How to prepare for an interview: 10 Best Tips

You can make sure you'll ace your job interview by following these 10 tips, from researching the company to handling key interview questions. Do you wish to land that open position you've been seeking? Use these tips to get prepared.

Do some research on the industry and company.

During the interview, he will likely ask how you perceive his company's position in the industry, who the firm's competitors are, and how it should proceed. You should avoid researching a dozen companies at once. Stick to just a few industries.

Identify your selling points and why you want the position.

It's a good idea to prepare for every interview by listing three to five selling points, including why you are the best candidate. Make sure you have a specific example of each selling point ready ("I am a good communicator. I successfully convinced a group of people to...").

Explain why you want that particular job - what it means to you, what it offers, and what skills you need to succeed. No matter how well you perform, an employer will not hire you if they don't believe you're interested in the position!

Consider the interviewer's concerns and reservations.

The number of candidates for positions is always greater than the number of openings. As a result, interviewers try to eliminate as many candidates as possible. Consider why they may not want to hire you ("I don't have this," "I am not that," etc.). Be prepared to defend yourself: "I know you might not think I am the best fit for this position since [their reservation]. It is important to know that [reason the interviewer should not be overly concerned]."

Get ready for the most common interview questions.

There are a hundred or more "common interview questions" in most "how-to" books. (You might wonder just how long those interviews are with so many common questions!) So how do you prepare? Consider which questions will most likely asked to you given your age and circumstances (about to graduate, looking for a summer internship). Make sure you prepare your answers so you won't have to fumble for them during the interview.

Prepare a list of questions for the interviewer.

Prepare intelligent questions for the interviewer that demonstrate your knowledge of the company and your serious intent. Regardless of what the interviewer asks, you should prepare one or two questions. The interviewer may conclude that you don't care about the job or company if you say, "No, not really.".

A good all-purpose interview question is, "In your ideal candidate for this job, how would they seem to you? The questions you prepare for a series of interviews with the same company can use on each individual (for instance, "What is the best thing about working here?") Then, think of one or two more questions during each interview.

Body language is important.

Wear no fragrance or cologne, dress appropriately, give a firm handshake, have good posture, and speak clearly. In small rooms, there may not be adequate ventilation. You want your interviewer looking at you and not passing out because you're wearing Chanel No. 5 and your opponent is wearing Brut, which combines to form a poisonous gas resulting in you not getting an offer!

Positive thinking is key.

You don't want to seem like someone who complains during an interview, so don't dwell on negative experiences. Even if the interviewer asks you directly, "What were your least favorite courses?" or "What were your least favorite aspects of your previous job?" don't answer.

Do not answer it in the manner in which it was asked. You can say something like, "I have enjoyed every class I have taken so far. For example, although [class] was challenging, I liked the fact that [positive aspect about it]" or "I liked [a previous job] quite a bit, but now I know that I want to [new job]."

Always bring your resume with you to interviews.

Always keep a copy of your resume on hand when you attend interviews. In case the interviewer has misplaced a copy, you can give the interviewer your extra copy and save a lot of time (and embarrassment).

Prepare yourself to deal with illegal and inappropriate questions.

In many areas, it is illegal to ask candidates questions about their race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, or gender during an interview. However, it is possible to receive a question or two about these topics. In that case, you have a few options.

If you ask "I'm not sure how that pertains to my application," you can simply say that you don't know, but if you're wondering if I'll leave my job for an extended period, you can say that I'm committed to my career and can't imagine doing anything else.

Keep Trying and Don't Give Up!

You shouldn't give up if an interview goes poorly for a job you truly believe is a good fit for you (not just a job you want desperately). You may send a note, send an email, or call your interviewer to inform them that you did not do an adequate job of explaining why this job would be a good match.

You can reiterate what you have to offer the company, and let them know that you would like to contribute. Depending on the company and on yourself, you may receive a job offer using this strategy. Nevertheless, there is one thing you can be certain of: If you don't try, your chances are zero. Several times this approach has worked, so we encourage you to give it one more chance.