How prepared should you be for an interview?
You’ve got a job interview coming up. Congratulations, this means that the company has looked at your application and your qualifications and they’re interested in talking to you.
The hardest part is already done.
Now all you have to do is show them that you are friendly, capable and excited to work with them through a short conversation.
But, to do this well, you need to do a little homework.
So, how prepared should you be for an interview?
How long should you spend preparing?
Your time is precious and you want to put it to good use. You don’t want to spend days and days preparing for a job interview, especially if you have a few interviews lined up.
But how long should you spend preparing for each interview?
Unfortunately, there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ answer to this question and it’s really up to personal preference.
Indeed.com suggests that it takes five to ten hours to fully prepare for an interview, but depending on the role, the interview process and the level of technical knowledge required, your prep may require more or less time.
We believe that good preparation is less dependent on how long you spend preparing and more on what you do to prepare. It’s quality, not quantity.
Here are our four top tips for great quality interview preparation.
How do you prepare for an interview?
What should you do to fully prepare yourself for a job interview and give a fantastic first impression?
1. Research, research research
First things first, know your stuff.
Spend some time researching the company. In particular, look to the ‘About’ page on their website for information on their team structure, and their mission and values. You should also try to gain an understanding of their company size and locations so as to appear fully informed and interested during your interview.
Try to go beyond just quickly browsing through their website. Look at their socials, is there anything that makes their company particularly stand out? Have they run any recent campaigns or celebrated any recent successes? Mentioning something like this during an interview shows a genuine interest in their work and the company culture.
You might also want to take a look at the company financials which you can do by searching the company name on ASIC Connect online registry. For your own interests, this might give you a better idea of the company’s stability and if you were able to demonstrate an understanding of where they are headed as a company supported by facts in your interview, they are sure to be impressed!
Finally, make sure you take time to research the role that you’re interviewing for. Look through the job advert and person specifications to better understand what the responsibilities and expectations for this position are and how you are well suited to fulfil them.
2. Prep possible questions and answers
It’s a good idea to look into the kind of questions they might ask during your interview and think about how you would answer them.
Very common interview questions include things like:
- Tell me about yourself (hint: they want to know about your work history, not your full life story!)
- Tell me about an achievement that you are particularly proud of.
- Tell me about a time when you had to deal with conflict/stress/disagreement in the workplace and how you handled it.
- What are your main strengths and weaknesses?
- Why do you want to work for our company?
They are likely to ask questions which relate directly to the role you’re interviewing for. For example, if it’s a management position, they will ask about your previous experience with and approach to people management
A good tip is to look at the job description, especially the required and desired skills sections, to try to predict what they might ask you about and then prepare some examples of ways you have demonstrated these skills in your life or career previously.
3. Prepare your own questions for the end
At the end, the interviewer will ask you if you have any questions for them. This is an opportunity to further demonstrate your interest and enthusiasm for the role so it pays to have a few ideas already prepared.
Some good examples include:
- How do you personally enjoy working for the company and how long have you been here?
- How would you describe the company culture at the company?
- How would I be measured on my performance if I were to take this role?
These all show a level of engagement and interest in the role, the company, and even the interviewer which will not go unnoticed.
It’s also important to clear up any concerns and questions you still have about the hours and expectations of the role. Remember that an interview is a two-way conversation and you are figuring out if the company will be the right fit for you as much as they are doing the same.
4. Plan ahead
This might seem obvious but it’s really important to plan ahead for practical elements such as how you will get to the interview on time and what you will wear.
Rushing in, late and out of breath in a wrinkled outfit does not give the most professional first impression!
This doesn’t mean that you need to wear a three-piece suit or a tie, but take time to suss out the dress code at the company and dress accordingly. If it’s a startup or a smaller organisation, they are likely to be more informal with their dress code whereas a corporate or professional firm might be a little stricter. If in doubt, err on the side of smart!
Don’t fall at the last hurdle, get a decent sleep the night before the interview and eat a good breakfast the morning of. Give yourself plenty of time to get ready and arrive on time as a relaxed morning will put you in a better frame of mind and help you appear calm and confident during your interview.
Ready to find the right job for you?
No matter how much preparation you’ve done, it’s normal that you might still feel a little nervous or stressed ahead of your interview.
At the end of the day, the most important things to remember are that you’ve got this interview because they already like you and that you get to decide if the company suits your needs too so try to relax and be yourself.
For more interview advice and support to find the right role for your goals, get in touch with a member of the Conquest team today!
