Preparing For A Job Interview

Being invited for a job interview is an opportunity for you to prove you have all it takes to get the job. It is not always easy getting through an interview due to the nerve-racking experience involved.

During an interview session, it is better to think fast and to be at alert. It is also better to be prepared and to be well composed as what you are able to deliver will help the people interviewing you to make up their mind about whether or not you have got all it takes.

In today’s business world, companies do not have the luxury of discovering who you really are at an interview, so it’s what you do and say that sell you. Those who are able to convince the employer beyond reasonable doubt are those that will be selected quickly. Your composure also says a lot about you. Before going for that interview, certain factors should be considered and worked on. They are as follows:

Get to know yourself Getting to know yourself involves three major aspects of yourself: the ideal self, the self-image and the self-esteem. The ideal self is the person you would like to be. It is based on your early programming, beliefs, attitudes and job experiences. The self-image is how you think of yourself and how you present yourself to others while the self-esteem is about how you feel about yourself. During interviews, most candidates end up giving an employer a very brief glimpse of their personality and its value to the organisation. You should be able to portray yourself from these three angles. You should also learn to build up your self-confidence.

Personal branding

This involves a lot of concentration when preparing for a job interview. If you don’t take control of your personal brand, then it will take control of you. You have to be able to communicate your personal brand. This involves having a vision, ideas and goal(s) you are pursuing. If you are able to manage your brand properly, you won’t need other people to decide for you.

Make sure you do a little research about the company by making use of the internet, libraries and periodicals to find out the names of some of the key managers, departments, key functions of the company and others.

Know the company’s market, products and goals.

Memorize some facts about the company and be prepared to cite them during the interview.

Formulate a list of intelligent questions to ask during the interview.

It is also important to refresh your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and read through it properly before the interview.

Talk to people who work or have worked at the company and find out a little about the rules and regulations of the company.

Make sure you know the company’s location. Go on a practice run so that you know how much time you will need to get there and try hanging around the building in the morning to note how the staff dress as well as their body language.

Maintain eye contact with the person (employer) you are speaking to during the interview.

Apart from following the steps listed above, it is highly important to dress properly to impress and to arrive for the interview about 15-20 minutes before schedule.