job interview article

How to Prepare for Your Next Interview

posted in: Job Seekers | 0

It takes time to prepare for interviews. Although there are some applicants who “wing it” and hope for the best; you can increase your chances of landing the job when you prepare. Help yourself overcome nerves and anxiety by preparing for the moment you first meet the hiring manager.

Here is how you can prepare for your next job interview.

Dive into the Job Description

Sure, you probably read the job description before you applied. But did you really understand what the company is looking for in a candidate?

Some job descriptions include a lot of information. It can be easy to gloss over certain details or forget pieces of information (especially if you are actively applying to other jobs). So, it’s important to take the time to dive into the job description so you can truly understand what each job has in store for you. Read over the job description a couple times and use the descriptions to try and visualize yourself as the ideal candidate.

Diving into the job description also allows you to prepare for potential interview questions. For example, let’s say the job description is looking for a candidate with “keen attention-to-detail” or “strong Microsoft Office skills”, and you possess those skills. During your interview, the Hiring Manager may ask, “what are your strengths?” – you will already have an idea of how to answer the question: “I have strong attention-to-detail skills…” or “I excel at using Microsoft Office programs…”. Fully analyze the job description and use it to help you prepare for your interview.

Common Questions Asked at a Job Interview

You likely won’t know what questions the Hiring Manager will ask, but there is a way to prepare for them. Even though interviews are a common practice in all industries, there are certain questions Hiring Managers ask their potential candidates in most interviews.

Here are some examples of common job interview questions:

  • Tell me about yourself.
  • Why did you apply?
  • What do you know about the company?
  • What are your strengths?
  • What are your weaknesses?
  • What is your greatest achievement?
  • Do you have any questions for me?

Having specific answers for the questions above will help you better understand what your goals are and how you might fit in well with the company you’re applying to.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Practice makes perfect. It’s one thing to “think” that you are prepared, and you may have all of your potential responses memorized in your head. But what happens when the hiring manager asks you a question you have been preparing for, and you forget your response? This is where practicing for the interview will come in handy.

Whether it’s your very first interview or your 20th interview, the days before you meet the hiring manager are often filled with both excitement and anxiety. Try practicing in front of a mirror to help prepare yourself for your next interview. This method allows you to hear your responses out loud and you get to see how your body language is when you say your responses; you can see how your hands move, your facial expressions etc. This allows you to make changes in the way you respond to questions and also how you show yourself to the hiring manager – building your confidence up before your interview.

If you want to become good at something – you need to practice. Olympians practice for years for one event hoping to go for the gold. Before you even get to your interview, you need to prepare and practice so you can go for the gold and get that position.

If you are looking to improve your interview skills or, if you need help practicing for your next interview, then contact us today to find out how we can help you increase your chances of acing your next job.

Share