An interview is your chance to demonstrate your qualifications for a position, your interest in the company, and your personality. Being prepared for an interview can help you feel calm and confident, as well as ensure you can answer the questions that will most likely be asked. There are numerous ways to prepare for an interview. In this article, we will discuss several strategies for preparing for your next interview.
How to prepare for an interview
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Analyse the job description
Carefully reading the job description can help you understand what qualifications, qualities and background the employer is looking for in a candidate. You can use this information to best determine which of your qualities and qualifications you want to emphasise. Understanding the job description can tell you more about the company in general and can help you think of possible questions the employer might ask you.
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Review your qualifications and goals
After reminding yourself what the employer is looking for in a candidate, review your CV to identify the qualifications that you might be asked to elaborate on. You might be asked to explain how your professional background fits with the job description and role’s expectations.
This is also a good method to find out how this job aligns with your future goals. Think about the way this position fits with your professional career and how this can help your personal and professional objectives.
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Research the company’s organisational structure
Understanding the company’s structure and the potential position you might have within allows you to best determine how you fit with the company’s employees, management and the company’s culture, which you may be asked about. Here are a few things to look at before your interview.
- Company Website and About Us page
- Company History, Mission and Values
- Company Social Media
- Industry news such as press releases and articles
- Professional networking platforms, for both the company and its employees
- National reporting of professional industry sites for information like employee satisfactions and salary reports.
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Practice interview questions
Reviewing common interview questions is an excellent way to prepare for an interview. Thinking about these questions will help you present yourself more eloquently, accurately, and positively. Take note of your skills and previous accomplishments, and consider how you can incorporate these points into your answers to demonstrate that you would be a valuable addition to the company.
Some common interview questions are:
- Why do you want this job?
Understanding the job description and company mission statement, as well as mentioning how it aligns with your personal career goals, is the best way to prepare for this question.
Example: ‘I’d like to work for a company where I can make an impact while also growing, From my research, I believe this company truly believes in the same values that I do.’
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
This is your opportunity to discuss both soft and hard skills. Mention your personal qualities that will help you succeed in this position. When discussing your weaknesses, emphasise how you believe working for this company will help you improve.
‘I’m an early adopter of new technology and applications, which helps me as a social media manager stay on top of trends and the best ways to communicate for the company,’ for example. I’m also working on how to better express myself, and I believe the company’s daily morning meetings are a great way for me to improve my interpersonal communication.’
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
The interviewer is really asking two questions here: what are your ultimate goals, and do you see yourself working for this company for an extended period of time? Connect your long-term professional goals to the skills and experience you hope to gain in this role, and describe the potential positions you hope to hold at the company as your career progresses.
‘I hope to advance from assistant product manager to product manager in the next five years or less,’ Being a product manager entails knowing all aspects of a specific product and its brand, I believe it is advantageous to stay with the same company for an extended period of time in order to truly understand the operation.’
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Prepare for industry or role-specific evaluation
You should also be prepared for a possible test or evaluation that the interviewer may use to assess your work skills. If you’re interviewing for a job as a computer programmer, you might be asked to evaluate code, or if you’re interviewing for a position as a supply chain manager, you might be given a hypothetical problem and asked how you’d solve it. Approach such an assessment with confidence, and talk through your thought process so your interviewer has a better understanding of how you work.
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Prepare questions for the interviewer.
A good first impression can be made by asking thoughtful questions about the position and the company. Prepare a list of questions to ask the interviewer to demonstrate that you are eager to learn more about the company and have a thorough understanding of the position. Here are some possible questions:
- What does a typical day look like for someone in this position?
- What is your favourite aspect of working for this company?
I’ve had a great time learning about this role. What happens next in the hiring process?
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Prepare a follow-up message in advance.
Sending an email to your interviewer a few days after the interview is a good idea. This demonstrates to the interviewer that you are still interested in the position, reminds them of your conversation, and allows you to bring up any points you may have forgotten to mention.
Consider drafting the message before your interview, with a standard greeting, a structure for points you want to include, such as a reference to a conversation topic, and areas to include other information you want to emphasise. Finally, express your eagerness to hear back. Following the interview, you can quickly complete the draft and send it.
Whether you are getting ready for an interview or not, we hope you find this article helpful. Best of luck on your next interview!
Source: https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/how-to-prepare-for-an-interview
