Top 8 Best Steps To Prepare For An Interview
Top 8 best steps to prepare for an interview: Job interview preparation can be very challenging, mostly for beginners. An interview is not an easy task and that is why you must prepare beforehand. Your resume might say a lot about you, but it doesn’t justify that you will get the job. So you need to justify those written words by showing off your job skills during your interview.
Preparing for an interview primarily means taking time to thoughtfully consider your goals and qualifications relative to the position and employer. To accomplish this, you should perform research on the company and carefully review the job description to understand why you would be a good fit. Okay, let’s take a look at the steps to preparing for an interview.
Carefully analyze the job description
If you’ve sent out a lot of resumes, you should make sure you’ve analyzed the job description.
Write down the reasons why you are interested in the position, memorize what the company is looking for in the candidate and write a list of your qualities, skills, strengths, and weaknesses.
Above all, focus on the roles you have already performed in similar positions or on the virtues that make you the ideal person for the vacancy. During the interview, you should link your skills with the requirements of the position.
Do extensive research on the company
Spend a few hours learning everything you can about the company, from as many sources as you can.
An interviewer may ask how you perceive his company’s position in its industry, who the firm’s competitors are, what its competitive advantages are, and how it should best go forward. For this reason, avoid trying to thoroughly research a dozen different industries. Focus your job search on just a few industries instead.
By looking at multiple sources, you’ll get a broader picture of the company (along with any negative press), and be ready to talk about why you’d like to work there and what you can do for them.
Try out the company’s product or service (if you can).
If the company you’re interviewing for sells a product you can feasibly check out—try it before your interview (ideally, a few times). If hired, your goal will be to create value for the people who use that product, and being a user yourself is the first step. Plus, it’ll help show the hiring manager that you’re truly interested in the role.
Anticipate the interviewer’s concerns
There are always more candidates for positions than there are openings. So interviewers look for ways to screen people out. Put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself why they might not want to hire you (“I don’t have this,” “I’m not that,” etc.). Then prepare your defense: “I know you may be thinking that I might not be the best fit for this position because of [their reservation]. But you should know that [reason the interviewer shouldn’t be overly concerned].”
Prepare for common interview questions.
Every “how to interview” book has a list of a hundred or more “common interview questions.” (You might wonder just how long those interviews are if there are that many common questions!) So how do you prepare? Pick any list and think about which questions you’re most likely to encounter, given your age and status (about to graduate, looking for a summer internship). Then prepare your answers so you won’t have to fumble for them during the actual interview.
Practice practice practice
Take the time to practice answering interview questions you will probably be asked. This will also help calm your nerves because you won’t be scrambling for an answer while in the interview hot seat.
Tips: Practice interviewing with a friend or family member ahead of time, and it will be much easier when you’re actually in a job interview.
Be ready to sell yourself.
For every interview, you’ll want to have an answer to “Tell me about yourself” that’s tailored to this job and company and ready to go. Interviewers almost always ask this question or a similar one—like “Walk me through your resume”—to start off the conversation, so you want to make sure you’re getting started on the right foot.
Prepare what to wear
The last thing you need is a frantic panic on the morning of the interview as you hunt for a suitable outfit. Planning what to wear a few days beforehand will let you focus on the important things.
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