How to prepare for an interview – Insights from BrainSource.io Recruiting Agency
Navigating the intricacies of a job interview can be a daunting task, demanding a careful balance of confidence, preparation, and a solid understanding of the company’s expectations. In the competitive landscape of job hunting, being adequately equipped with the right strategies and insights can make all the difference. In this comprehensive guide, we dive into the art of interview preparation, drawing upon the expertise and industry knowledge provided by the seasoned professionals at BrainSource.io, a leading recruiting agency known for its nuanced approach to talent acquisition and career placement.
But before you are called for an interview, there is one step ahead of that! Learn here: How to apply for a job
You felt like a great fit for the position, but suddenly, the moment you shook hands with the recruiter, the confidence faded away. Words wouldn’t make sense, and the questions just exhausted you. Plus, that coffee stain that wasn’t there this morning.
All of this could’ve been avoided.
Learn how to prepare for an interview, and turn those stressful meetings into enjoyable chats.
In this article we’ll dive deep into:
- understanding the job description
- the importance of company research
- reviewing your resume
- planning your introduction
- managing stress
- dressing to impress
- ensuring you have all you need for the big day
- punctuality
- mastering online interviews
Let’s dive right in and transform those nerve-wracking encounters into empowering conversations!
- Check the Job Description and Requirements
You emailed your resume to 20 companies, and you got lucky—five of them invited you for an interview! But now, sitting in the hall just before the meeting, you realize you don’t remember the position offered or the posted salary.
Is this how you prepare for interviews? Certainly not! It’s crucial to check the job advertisement.
This is how to read the job offer in detail:
- Remember the name of the position: It may sound silly, but it’s actually pretty easy to forget the exact job title.
- Review the job description: It’s important to understand what exactly the job involves. Focus on responsibilities, working hours, and conditions. For example, if you count on working from home, make sure that the job posting mentions it.
- Examine the job requirements: The interviewer wants to make sure you’re a good fit for the job. They will ask you questions related to the required experience and skills. You must prepare yourself to prove you possess all of them.
- Check the starting date: You don’t want to go to an interview and realize the job starts in 10 months, or the other way around and they need someone right now but you have a long notice period.
- Review the benefits: Over 20% of job candidates decline a job offer because the proposed wage is too low. If the salary is posted, make sure it’s acceptable to you. If not, it’s best to learn about it as soon as possible.
If some things aren’t clear after reading the ad, write them down. It’s good to ask questions during the interview—they show you’re interested in the position.
Tip: Try to find out if this position was posted on other job portals—don’t rely on a single ad. Companies often post on several boards, and there might be differences between each. You can also learn if this position was advertised in the past. That might also give you more information about the position and the company.
- Learn About the Company and the Interviewer
If you’re wondering how to prepare for an interview with a company you know nothing about, I’ve got advice for you. And it’s a short one: learn everything about it.
Sounds impossible?
Well, then, it’s time to be selective. You need a general outlook of the business you might work for.
You need to know the following:
- What kind of company is it? Do they produce something or provide services?
- How old is this company? Is it brand new, or are there decades of history under their belt?
- How big is it? Is it a small startup or a large corporation?
- What’s the department you applied to? What’s its scope of work?
- Does this business receive any publicity? Are there any controversies?
- What reviews does it have? Have you looked for more information about the feedback from current employees on UndeLucram .ro or GlassDoor.com?
This information is valuable not only because you can use it during the interview, but it will also give you a better understanding of the job.
Imagine finding out that the company has many negative reviews due to a hostile work environment, poor conditions, excessive oversight aka micromanagement, or that it doesn’t pay its employees on time. You’d want to know this before accepting the job, right? Better to find out now than later.
Learn about the interviewers. If you’re not told who you’ll be meeting with during your interview, ask. For each interviewer, learn what their role at the company is and prepare some questions that are specific to them.
You can ask for details about their role, discuss current events related to their field, or bring up a common interest you know they have outside the office (just stick to one mentioned in an easily accessible spot, like their company bio or LinkedIn profile).
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Find out what kind of interview you’re in for—and prepare accordingly. Different companies use different types of interviews, so ask what you’ll be faced with.
For example, some companies will have you meet one-on-one with several different people at the company, while others might have you meet with multiple people at once or give an interview presentation.
- Review Your Resume
Right here, we have an article on how to make a resume. I highly recommend you to read this article and get your resume in order.
A one-size-fits-all resume is a thing of the past. If you successfully applied for a job and got invited to an interview, there’s a pretty good chance your resume was curated specifically for the job offer.
Now it’s time to have a close look at it again. Especially considering that many recruiters ask candidates to give a walkthrough of their resume.
You have to know everything you wrote on your CV and what you have done in the last few years, up to 10 would normally cover the most relevant experience (where applicable). Projects you have worked on, duration of roles, team sizes, and so on.
In case you get nervous in the interview, you can have some notes and ideas written down on your CV, that will help you get your ideas in order and not lose track at any point.
When reading your resume, focus on:
- Highlights of your career: Consider carefully what your top achievements are. Why are they valuable to you? What did you do to accomplish them? Many interviewers ask about the candidate’s biggest achievement, so be prepared to talk about it. It’s best to use the STAR method to describe your accomplishments.
- Work history: Review the companies you worked for. What were your job responsibilities? How big was the team? What did you like about the managers? Did you get along well with your colleagues? Were there any issues in those workplaces? Why did you leave those jobs? That’s how to prepare for interview questions related to your work experience.
- Gaps: You must be prepared to explain any gaps in your work history. Be honest and don’t invent anything creative to impress the interviewer—they can learn the truth with a thorough background check anyway. Try putting a positive spin on the gaps by expressing what you have learned during that time. For example, if you felt burned out by your job and took time off to travel, say how it helped you to see your career and life goals from a different perspective. If you needed time off work to take care of your family members, mention how it taught you skills such as time management, multitasking, and reliability.
- Skills: Think of situations when you used hard and soft skills, and consider how you could develop them further. If you have any certifications listed on your resume, remind yourself of their names and when you got them.
- Educational background: If your degree is related to the job, think about how the knowledge you gained can contribute to the work. If it’s unrelated, be prepared to explain why you didn’t pursue a career connected to your field of study.
- Language skills: Does the job require a foreign language? Then be prepared to speak it during the interview. Practice introducing yourself and describing your work experience.
- Things you left out: Resumes have limited space, so you had to be selective while writing them. However, the sooner you realize that the recruiter might ask you about things that are not on your resume, the better. Think carefully about what additional information you can provide for your benefit.
Be concise about your experience / what you’ve done: some people avoid stating facts or are not offering enough details about what they’ve done. If they ask you about something make sure you know how to answer and give full details. A lot of companies gave us feedback saying that the candidates could not explain what they have done in a certain role or project.
Don’t forget about the numbers! Find some revenue figures, engagement numbers, budget or team sizes, percentages of time saved, or anything else you can use to communicate your impact. Throwing in some hard numbers when talking about your responsibilities and accomplishments or answering behavioral interview questions really sweetens the deal and helps you tell a hiring manager why you’re so awesome. You can even write them down so you can refer to them during the interview.
- Prepare Your Introduction in Advance
“So, tell us about yourself!”
It’s a question everybody hates. What exactly do you say? If you talk about your professional background, you’ll sound uninteresting. If you say something about your interests, you might come across as unprofessional.
That’s why it’s important to prepare your answer beforehand. And this is how:
- Pick some impressive words to describe yourself.
- Start your answer with your key strength.
- Explain how this ability contributed to your past employer’s success.
- Mention a few quantifiable achievements.
- Say how your skills can grow and contribute to the success of the new company
Even if you’re a well-oiled interviewing machine, it’s essential to spend time thinking carefully about what skills, accomplishments, and interview answers will resonate with your interviewers most for this job. Your management abilities? Your creativity? Go back to your research and see what makes you most qualified.
Know why you’re interested in this position at this company. It’s likely you’ll get asked why you’re interested in this particular role and company. (And if you can’t answer this question, you shouldn’t be in the interview!) So to make sure you can answer, identify a couple of key factors about the job and the organization that align well with your strengths, interests, and/or work style and get you excited about the position. Even if you’re not asked about this specifically, you can use this to inform your answers to other questions.
Try writing a few introductions first, and then read them aloud. They should sound natural, like an elevator pitch. Don’t make your introduction too long—it’s not supposed to be a TED talk.
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Tip: Don’t say that you want to do something totally different in the future, if you say that in the future you want to do something totally different, it usually puts them off and rejects candidates for it. It’s like dating someone and telling them you’re already thinking of your next relationship.
- Control Your Stress Levels
This might be the most difficult step.
You know everything about the job and the company. You’re prepared. But how to mentally prepare for an interview?
There’s nothing wrong with feeling stressed. Stress is actually a pretty good motivator. But only if it appears at manageable levels. Otherwise, it can turn even the smartest candidate into a babbling mess.
How do you handle stressful situations? Do you thrive in them? Or do they push your limits too hard?
Learn how to prepare yourself mentally for an interview so as not to get surprised by high stress levels:
- Get a good night’s sleep: As obvious as it sounds, many people forget about it. Don’t spend the night before the interview practicing your answers (or partying). Go to bed early and give yourself time to rest. Lack of sleep may lead to high cortisol levels, which can lead to excess stress.
- Imagine the interview beforehand: A visualization is a powerful tool that can help you overcome anxiety related to various life events. Try to imagine the interview minute-by-minute and observe what causes you to feel stressed. Is it your introduction? Maybe the questions asked by interviewers? If you know which part makes you nervous, you can focus on preparing yourself specifically for it.
- Listen to music on the way: Classical, folk, death metal—whatever makes you release negative emotions. Singing along to songs you like can help you burn off nervous energy and take your mind off worrying.
- Breathe deeply: Many people breathe irregularly when stressed. Taking slow, deep breaths has a calming effect and delivers oxygen to the brain, which makes thinking easier.
- Engage your muscles before the meeting: If you feel restless while waiting for the interview, do a few squats, move your hands and arms, or go up and down the stairs for a minute.
- Plan Your Appearance and Get Your Clothes Ready
Planning on putting on your favorite power suit? Great idea! But when was the last time you wore it? At your cousin’s wedding? The one where someone spilled a glass on you? Mishaps like this happen all the time, but you don’t want them to happen when your career depends on it.
Here’s how to prepare for an interview in terms of appearance:
- Get a haircut in advance: If you need to get your hair trimmed, do it at least a days before the interview, not the day before. You’ll have time to fix things if anything goes wrong.
- Check your facial hair: It’s not very likely that the interviewer will care much about it, but if you notice your beard or eyebrows looking imperfect 5 minutes before the meeting, you might feel self-conscious about it. Better to do maintenance work the day before the interview to avoid such things affecting your performance.
- Pick the outfit: First, think of what people usually wear to job interviews. It’s best to try on a few combinations a week before the meeting. The day before the meeting, check if your clothes are pressed and spotless.
- Use deodorant and subtle perfume: It’s easy to forget about a deodorant when you’re stressed and in a hurry, but it’s a lifesaver. You can even keep one in your car or purse for emergencies. Don’t use very heavy perfume—many interview rooms are relatively small, so the fragrance can be overwhelming.
- Look in the mirror before leaving: Before you step out of your house, look in the mirror. Looking good? Awesome! A spot on your shirt? Change it quickly!
- Energy: So many times a client said, they liked the skills, but the energy didn’t match. When you’re talking with someone regarding a job they want to offer, it’s best that you show a bit of enthusiasm, otherwise, they will think this is just interview number 50 and you don’t really care. Be a bit more engaging and reactive.
These tips are pretty useful for all life situations, right? You’d probably follow these same steps if preparing for a date with the love of your life!
Tip: Do not overdress. Remember to feel comfortable in your clothing. You might be tempted to wear brand-new leather shoes, but if they hurt your toes, you won’t feel great during the meeting. Also, consider the type of job you applied for. You don’t need to wear a designer dress and high heels to an interview for a position at a fast-food restaurant.
Tip 2: Wear something in a strong color. It will make the interviewer remember you.
- Pack All Necessary Things
You’re on your way to the meeting. You just wanted to check the exact address on Google Maps. So you put a hand in your pocket, but instead of finding your phone, you just find an empty bubble gum wrapper.
Uh-oh. You left your phone at home.
You can easily avoid such drama. Just pack your things in advance, like you’d pack your stuff when going on a dream holiday.
Here’s what to bring to a job interview:
- Mobile phone: Of course, mute it before the meeting.
- Pen and notepad: If you need to write anything down.
- Copies of your resume: You can review it on the way to the company.
- Cash: In case you want to buy some bottled water before the interview or need to pay for parking.
- Keys: House keys, car keys—you don’t want to search for them at the last possible moment frantically.
It’s good practice also to ask the recruiter if you need to bring anything specific for the interview. For example, if you apply for a creative job, they may ask you for a physical portfolio with copies of your works. Others may ask for a list of references. It’s best to check in advance!
- Plan Your Route and Get There on Time
You’re on your way to the company headquarters. You spend the time behind the wheel revising everything you’ve learned about the business. And then it happens. You make a right turn, and you notice roadworks. There’s a traffic jam extending for a few miles.
It’s clear to see why planning your route beforehand is important.
Here’s how to make sure you arrive for the job interview on time:
- Check your mode of transport: If you want to go by car, make sure the gas tank is full. Going by public transportation? Check the timetable and make sure there are no expected changes due to maintenance works.
- Plan your way: Check for road closures and planned roadworks. Also, plan ahead where you’ll park your car or how far you have to walk from a transit stop to the company headquarters.
- Leave home early: In case of unexpected mishaps, you need to have enough time to call a taxi or change your planned route for a different one.
- Arrive at least 15 minutes early: It will give you enough time to wash your hands, check your appearance in the mirror, have a sip of water, and catch your breath. Many companies also have security measures that require visitors to leave a signature—if you’re early, you don’t have to rush.
- If it’s online
If it’s online it’s best to be in a quiet place – not on the street, coffee shop, etc. as the noise might be stronger than you think and they can’t really hear you.
When on the call, please focus on talking in a calm tone, and speak clearly so everyone understands you. Some interviewers might have difficulties in understanding a certain accent or dialect so you will minimize the chances of getting rejected because of the “language barrier”.
Take your time, and don’t rush answers. Some people have the habit of speaking very fast, and with a different/unusual accent, which might get you out of the interview process.
Connection drop/lag/delay/tech issues: If the phone Skype/call doesn’t work properly, you have to let them know immediately to either find an alternative or reschedule the call. If you lose chunks of words from various questions, you might give answers to something else you thought they’d asked, and this goes both ways. So instead of getting rejected because of communication issues, you can save the situation and have the call on a different platform or time.
Well, there you have it—a comprehensive blueprint to acing that next interview. Remember, preparation is more than half the battle won.
Armed with these tips, you’re not just walking into an interview; you’re stepping into a room where a potential future awaits. So gear up, own the moment, and let’s turn those job interviews into enjoyable, memorable chats!
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Here’s to your success!