Whether it’s your first one or your one hundred and first, job interviews can be daunting! The good news is that preparation and practice can help you overcome your nerves. Keep reading to find out how you can ace your interview, impress potential employers, and make yourself proud.
Preparation is Your Key to success
Preparing for a job interview is very important. First and foremost, it will help you to feel more confident in your abilities and less nervous. Preparation will ensure you do yourself and your skills and experience justice. It will also be clear to a potential employer whether you have prepared or not!
Here are some places to start:
1. Research the company you’re applying to work for: Visit the company’s website, read their About page, and check to see if they have a blog or news section. You should also look at their recent social media posts. Understand the company’s mission, values, and work culture, and think about how and why they are a fit for you. This will help you answer questions about why you applied to work for that particular company.
2. Practice the most common interview questions: While every interview is different, there are some questions that come up again and again, like:
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- Tell us about yourself.
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- Tell us about a time you solved a problem or handled a difficult situation.
- What makes you unique?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
You can film yourself practicing your answers, or ask a friend or family member to help. Rehearsing your answers out loud will help you feel more confident and communicate more clearly.
3. Prepare some questions of your own: Interviewing goes both ways! You are being interviewed for a job, but you are also interviewing your potential employer. Accepting a job is a big decision and asking questions helps you know if it’s the right one. Here are some suggestions:
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- What does a typical day in this job look like? This can give you a better idea of what to expect than just the job spec.
- Tell me more about the company culture. This is important to understand if you will fit in and if the company will suit your working style.
- How does management and leadership work? Some people like to be left to their own devices, others prefer more structure and guidance in their work.
How to Handle Hard Questions
Some questions are easier to answer than others. Questions about your experience are straightforward, but others need a bit more thought, like:
- Questions about your strengths and weaknesses
Answering questions about your strengths might seem like an easy one, but make sure you focus on strengths that align with the job role. Being asked about your weaknesses can seem like a trick question, but can tell a potential employer a lot about you. Everyone has weaknesses; when answered well, this question is a positive one! For instance, “Sometimes I say yes to too many things, but I’m learning to set boundaries and prioritise my workload.”
- Recalling a difficult situation or a problem solved
Problems and challenges are a part of everyday life. Employers ask this question because they want to know how you handle difficult situations that come your way. You can use the STAR method to prepare and practice some answers to this one:
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- Situation: Describe the challenge or problem.
- Task: Explain your role in it.
- Action: Talk about the steps you took to address the situation.
- Result: Share the positive outcome you brought about.