Ways to Prepare for an Interview
So, you’ve found a job that you are interested in. You applied and got an interview. Now what? Interviews can be scary and uncomfortable but a way that you can make them a little less so is by preparing beforehand. By preparing for the interview you will feel much more in control and confident which in turn will show that you are a good fit for the role. You will have anticipated what will be asked, and will feel cool, calm and collected during the interview. Here are some ways to prepare.
Review the job description
Before the interview make sure that you thoroughly read the job description so that you fully understand the position and job requirements. While reading the job description, identify the required skills and qualifications that are required. Make note of the skills that you already possess and the skills that you may need to work on. This will help you prepare for the questions that the interviewer may ask.
Think about what you are going to wear
When you are preparing for a job interview it is important to think about what you are going to wear to the interview. Make sure that whatever you decide to wear is clean and professional looking. You do not want to show up to an interview in a dirty sweatshirt and sweatpants. What you wear also depends on the type of job that you are applying for, for example, if you are applying for a position at Lululemon the attire acceptable in that interview would probably be different if you were interviewing for a position at a law firm. Make sure that you are dressing for the job that you want, not the job you have.
Prepare your answer to the “tell me about yourself” question
“Tell me about yourself” is a very common question that people will ask in job interviews and it is also one of the hardest questions to answer. Some ways that you can prepare for this question is by asking yourself, what makes me a good candidate for this position, why do I want to work for this company, why do I want this role, and what are the positive traits that I possess that will help me in this role. When thinking of what makes you a good candidate for the role, ask yourself what makes you stand out from everyone else who is interviewing for this position. Brainstorm why this position excites you and how it might fit into your future career goals. “Tell me about yourself” is a good time to describe your characteristics and why they make you a good fit for the role. This question is used by the interviewer to learn more about who you are as a person and employee.
Look up commonly asked questions and practice your answers
Practicing some answers to commonly asked questions before you go into an interview is just like studying for a test. The more questions that you practice, the more confident you will feel. There are many different websites like Indeed and LinkedIn that will have different examples of interview questions that may be asked. A good way to practice is to get someone to pretend to be the interviewer and have them find the questions to ask. That way you have to think on your feet for the answer just like you would in a real interview and you also get a feeling for how the interview might go.
Familiarize yourself with the “STAR” method
The STAR method stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. This is the best way to respond to behavioral based interview questions. An example of a behavioral based interview question is “Give a specific example of a time when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem.” How you use the STAR method is starting with:
S- Describe the situation you were in or what you needed to accomplish. You must be specific in this part and make sure that you give enough detail so that the interviewer will understand.
T- What goal were you working towards?
A- Describe what actions you took to solve the problem or complete the task.
R- Describe the outcome of your actions. Don’t be shy to take accountability for your actions and make sure that your response includes multiple positive results.
Preparing for an interview is a great way to ensure that you feel comfortable and confident going into the conversation. It is also important to remember that an interview is not just for the employer to see if they want you to work there but also for you to make sure that this is an environment where you can see yourself working.
-Hannah Brown, Co-op Student