CAREERLIFESTYLE & TRAVEL

How to Prepare for an Interview

Many students are taught how to network, but what happens when you get to the interview stage? Preparing for your interview can help you be one step ahead of your competition. We know to be respectful, to take our time, and prepare, but no one really explains how to prepare. Check out these interview preparation tips to help land that job.

Print out your resume and the job description

When preparing for an interview, you should print out both your resume and the job description of the position you’re interviewing for. By doing this you can compare your experiences to the job duties of the position. You always want to make sure you are studying the job description, as this is what you are going to potentially be doing. Many times the interviewer will ask you questions regarding the job description as well. They do this to see how you would fit in for the specific position, and they want to see if you have done your research.

Research the company

Many employers will ask you questions about their mission and core values. You’ll want to relate work and life experience to their values and mission, but don’t be too obvious. This will help them see how you are going to fit within their organization. When you are researching the company, you may find out that their culture is not a good fit for you. You will also want to research the person who is interviewing you if possible. This will help you to connect with them more.

Prepare your personal statement

It’s almost a guarantee that you will get the question, “tell me about yourself.” If you’re like me, this can be one of the hardest questions to answer. Not a lot of people like talking about themselves, but it’s your chance to give the interviewer a little insight on who you are. You want to stay professional, but you also want to be true to yourself. When answering this question, try not to talk too much about your resume as they will more than likely ask questions regarding your resume later in the interview. You should also add a fun fact about yourself that they wouldn’t find on your resume.

Prepare some questions

Another hard part of your interview is asking the right questions. If you study the job description, this will make it easier for you to have questions prepared. Try to ask questions about what kind of project you should expect to be doing or questions regarding their core values. For example, their core value is to create an inclusive environment at work, ask them how they do so.

Practice your interview

While practicing your interview may seem pointless, it will actually benefit you. You should practice your interview at least three to five times with people you can trust for honest feedback. Practicing your interview skills will help you to slow down and calm your nerves. This will also help you to answer their questions the best that you can, and will allow you to better connect with the interviewer.