The best way to prepare for a job interview is to go in with confidence. Practice being upbeat and self-assured so you can focus on your answers instead of hesitating with nervousness. Here are six ways to boost your confidence, to make sure you look and feel your very best when you show up for an important interview.
Research the company
Checking out the company’s website, social media pages, and any relevant news articles you find. Check out Glassdoor for company reviews from current and previous employees so you really know what you’re dealing with. If you’re producing or selling a product, familiarize yourself with it beforehand.
Know your audience
Research the company’s employees. Ask what to expect and who you’ll be meeting with and learn as much as you can about those people. Do you have any friends or family members who work there? Do they discuss the company on their Twitter accounts? Learn as much as you can.
Write out answers to your most dreaded questions
You probably already know many of the questions they’ll ask you, so spend a lot of time practicing those answers. Know the story of your career so far and inside and out, so you can easily tell your tale without rambling or skipping over important facts. Practice a mock interview with friends and family. Writing out the answers is a good way to carefully plan out and memorize your responses. Then you can reply with ease instead of stumbling or hesitating while you process the question.
Talk about your challenges
When they ask you about your biggest weakness, talk about something you struggle with but that you’re actively working to improve. If they ask about a failure or mistake you’ve made in the past, own it, but focus on what you learned from it and how you’ve redeemed yourself.
Prepare the paperwork!
Bring five copies of your resume, so you’re ready if another manager unexpectedly pops in to introduce himself. Print your reference list and include name, organization, title, department, phone number and email address for each of your three to five references. Come with your driver’s license, social security number, contact information for all previous jobs, and any other information you might be asked for so you can quickly jot it down and not have to return for it later.
Get your beauty rest
Look your best the next day. Sleep helps. So does a manicure, a haircut, and a clean, tailored suit. Know the dress code at the company. Practice some answers in front of the mirror so you can nail down your enthusiastic expressions. The better prepared you are when you walk in that door, the more confident and competent you’ll be.
For more information on how to make sure you’re best prepared for the next step in your career, check out our website at https://www.chiefofstaffkc.com/jobseekers/.
Blog written by Erin Greenhalgh