Almost all candidates are nervous at a job interview -
especially those who haven't changed jobs in a long time. Stress prevents you
from showing your best side to a potential employer, so it's better to prepare
for the interview in advance. Here's how to prepare and how to behave at a job
interview.
Learn as Much as You Can About the Company You Are Going to Interview
Before you start preparing a story about yourself, determine
the following points: your strengths and weaknesses, the requirements for the profession
in the labor market. When writing a CV remember how important it is to specify
the correct file name - last name with initials and the position for which you
are applying. This way you will increase the chances that an HR specialist will
quickly find your resume if necessary.
Clarify What You Need to Bring With You
Imagine: the employer mentioned that he was expecting a
printed portfolio from you, and you skipped that line in the letter and came
with a flash drive. Or the way to the office is through reception, where you
have to show your passport, and you habitually don't bring your documents. You
will have to go home, be late, or reschedule your appointment. While waiting
for a new interview, the employer may even find another employee. Well, or just
say he found one, so as not to work with someone who doesn't read letters
carefully.
Check all the details with the recruiter the day before the
meeting. Showing up a bit nerdy but responsible is better than screwing up at
the start: showing up without a portfolio, staying late or not dressed
according to the dress code.
Research the Job Again
A long time studying the job exchanges, you can come to the
conclusion that most of the vacancies are standard, and the requirements in
them the recruiters copy from each other, not giving them much importance. This
isn't always the case - if an employee is required to speak Spanish, the
recruiter will probably try to start a dialogue with you in this language. If
it is written that Figma skills are needed, they can check that too.
Study the job posting line by line. Think about which items
you are sure to be strong in. These are your strengths - make the most of them.
Do you see a time management skill in the requirements? Brag about task
organization and productivity in your Trello or Notion. Your employer says
you'll need to work in Adobe Premiere? Include some examples of videos you've
made in the program with your portfolio.
If the requirements include some that you don't quite meet,
come up with a good answer as to why it doesn't matter. For example, an
inability to work in one program can be compensated by the ability to perform
the same task in another. And a lack of experience can be compensated by the
completeness and variety of your portfolio.
Look at Your CV Through the Eyes of an Employer
Now turn to a line-by-line examination of your resume.
Suddenly you, for example, applying for a job as a programmer, mentioned the
knowledge of the language in which you wrote many years ago and don't remember
anything anymore? Or maybe, on the contrary, you forgot to add a new skill or
implemented project?
Prepare Answers to Questions You Might Be Asked
We endlessly berate cliché questions from job interviews
and, of course, for the cause. But it's still worth preparing yourself.
Here's what they might ask:
- What value can you bring to the company?
- How do you see your future with the company in a few
years?
- What projects in your portfolio are you most proud of?
- What are your professional shortcomings and how might they
affect your work?
- What do you think is worth changing at the company right
now?
Think about how to answer honestly, but in a way that the
employer likes the answers. One of the trickiest and most difficult questions
is about the future. If you express doubts and don't give a definite answer,
the employer may think you are considering the new job as a staging post.
Prepare Your List of Questions as Well
The interview is a two-way process in which both parties
find out if they are a good fit. You may get an offer and in the process you
find out that the job is not for you. And it's because you didn't specify
something.
Here are some questions to ask the employer:
- What are the job duties? Are there any of them that were
not mentioned in the job ad?
- What are the company's growth prospects for your future
position?
- May I play jeux de blackjack or
chat with friends during the breaks?
- Are there training and refresher courses available? Are
they free for employees?
- How is performance measured?
- Who will you report to? And who will report to you? What
kind of people are they?
- What plans does the company have for the coming months and
years? Are there any new projects in which you will be involved?
- How long has the previous employee worked in your position
and why did he or she leave the company?
- What are the company's rules for employees and how strict
are they?
- Is it customary to work overtime? If so, are they paid
separately?
Check if Your Social Networks Are Compromising You
Type your name into Google and social media and see what the
search engine comes up with. Do the pictures on Instagram contradict the image
you seek to create? Wouldn't the recruiter infer low soft skills because of
toxic jokes on Twitter? Is there anything on the Internet that you yourself are
ashamed of - and that would make you not hire as an employer?
If you find anything, delete or close the profile for a
while.
Rehearse an Interview with a Friend
Go through a job interview scenario with someone - with a
greeting, talking about yourself, answering questions. You probably know what
to say without it, but a little rehearsal will help you put a calm and friendly
intonation, make your speech more elaborate, and pay attention to your body
language - for example, learn to make eye contact and stop hunching over.
Take It Easy and Take Care of Yourself
Be calm and not anxious - spend the day before the interview not on endless preparation, but on pleasant things to do. And in the evening, plan a route and time to leave the house, set alarms and get a good night's sleep.
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