather that you are clear about the strengths that you should highlight.
According to suasive.com, you shouldn’t memorize your presentation, but prepare a two-minute speech about yourself, highlighting your motivation, skills, and what makes you a perfect candidate. That will help you manage your nerves and have resources if they ask you to introduce yourself.
7. Prepare your answer to the most frequently asked questions
Although each company has its way of conducting interviews, there are a series of questions that are very common in any job interview. Preparing them will help you detect your strengths and, above all, respond with calm and confidence.
8. Prepare to explain your weak points
Nobody is perfect. No candidate (neither you) fulfills all the required requirements. When interviewers ask you about the less dazzling parts of your resume, they want to see if you are aware of that and if you know how to deal with it.
9. Reflect: Why did you have periods of inactivity?
Both due to lack of opportunities and personal decision, there may be periods of professional inactivity in your resume. These often draw the attention of interviewers, so you need to be ready to explain the job gaps in your resume. You must highlight how you kept up to date with developments in your sector, whether you took the opportunity to train professionally or how you have managed to catch up. Do not be afraid of being discarded for this reason because, if you have been selected for the interview, it is because your resume has passed the first filter, and they find your profile interesting.
10. Do you have any questions for your recruiter?
There is likely a lot of information that you do not know about the company and that you still need to decide on the job they offer you, or you might even need to negotiate some of the working conditions. So you must make a list of questions for them. Also, the most common thing is that the interview ends with a “do you have any questions?” and you should ask something.
11. Prepare the clothes you will wear
Facing a job interview always generates insecurity and nerves. So it is vital that you feel comfortable in the clothes you are wearing. However, you should not forget that the interview will probably be the first impression of you, so you should not neglect your physical appearance. If you know what the company rules are concerning the dress code, stick to it. If you don’t know that, try to dress the way you would go to work on a typical day and according to the job of your choice.
