Tips for interview preparation can be divided into three key areas:
- Mental preparation
- Emotional preparation
- Physical preparation
Mental Preparation
Mental preparation is key to the success of your interview. The more research and preparation you have completed, the less anxiety you'll experience. To prepare yourself learn as much as you can about the organization prior to your interview. Evaluate how your unique strengths, key skills and values relate to the opportunity. And finally, match your own strengths with the organization’s needs.
- Research and learn about the organization prior to the interview. Be knowledgeable about its current news releases, market launches as well as members of the management team.
- If possible, get a copy of the job description and learn about the roles, responsibilities and the technology/systems/equipment that would be relevant to the role you are interviewing for.
- Review your resume in advance and bring 2 or 3 extra copies with you.
- Match your strengths, skills and accomplishments with the needs of the company to determine how you could add value to the new organization.
- Develop a presentation strategy that draws attention to aspects of your background that are most relevant to the job you are applying for.
- Anticipate questions and be prepared with good supporting examples from past experiences (for help with this refer to The STAR Principle section).
- Confirm your interview time and date one to two days in advance. Find out the names and positions/titles of the people you’ll be interviewing with. You may also ask how much time you should set aside and whether there will be any testing involved.
- Think about the questions you want to ask. They should be insightful and focused on challenges facing the position and the company.
- Never leave an interview without asking about the next steps in the interview process and what the hiring organization’s timeline is.
Emotional Preparation
Even with the best mental preparation you will still be a little nervous. Preparing emotionally is another way to build confidence and project a winning attitude. A variety of techniques can be used to bring out this self-assurance.
Relaxation - Control nervousness and anxiety by deep-breathing or meditation.
Visualization – Close your eyes and envision yourself managing the interview well. Athletes use this technique all the time.
Positive Self-Talk - Replace negative thoughts of self-doubt with positive thoughts and images of a successful interview. Acknowledging your nervousness can sometimes help you release tension.
Physical Preparation
A professional image makes a difference in how you are perceived. Communication studies suggest that, in many situations, two-thirds of what’s communicated is through non-verbal means. In addition, within the first 3-5 minutes of an interview, an initial decision is made whether to screen a person out or in to a future interview. It often becomes difficult to change this initial impression even though the interview may last an hour.
Appearance is the first thing you communicate to those you meet. An employer may make inferences about your character, competence and capabilities based on how you present yourself during an interview. This may not be fair, but it is a reality. People make judgments about others based on dress and appearance. By effectively managing your image, you can create positive messages about credibility and competence.
Dressing for the Interview
An essential part of your interview presentation is appearance. It is important that you appear clean and neat and that you look like the kind of person that could fill the position you are applying for. Not everyone needs to wear tailored suits ― it is important to dress the part for the position you are applying for.
Consider your attire as an extension of your image and be aware that when interviewing there are many variations of acceptable interview attire.
The following questions / points will help you determine what may be considered acceptable attire for you interview:
- Know the company. Are you interviewing at the head office or plant?
- Know the location. Is it in the downtown business district or in the suburbs?
- Know the culture and environment. Are employees casually dressed or always in business attire?
- What industry are you interviewing with? (e.g., retail, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, etc.)
- Know the interviewer(s) with whom are you meeting and at what level.
- Does the organization you’re interviewing with have casual dress days? Many companies have a casual Friday policy, if your interview is on Friday, always dress for a business meeting, but be aware of dress codes.
What to Bring With To Your Interview
- Bring extra copies of your resume, any necessary supporting documents, a list of questions to ask and a copy of your references on paper.
- Bring a note pad and several pens to jot down points of interest.
- Turn off cell phones and all electronic devices prior to the interview.
Interview Preparation Summary
- Decide the appropriate dress for this interview.
- Review the interview process in order to increase your confidence.
- Get a good night’s sleep before the interview.
- Pay close attention to your grooming – clean hair, hands, nails, shoes shined, minimal cologne and jewelry, if any at all.
- Eat before the interview to avoid tummy rumbles, but avoid foods with strong scents like garlic, curry, etc.
- Inform the interviewer in advance of any special needs you have related to attending and participating in the interview, such as barrier-free access to the building, visual or auditory aids, etc.