How to Prepare for an Interview: 5 Step Guide

You've got the job interview of your dreams. This is your chance for an employer to see if you are the right person for the job. It is also a chance for you to make sure the job and company are the right fit for you. Preparation is the key to interview success and landing the job. So, calm your interview nerves, and take a look at these interview tips to help you with your interview preparation.

Key Points at a Glance:

1. 5 steps to prepare for an interview
2. Types of interviews
3. Types of interview questions
4. Our Final Interview Tip

5 Steps to Prepare for an Interview

Step 1: A week before the interview

Research the organisation

You will already have a good understanding of the essentials thanks to your research, but now is the time to go a little deeper. Interviewers expect applicants to have a solid understanding of their company's mission, therefore your ability to conduct thorough research is critical. Research can come from the company website or social media. Consider things like the size of the organisation, how it is organised, who its clients are, and who their primary competitors are, as well as any recent changes or plans inside the company.

With this information, you will be able to bring value to the conversation while also demonstrating genuine interest in what they do.

Look up your job description

Looking at the job description and the skills necessary for the work should give you a good idea of what type of questions regarding your talents and experience could be asked. List the possible questions and make a note of your responses, but don't worry about fitting into a certain box.

The interview is an opportunity to demonstrate not just your knowledge and abilities, but also your personality, so personal projects you've made or examples from hobbies or interests that are relevant to the interviewer may be of interest. All of these items, taken together, will assist you to explain why you are a good fit for the job.

Prep the possible questions and answers

Preparing ahead of time for some of the questions you expect to face can allow you to provide your best performance on the day. They are essential for your practice interview and are based on a person specification. Here are some of the most frequently asked job interview questions...

1. Can you tell me a bit about yourself?
2. Why do you want to work here?
3. What are your strengths?
4. What are your weaknesses?
5. What are your goals?
6. What are your salary expectations?
7. Do you have any questions?

Plan the route

Make sure you know where to go and how long it will take you to get there. If you can, look online and figure out the quickest route, then add additional time to make sure you're completely covered. The last thing you want to do is show up agitated or late.

Pick an outfit

While many employers demand candidates to dress professionally, an increasing number support casual attire at work, making selecting an interview outfit more difficult than ever. What you'll be required to wear is determined by criteria such as the company's size, the industry in which it works, and the culture it fosters.

If you have any questions about the dress code, ask before going to the interview. It's important to remember that being too formal is preferable to being too casual. Only wear a more casual dress if you're positive it'll be suitable; if in question, stick to respectable work clothes. Make sure your clothing is pressed and your shoes are clean, whatever you select.

What should you wear to a telephone interview?

Even if you're doing an interview over the phone or online, dress as if it's a face-to-face meeting. It's not going to go well if you try to seem professional while sitting in your tracksuit pants.

Step 2: A few days before the interview

Think of the questions you'd like to ask

Preparing a list of questions to ask an interviewer shows that you are interested, enthusiastic, and engaged, all of which are qualities that a prospective employer value. It also gives you one last chance to highlight your relevant skills and knowledge. Prepare a list of at least four or five questions for the interviewer. You'll have backups in place if one or two of them aren't replied during the earlier conversation.

Avoid asking the type of interview question that is too focused on what the organisation can do for you. Save questions about pay and holiday entitlement till after you've received a job offer. Avoid questions that demand a yes or no answer, as this information is likely to be available on the company's website.

While it's fine to ask your interviewer to clarify specific points, stay away from asking about topics that have already been discussed. You don't want people to believe you're not paying attention.

Below we will look at typical interview questions to ask if you need some ideas...

Prepare potential questions to ask at the end of the interview

Arriving without any questions prepared creates a negative impression. Anything you ask about should be related to the job or your professional growth. Prepare questions ahead of time and remember to ask them if the opportunity arises during the interview.

Here are good interview questions to ask if you need some ideas...

1. Can you tell me more about the day-to-day responsibilities of the role?
2. How could I impress you in the first three months?
3. Are there opportunities for training and progression within the role/company?
4. Where do you think the company is headed in the next five years?
5. What do you enjoy about your job?
6. Can you describe the working culture of the organisation?
7. Can you tell me more about the team I would be working in?

Mock Interview: Practice with friends or family

Visualising yourself at the interview may help you relax. It will be extremely beneficial to prepare for the day by practising questions and sample answers with friends, family, or a mentor.

Step 3: The day before the interview

Read your notes

Practice your prepared questions and each sample answer, but don't worry about remembering every detail. If it helps, develop a list of relevant skills, qualities, and work experience from your CV that you want to discuss.

Get a good night's sleep

Make sure you get enough sleep. You'll damage your preparations or worse, turn off the employer if you battle yawns, seem tired, or appear demotivated throughout the interview. Feeling refreshed and alert might help you deal with unexpected circumstances, such as unexpected questions.

Step 4: The day of the interview

What to take

Whether you it's a face-to-face interview or an online video interview, here is a list of things that you should have with you in the interview room:

1. Pen and notepad
2. CV
3. Interview invitation
4. Job description
5. Water
6. Money for transport and food

Before you go into the interview

1. Turn off your phone
2. Introduce yourself with confidence and a firm handshake
3. Smile and maintain eye contact to leave a good impression
4. Ask for some water if you need it

In the interview, remember to:

1. In a formal context, be courteous and use appropriate verbal and body language
2. Pay attention to the questions and take a moment to think before answering.
3. Ask the interviewer to repeat or clarify an interview question if you don't understand it.
4. Use the STAR method when you answer questions about your talents and knowledge.
5. Concentrate on the positive parts of your experiences. If you've experienced difficult situations, show what you've learned from them.
6. Be straightforward and truthful.
7. When you get the opportunity, ask a few questions.

Step 5: After the interview

As your job interview concludes, find out when you'll be notified of the outcome - and thank the interviewer for the opportunity. Make some notes on the questions that were asked and how you reacted to them while the interview is still fresh in your mind. This will help you prepare for future interviews better.

Accepting a job

If it was a successful interview and you are given the position, make sure it is a good fit for you by discussing it with friends and family, and double-check facts like the salary before accepting.

Turning down a job

If you decide not to accept the job, politely decline it. You might be interested in working with them in the future.

If you're not successful

if you're unsuccessful, don't be too downhearted. Thank the company for the chance and ask for feedback from your interview so you can better your performance the next time.

Second Interviews

Interviews are normally the last part of the application process, but if the hiring manager is unable to make a choice, or if there's a multistage process, you may be invited to return for a second interview.

Following your initial interview, companies may request a second interview to learn more about you. Because the number of interviewers is frequently limited, it also allows an employer to compare prospects more carefully. All companies do not require second interviews, although they are frequently required for highly competitive positions.

1. Check your invitation to the second interview for details on what to expect.
2. Reread any notes from the first interview to refresh your memory.
3. Another crucial approach to prepare is to brush up on your research on the job role and the company, since you'll be expected to know a lot at this point in the process.

Second interviews should be taken just as seriously as first interviews, so master the basics.

Types of Interviews

There are several types of job interviews and employers may apply a variety of interview techniques. You should get ready for the one you're going to.

Face-to face Interviews

This interview technique is the most usual and conventional type of interview. You'll go to the employer's office and be questioned by an individual or an interview panel about your suitability for the position. Face-to-face interviews often last 45 minutes to two hours, and tests and exercises may be administered before or after the interview. Questions may be competency-based or strength-based.

Telephone Interviews

Employers frequently use this tool early in the application process to screen a large number of applicants. If you are chosen, you will be invited to a face-to-face interview or an assessment centre. A phone interview should last about half an hour.

Video Interviews

A video interview can be live or pre-recorded, and they typically last about 30 minutes. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused the majority of things to move online, the virtual interview has become increasingly popular.

Assessment centres 

Employers will be able to compare the performance of many candidates at the same time. At an assessment centre, you'll collaborate with other candidates on tasks like presentations, team exercises, and psychometric tests. Assessment centres are typically held over the course of a full working day, but they have recently been modified to be held online.

Types of Interview Questions

Competency-based questions

In competency based interviews Because the emphasis is on what you can perform, you'll need to provide instances to demonstrate that you have the necessary skill/skills. If you don't have any examples from the workplace, you can draw on personal experiences.

You can find out which competencies they'll be evaluating you against before the interview.

Strengths-based questions

These questions go into what you enjoy or excel at. Your practical or teamwork skills, for example, or how you perform under pressure.

Technical questions

Your job-related knowledge and comprehension of work processes may be put to the test by your employer.

Situational judgement questions

Employers may ask about your reactions in common workplace scenarios. This will assess your problem-solving, decision-making, and collaboration skills.

Values-based questions

Value-based questions determine if you share and understand the company's values. This is typical in healthcare employment, especially in the NHS.

Motivational questions

These allow an employer to know what motivates you and ensure that you'll be a good fit for their company.

Our Final Interview Tip

If you feel comfortable, don't be hesitant to inquire about your performance at the end of the interview. This is not a common interview question, but it shows confidence and the willingness to learn and reflect.

Although the interview process differs from job to job, how you prepare for it is critical to your success. These stages of the interview prep can be simplified, but the most important thing is that you do whatever it takes to be able to walk into the interview feeling calm and confident, ready to present your best self. All these tips will help you step into interviews well-prepared. Best of luck!

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