Going for any job interview can be daunting and going to your first one can be terrifying – but it doesn’t have to be if you follow the right tips to prepare for the big day.
Remember, everyone gets a little nervous and, like with most things, the more you do it, the easier it will seem.
Research the company
Do your homework and see what the company is about. Do their views align with yours? Is this company the right fit for you?
Most companies have an online profile that you can browse.
If available, look at what previous employees have said about working for the company. If the general consensus is positive, then go ahead. But, if several ex-employees have gone to the effort of typing up negative reviews, then maybe politely decline the interview.
Research is also key as the employer may ask you what you like or dislike about the company and you don’t want to be lost for words.
Practise the interview
Practising with family or friends, whilst a little embarrassing can help you plan out your answers to potential questions without the pressure of it being the actual interview.
Make some flashcards with questions and answers, so you can begin to familiarise yourself with them.
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Some potential interview questions are:
- Why do you want this job?
- What do you think your strengths are?
- What is your biggest weakness?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Confidence
Sometimes nerves can get the better of you, but if you walk into the interview with confidence, you will give off a great first impression.
If that doesn’t feel like something you can do, try and be an elevated version of yourself. Most of the time, you are going to be meeting people who have never met you before, so they don’t know that you aren’t always this confident version of yourself.
Put your best foot forward and act like you are meant to be there.
Dress appropriately
It may be worth buying one or two staple outfits that you can wear to multiple interviews.
First impressions do make an impact, so if you turn up in your Primark sweatpants and ’suns out guns out’ shirt, then you have already lost the job.
If you are a suited and booted kind of person, then go for that. But for the average person, some black pants (maybe even black jeans) and a professional shirt or top are the way to go.
Dress appropriately for the job you are going for!
Prepare questions
After most interviews, the interviewer will ask you if you have any questions for them. Asking them questions back will tell them that you are genuinely interested in the position.
Remember, you are also interviewing them! You need to gauge whether you like the vibe and can see yourself working there.
Some questions you can ask are:
- What does an average work day look like here?
- What kind of candidate do you think would best fit this position?
- Will there be opportunities to progress within the role/company?