Hints For Interview Preparation

When it comes to interview preparation, the best approach is to be proactive. You will probably be nervous, so take the time to figure out what tools will help you get into the right headspace — it could be listening to your favorite song or a trusted mantra, getting a pep talk from a friend, or some other method. Be sure to use those tools well in advance of the interview (or as close to the start as possible) so that you’re calm and ready to ace it.

It’s a given that you will be asked about your past work experience, so be prepared to talk about the most relevant parts of your career journey. Be ready to answer questions about your career progression, any challenges you’ve faced and how you have evolved professionally over the years. Try to keep your answers concise and to the point. This will help prevent you from being drawn into an interviewer’s rabbit hole of your whole professional history and ensure that the interviewers are left with a clear picture of what makes you a strong candidate for the role.

Most interviews will wrap up with the interviewer asking if you have any interview preparation questions. Be sure to prepare at least a couple of questions ahead of time, and be sure to line them up with the job description and the company’s culture. This will help demonstrate your interest in the position and show that you have thoroughly researched the company.

Top Tips and Hints For Interview Preparation

If you’re unsure about what questions you might be asked, it can be helpful to look up some sample interview questions online and practice your answers. There are also interview prep books that can help you anticipate the most common interview questions and give you a structure to guide your responses. It’s a good idea to print out several copies of your resume for the interview and to bring a pen and notepad. The interviewer may want to take notes during the interview, and it’s nice to be able to hand them something they can write on.

In the lead up to the interview, make a list of your most significant accomplishments and successes. This will help you to think about what you have achieved in your career, and it can be a useful tool when answering behavioral questions that ask you to describe specific situations where you’ve acted in particular ways or how you would react to certain scenarios. Try to be as concise as possible when listing your achievements, and use the STAR method to guide your answers.

Interviewers will want to know what you’re interested in about their company and how your skills and experience can benefit them. To demonstrate this, be sure to research the company ahead of time and understand its mission, values, culture and recent accomplishments. Try to find out as much as you can about the company’s projects and clients, any first degree connections you have in common with the interviewer, and the interviewer’s point of view on industry trends.