HOW TO PREPARE FOR AN INTERVIEW AND ACE IT

The Week before the Interview:

1. Do your Homework

Research the company and its background beforehand. Search for information online. Find out who will be interviewing you, and review the job description in detail so you understand it inside out. It’s also worth researching news or activities relating to the specific industry, as this shows interest. These tips will help you with your pre-interview homework. One way to prepare for this is to research the company .In general, you want to find out:

• what products or services the company sells

• who its customers and competitors are

• how the company is doing within the industry

• what the company culture is like

Researching tools

Use our Company Research Guide to gather essential information. Don't worry if you can't find every answer to every question. You'll likely use only part of this information in your interview, but it is better to go in with a good understanding of the company. Print it out, take notes on it as you research, and take it with you to your interview.

If you can't find information on the company's website, consider using LinkedIn or another networking site to find someone who can tell you about the company.

If you are a student or recent graduate, you can visit your college's career services office.

If you are willing to pay for the service, websites like Hoovers, OneSource, and LexisNexis offer various types of information about a vast number of companies. If you don't want to pay, you may be able to access these websites for free through your local public library.

2. Prepare your Questions

When asked by the interviewer if you have any questions, have a few ideas up your sleeve. This demonstrates that you’re prepared, enthusiastic and committed to the role and the company. Try to think of less obvious but interesting questions that will set you apart from other candidates.

Many employers feel confident about candidates who ask thoughtful questions about the company and the position. You should take time before the interview to prepare several questions for your interviewer(s) that show you’ve researched the company and are well-versed about the position. Some examples of questions you could ask include:

• What does a typical day look like for a person in this position?

• Why do you enjoy working here?

• What qualities do your most successful employees have?

• I’ve really enjoyed learning more about this opportunity. What are the next steps in the hiring process?

3. Practice your Interview Technique

Think beforehand about how you can best demonstrate your skills and experiences in an interview. This can make you feel more confident on the day. If you’ve been asked to give a presentation as part of the interview process, give it a final run-through, make sure you’ve got prompt cards, and try to make it as compelling as possible.

By Just like public speaking, practicing interviews is the best way to relieve anxiety and improve your confidence. Practice may be tedious, but repeatedly experiencing the interview process will make you more comfortable and help you give the right impression.

If you have friends or family to help, conduct mock interviews as much as you can. If you don't have another person, practice your questions and answers out loud. You may find that an answer sounds awkward or doesn't convey what you wish when it's spoken, so this gives you an opportunity to refine your answers and commit them to memory. The more you repeat your interview, the more confident you'll be during the real thing.

4. Plan your Journey

Spend time prior to the interview working out how you’ll get there. Look up public transport routes and timetables, or find out where you can park. Plan how long the journey will take. Do a practice run, if necessary. Aim to arrive about 15 minutes early.

Job interviews tend to be stressful for most people for many reasons, but getting to the interview can be a challenge in itself. If your interview is an unfamiliar area or even an entirely new city, it can be a source of anxiety to find your way around and make sure that you show up on time.

To avoid becoming too anxious for your commute, prepare yourself to ensure everything goes smoothly on the day of the meeting. Here's how:

• Leave early: This may seem obvious, but it's better to leave with plenty of time to get to your interview, even if it means arriving way too early. Even if you leave yourself a few extra minutes to get there, small obstacles can be enough to make you late, such as heavy traffic, accidents, no parking or trouble finding the building. If you arrive too early, just use the time to go over your notes and mentally prepare for your interview

• Save the interview contact information: Even with plenty of time for your commute, sometimes situations out of your control can still cause you to be late. If something happens and you know you'll be a little late, call your interview coordinator and make them aware of the situation. Most people are empathetic to these situations and understand that some things just can't be helped, especially if you're letting them know in advance and have a reasonable explanation. In this situation, the worst thing you could do is show up late without any notice and try to explain yourself.

• Search the location in advance: Most interviews are scheduled days or weeks in advance, so you have time to research the location. If your interview is close enough, you can take a day to go to the location and check out the parking, take note of the traffic and find the suite or office where your interview will be. If you're anxious about parking or any other aspect of the location, contact your interviewer to ask them for more information.

5. Stay Focused

Clear your diary before and after the interview, so you can stay fully focused on the event. In order to give the interview your total attention, you don’t want to be preoccupied with other things that need doing that day.

The Night before or Morning of the Interview:

6. Sleep Well

Don’t cram any last minute interview preparation in just before bedtime, as this could disrupt your sleep. Relax before bed to ensure you get a restful night’s slumber, so you’re firing on all cylinders the next day.

7. Eat a Healthy Breakfast/Lunch

Fuel yourself with slow-releasing carbohydrates prior to your interview, such as porridge for breakfast or wholemeal sandwiches for lunch. These will keep your energy levels topped up for longer, so you stay alert and don’t suffer any energy slumps during the interview. Avoid alcohol at all costs.