Chances are, it’s been a while since you last interviewed but you’re not alone. When you’re in a role you enjoy, it’s easy to stick with it and avoid going on interviews until you’re actively looking to jump ship.
Like with any skill though, practice makes perfect. With recruiters constantly on the hunt for candidates on platforms like LinkedIn, you never know when you could be called in to discuss an opportunity. Learning how to prepare for an interview then, isn’t a bad way to go and will make sure you come across as prepared, qualified and confident no matter how much time you have to prepare.
Break down the job description: It may sound obvious but the job description is the most important but also the most underutilised tool when it comes to prepping. Always bear in mind that whoever wrote is essentially using it as a wish list of all the skills they want from an ideal candidate so it gives you a very clear idea of the priorities of the company and exactly what they’re after. Look at each requirement and draw examples of how you have demonstrated those skills.
Get to grips with your experience: It’s so easy to forget what you’ve done ain the past so making time before your interview to go through your achievements and cherry pick those that illustrate why you’re the perfect candidate for the role is important. What accomplishments will set you aside from other candidates? Always think about more recent examples. Talking about something you did 10 years ago won’t have the same impact as something you’ve done within the last three years. The time before the interview is your chance to plan this. Don’t wait until your interview to start looking back. It’ll only make you look disorganised and unprepared.
Do your homework: There’s nothing worse than turning up to an interview without having done any research on the company you’re interviewing with. Go in knowing exactly what the company does, why they do it, who their competitors are and where they are positioned in the market. It’s worth making researching what the company has been working on recently: has it won a big new account or been bought by a large conglomerate?
Get up to speed with things like this, as it’s likely that you could be asked to comment on these changes. The best candidates are able to draw on recent developments to articulate why they want to join the company.
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Practice: It’s impossible to predict exactly what you will be asked but there are some common interview questions that are worth preparing for. These are questions like, ‘Tell me about yourself,’ ‘what made you interested in this role,’ ‘why are you leaving your current role,’ etc.
Be confident: Interviewing can be daunting especially when you’re out of practice but make sure to go in and sell yourself. This is your chance to explain why you’re the perfect person for the job. If you’re too shy to put your achievements forward, they won’t be on your interviewer’s mind when it comes to the selection process. And besides, the fact that you’ve been called to the interview shows that your interviewer saw potential in your CV so you’re already half of the way there. They approached you so go and shine!