Here’s how to prepare for your first Job Interview.
First, everything in life is very important, first car, first child, first interview, etc.
These are historical things and events, hence the need to make them count.
How was your first interview? Good? Bad? None yet?
Reading this post means you are either preparing for an interview or need this information to help you in future interviews.
If you have an interview to attend signifies that your resume had what the employer wants to see.
Below is how to prepare for your first job interview
Table of Contents
Be Acquainted With The Interview Format
Once you receive an invitation, try to find out the type of interview you are going for i.e. written, oral, panel, etc.
The information you acquire will aid in your preparation.
READ ALSO: When You Just Lost Excitement About Your New Job
You can also politely ask the HR person or anyone that sent you the invite.
Conduct Espionage On The Company
The first thing to do when you receive an invitation for an interview is to investigate the company.
Go online and discover everything you need to know about the company.
The information you are able to cull online will portray you as having an interest in the company before the interviewer when you tell them what you know.
Also, it will assist you in being able to answer some questions e.g. “Why do want this job in our company?”
The company’s website, social media page, forums, blogs, etc have everything about the company, go there and check.
Read press releases, articles, news, etc as it relates to the company.
This will also allow you to prepare a question to ask the interviewer.
Ask Questions
Ask your friends, colleagues, online contacts, forum pals, social media and so and on about the company you are having an interview with.
You never can tell who has worked there or who knows who is currently working there that can give you some insider information that will give you an edge over other candidates.
Own Your Cv
It is not enough to have a well-written CV.
A well written but poorly rehearsed CV will lead to a shabby interview.
Even if your CV was written for you or copied from someone, be sure you understand each line perfectly.
If you are in doubt as to some areas or terms ask someone or delete such grey areas and replace them with easy words.
It is better to have a CV written in very simple English that you are able to defend than one with terms intended to impress employers which you are unable to defend.
Make sure you have something to say about your skill set, experience, gaps in your educational or work history, etc.
Your CV can even be the basis of an interview especially if it is an unstructured interview and not knowing the content of your CV will ruin your chances of getting the job.
Dress To Impress And Not To Kill
Decide ahead what you want to wear and get it ready before the day.
Make it professional and not flamboyant or tattered.
Wash and iron the cloths you plan to wear.
Appearing clean and neat to a job interview will not only make you score high for appearance but will also make you confident before other candidates.
If you are not well dressed you will be defeated before your fellow candidates and that will work against your self-esteem and overall performance.
Plan To Arrive Before Time
HR experts say arriving too early at an interview venue, shows you as desperate while arriving late portrays you as an unserious person.
The advice is to discover ahead the location of the interview venue so that you can arrive at least 15 to 20 minutes before time.
Never arrive late for an interview, it is better you are very early than to be late.
If you are not sure if you will get there early, leave for the interview very early and look for an eatery or public place to hang around before walking into the venue 15 to 20 minutes to the time.
Prepare Your Mind For Questions
Remember that you are going for an interview and not a beauty show or parade.
An interview is a serious business so be prepared.
READ ALSO: 3 Life Lessons from “Pursuit of Happyness” Movie by Kola Oyeneyin
Ask yourself likely questions and how you are going to answer them.
You can search for questions online.
Here are a few of the questions that might likely be asked:
- Can we know you?
- Why do you want to work for us?
- What is the A game that you are bringing to this job that makes you better than others?
- What skill set do you think will help you succeed in this job?
Now that you have gone through the points make sure you study them religiously and leave no stone unturned.
Be yourself at the interview, do away with fear and anxiety – ensure you breathe in repeatedly before you get interviewed to rid yourself of anxiety (no shaky hands or voice).
Take a little stroll to the rest room to ease the tension and while there do some stretches or exercises to ease the tension.
Good luck.