How To: Prepare for a Job Interview (And Get the Job*)

So, you’ve put in the hard work, applied for a job, passed the phone screening phase, and got invited in for a face to face interview? Congratulations! Even if it didn’t happen in that order, the important thing to remember here is, you have a serious chance at getting that job!

The question remains, how do you ace the interview? The trick is preparation and enthusiasm—actually, that’s a good rule for pretty much anything in life!

Phase One: Prepare, prepare, prepare

Contrary to what you may think, this doesn’t have to take you long. All you have to do is the following:

Read the job description of the role that you are being interviewed for

It is always a good idea to ask the recruiter/manager/person who organised the interview for a job description. Once you are familiar with the job description, you will start to get an idea of the type of questions that you may be asked at the interview. Take note of any special requirements on the job description (a driver’s licence and a vehicle, for instance).

If a job description isn’t available, Google is your friend.

Research the organisation

Visit the organisation’s website, Facebook, and LinkedIn pages. In my 9-5 job as an internal recruiter, I prepare my candidates for a final interview with the manager I recruit for. Part of my spiel to the candidate is to always, always research the organisation before their interview with the manager. Why? It’s impressive! It shows the manager that the candidate is enthusiastic and motivated to join the organisation.

Earn extra brownie points by mentioning a recent milestone or award that the organisation has won, or a recent event they have hosted. You want to show the interview panel that you have done your research and then some. This does not mean that you should spend most of the interview bragging about all of the cool things you learned about the organisation, nor should you hype up the organisation to the point where you sound like you’re “sucking up.” Keep what you have learned short and sweet. Remember that you are there to showcase your skills and experience and tell them why you are best for the job.

Do a drive-by of where the interview is being held, a few days before

Okay, this may be excessive, but let me tell you something—I did this, off the cuff, for one interview, and I am so glad I did. Firstly, I found out that the recruiter who organised the interview directed me to the company’s old premises. Secondly, their new building was located on a main road, which was really busy during peak hours, due to road work. By going to the interview address the day before, I was able to drive around and get familiar with the back streets, which saved me 20 minutes of bumper to bumper traffic. If there is one thing that you do to ensure that you are not late for the interview, let it be a location drive-by. Sometimes this isn’t possible. I get that. That’s fine. A Google Maps search will definitely help, just remember to take into consideration peak hour traffic if your interview is in the morning.

Go to bed early the night before, drink plenty of water, eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, and make sure you get in plenty of exercise.

Just kidding, this isn’t a health and wellness blog. I will say one thing though—wake up early. Coffee and a brisk walk/run/limp around the house while you get ready can fix the rest. I do this thing where I set up seven alarms, six minutes apart to make sure I get up by a certain time. I don’t know how good that is for you—it’s probably not. That’s just what I do and what works for me. Find out what works best for you.

Ensure you are well-groomed and dressed professionally

This is a no brainer. How many studies does it take for people to understand that personal hygiene and professional presentation are integral to making a good impression at interviews? Seriously, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. You can never go wrong with black pants, closed-toe, black business shoes/heels, a white shirt, and a suit jacket or blazer. If you are being interviewed for a job at a fashion boutique, feel free to add accessories and show your individual style. Dress for the job that you are being interviewed for. If in doubt, go for simple and professional business attire. It doesn’t have to be expensive. Everyone should have their go-to interview outfit. Ask yourself: Do I look neat, clean, and professional? If you hesitate with the answer, fix whatever is not neat, clean, and professional.

Prepare two questions for the interview panel

It can be anything that interests you about the role that you are being interviewed for. As with any piece of advice, exercise common sense. A good place to start is: Describe a day in the life of (insert role name here). Another could be: What training do you offer for this role? Who will I report to? You can even ask about the salary. I would phrase it in a way that makes it clear that money is not your sole motivator, but it is a factor that you will take into consideration along with all other aspects of the role. It’s all in the delivery of the question. The interviewer may even address it, without you having to ask. This is why I suggest leaving the salary talk for the end of the interview. Ideally, you should already have a rough idea of the salary before attending the interview anyway.

Phase Two: Enthusiasm

There is a reason why this is the last dot point—it’s probably the hardest to convey. I can’t teach you how to be enthusiastic about the role you are being interviewed for. No one can. You just have to be that. This doesn’t mean that you should unnaturally grin ear to ear every time the interview panel looks your way, or give them an over-enthusiastic handshake when you greet them. It shouldn’t be fake or put on.

However, the byproduct of taking on all of the above points is that you will be prepared, well-researched, and appear motivated. Combine that with a genuine smile and engaging conversation, and you will come across as enthusiastic as you need to be for a job interview.

Before the interview, decide what your motivator for the job is. That is, why do you want it? Is it because you think it will present you with endless learning opportunities? Is it a change of career, that you think will give you a better work-life balance? Whatever it is, make sure that know why you want this role. As long as it comes from a good, honest place, you will be able to answer questions with confidence and enthusiasm.

Lastly, good luck with the job interview—just know, I am in your corner and I hope you get it!

The HR Graduate