How to Prepare for an Interview

The interview is showcasing one’s talent, skills, and knowledge to the party in the front (interviewer) and aligning one’s skills with the requirements. It is marketing yourself in the smartest possible way.

Preparing for an interview is important. It consists of analyzing the job role you are being offered, researching the company, practice interviewing and interview etiquette, getting formal clothing ready for an interview, etc.

The 40 best tips to prepare for an interview

Do you wish to succeed in an interview which you apply for? There are certain things that you need to be aware of before attending an interview. Before an interview, you should have some plans.

These 40 important tips will help you achieve that! Following are the Job interview tips and preparation -

1. Research the employer

You should always research the company before the interview. Read their official website, what are public reviews, etc. It’s always a plus point to be well informed regarding the company,

2. Show up for the interview!

If you have interviews, show up for it. Don’t let down any job offer. You never know when that job can change your life. And even if you don’t want to show up for the interview, just let the interviewer know that you can’t come. This depicts professional behavior in front of the interviewer.

3. Don’t be late

Being on time shows professionalism and dedication. If you run late for an interview, there are chances of the creation of the wrong impression on the employer. Show up a few minutes early, never be too late.

4. Have a professional dress up

Have a fresh haircut, polish the shoes, dress professionally. It may sound meaningless, but clothes define the personality of an individual. It will eventually boost up your energy and confidence.

5. Good night sleep

One of the cool things you can do is to get a good night's sleep the day before the interview. This will help you get a good positive attitude in the interview. You will feel energized and clear-headed.

6. Schedule tactically

Schedule your interview when you are most energetic and alert. If you are not a morning person, schedule your meeting in the afternoon or evening. If you are more confident and energetic in the evening, schedule it in the evening.

7. Exercise

Commonly every other interviewer feels anxious before the interview. You can overcome this issue with cardio or exercise sessions. It is observed that people don’t have time for a full-body workout. You can go for a walk around the block before your interview.

8. Skip coffee before the interview

If you are a coffee lover, please consider this. Coffee is a diuretic; it will eventually provide you a dry mouth. We recommend you eat an apple or drink a glass of water. This will give you fresh breath and a strong voice eventually.

9. Read the job description

A job description is the employer's requirements regarding the job. This will help you speak the achievements that match the job description. This will lead to the depiction of an ideal candidate in front of the employer.

10. Be prepared

Be prepared with some of the common interview questions such as what are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? & why do you apply for this job? These questions are commonly asked in interviews around the globe. The answers to these kinds of questions depend on individual perspectives.

11. Switch off your mobile phone.

Yes, rightly hear switch off your mobile phone. Try to remove every distraction before the interview. As the mobile phone will distract you in the interview and creates an unprofessional impression on the employer.

12. Make the first impression

You only get a few starting minutes to create the first impression. Don’t let them go try to give a confident handshake and walk to create the first impression. Other aspects like confidence, clothes, etc. also make the first impression.

13. Go solo

Please don’t arrive at the interview destination with a friend. Arriving solo shows that you are dedicated to the job. Visiting with your friends shows that you have other important stuff to do.

14. Practice more

It becomes hard to tell your life story for the first time to the employer. Therefore practices before the interview until you become the best. Practice with your friends as many times as possible.

15. Have a backup

You never know which problem may arise in front of you. Therefore bring a bag extra of resume and documents. Always have a secondary backup to handle these emergencies.

16. Provide a good introduction

Always be prepared with the introduction speech. It is an essential factor that will determine your selection. A strong introduction speech depicts confidence and communication skills. This will certainly help you in creating the first impression.

17. Don’t read a screenplay

Instead of giving a pre-planned and pre-read answer to the employer, give a unique and original response. You may read an answer from various mediums regarding interview questions try to avoid them.

18. Practice in front of the mirror.

A mirror is one of the best judges that everyone is accessible. Practice in front of the mirror every day. This will give you immediate confidence. A mirror will eventually clear your thoughts and your mistakes.

19. Have a good smile

A smile is one of the biggest attractive features of the human body. Carrying a smile on your face will result in the creation of a positive vibe in the room. Employers look for people with a positive attitude, not people with a negative attitude.

20. Be kind

Treat every employer kindly as well as co-workers. Kindness is the biggest aspect to spread a positive attitude around you. A rude word or a slip of the tongue can result in losing the job and interview.

21. Have a good body language

Good body language is a silent killer to the interview. Body language like sitting up straight, eye contact, and smile are the points employers look for. Poor body language can not only result in your selections but will also affect your network.

22. Know your career history

Try to put a good professional career before the employer. Storyline regarding the career helps the employer to understand you easily.

23. Don’t be silent

Don’t ever create an awkward silence in the interview room. Words like “um…” & “well…” also comprise of awkward silence. As an alternative to silence, try to speak something and change the topic.

24. Stay positive

Positivity is an important aspect that will make your interview successful. It will surely bring a smile and sense of humor to the interviewer. Try to avoid negative thoughts about the interview as they will only hold you back.

25. Ask thoughtful questions

Good thoughtful questions show how you've done your homework. They also show how eager you are for acquiring this job. This will increase your conversation in the interview and will maximize your chances of selection.

26. Be good with numbers

Percentages, statistics, numbers are the best helper to fix your position. The use of Statics in the interview depicts your technical knowledge. Technical knowledge shows professionalism, and it the key to crack interviews.

27. Create a professional network

The Key to a job is not a recommendation from someone else or the market. It is believed to be a mixed combination of traits. The network will help with your recommendation. Spreading your name in the market is the best thing you can do to get the job. Employers also keep a close look at the market, so a recommendation from the market will be a plus point.

28. Always flash the conversation

It’s better for you if the interviewer doesn’t feel like an interview. Try to engage the employer in the conversation for a long time. Keep building topics and try to go in-depth with the topics.

29. Clean up your social media presence

Browse quickly through all of your social media accounts before going in for an interview. Make sure that your personal and professional social media accounts are separated. Avoid posting controversial topics, political views on professional accounts.

30. Strengthen your weaknesses

One of the common questions to be asked during an interview is, “What is your biggest weakness?” During such a question, select a weakness that you have worked upon to improve it. This question tests whether you are ready to take on new challenges in the organization.

31. Don’t read a script

Instead of trying to construct an exact response for every interview question, jot down some notes or bullet points and bring them with you to the interview (and read those before entering the interview room). This will jog your memory if you come up blank while allowing you to respond naturally.

32. Choose your space filler phrase

If you are presented with a question that you are not sure of or don’t have an immediate answer, it is a common (but wrong) practice to say, “um…” or “well, like….”, etc. Replace these with something subtle like, “That’s a great question!”

33. Talk through analytical questions and don’t remain silent

If your interviewer asks a question that takes some brainpower to answer, share your thought process, and approach to answer that question. This will show your interviewer that you are curious and also how you think.

34. Don’t keep on babbling about a topic you like the most

The interviewer asks something about your area of expertise, don’t tell every detail. Keep it short, to the point, and analyze whether the interviewer is interested in your talks.

35. Read between the lines

Listen carefully to what the interviewer is asking. Sometimes, it may not be a direct question, but you are expected to read between the lines and understand the question.

36. Soft skills

These are a combination of people, social, communication skills, character, attitudes, career, intelligence, which enable the people to form an aura of synergy with others. It is like common sense but in professional terms.

Below are the 7 soft skills:

● Leadership

● Teamwork

● Communication

● Problem-solving skills

● Work ethic

● Flexibility and adaptability

● Interpersonal skills

37. Hard skills

These are the skills that are required to be successful at a job. They include expertise in a particular field, education, training, courses, etc. An individual learns these skills at schools, colleges, and other educational institutions or training programs.

Examples of hard skills are-

● Analytics

● Data

● Design

● Engineering

● Finance and IT

38. Time Management

This is the process of managing time effectively and efficiently so that the right time is allocated to the right activity. This plays a vital role in professional as well as personal life.

Time Management includes:

● Effective Planning

● Setting goals and objectives

● Setting deadlines

● Delegation of responsibilities

● Prioritizing activities as per their importance

● Spending the right time on the right activity

39. Emotional Intelligence

This is the capacity to understand and manage your emotions. This is important to improved collaboration between employees and makes a happier workplace. It includes understanding, expressing, and managing, maintaining good relationships, and solving problems under pressure.

40. Attitude

Last but not least and perhaps the most important one is: Attitude. This denotes the morale of the employee and directly impacts productivity at the workplace. As someone has said, “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude!”

Employees with a positive attitude will pay attention to the good things around them, and those with a negative attitude will pay attention to the bad things and events around them. During an interview, this is an important aspect because interviewers are knowledgeable about guessing the attitude of everyone they interview.

4 keys attitudes that help an individual in the workplace would be:

1. Respect for others

2. Enthusiasm about life

3. Commitment to the job

4. Innovative ideas and thinking out of the box

12 steps interview preparation plan

Following is the 12 steps interview preparation plan-

1. Build a listening habit

The interviewer always keeps on giving clues regarding what he wants. Building a listening habit before the interview will help you, indeed. In an interview, you require selling yourself, and these clues help you to do that.

2. Find out the company’s plan

Every company wants to grow as soon as possible. Thus spend your time searching for the strategies and plan that the organization wants. Learn the strategy and telecast it in the interview. This will eventually help you in the interview.

3. Research about the position

Try to reach to other employees of your desired position. Social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter are excellent places to reach people. These people can certainly help you by giving some important tips required to crack the interview.

4. Research about the employer

Before you go to the interview, try to make a list of the employer you are going to face. The potential goal here is to learn about the interviewer’s background and interests. This will help you to make the employer comfortable.

5. Conduct a mock interview

Has this question ever arisen in your mind? How can I be prepared for an interview? Well, try to conduct a mock interview with our friends & family members. Ask one of your friends to become the interviewer and carry out a professional interview. This will undoubtedly help you to regain confidence and increase your communication skills.

6. Carry your experience record

Carry your experience record with you. This will help to create an ideal impression on the hiring manager. The records will eventually depict your work review and dedication.

7. Take tips from past hiring managers

This might be the best advice you ever had taken tips from past employers. Seriously, this will help you in securing your position. Past employers will tell you some extra insides that are crucial in an interview.

8. Talk to your parents

Try to take blessings from your parents. You, this might be funny to you, but this helps and is effective. Talking with parents will not only enrich your though & mood. But this will also lead to achieving blessings from them.

9. Stay updated

You need to stay updated in the field you are opting for the interview. The employer asks a recent question regarding the latest updates in that sector. Many candidates tend to neglect this aspect.

10. Stay focused

Stay focused might sound simple, but it isn’t like that. Many candidates tend to be addicted to different distractions, like smoking & alcohol consumption. Try to avoid this before the interview, as this will undoubtedly reduce your performance.

11. Take note of important details

As soon as the interview is over, take time and write down the names and titles of your interviewers, your impressions, the questions asked, key information learned.

Note if any additional information is yet to be forwarded to the interviewers. This will help to keep track of things and assist you in organizing things.

12. Learn to say thank you

You must make this habit of saying thank you. Through mails or in person, you must say thank you to the employer. This depicts professionalism.

5 keys attitudes that help an individual in the workplace would be:

• Respect for others

• Enthusiasm about life

• Commitment to the job

• Innovative ideas and thinking out of the box

• Helpfulness with others

How long do you need to prepare for an interview?

A typical candidate must prepare for an interview for 21 days. You must remove all your distractions, your phone, addictions, everything, and practice for 21 days. We call it the “21-day rule”.

It is believed that any practice for 21 days is effective and gets inside the person. In these 21 days, you must test yourself every day.

Constant preparation for 21 days can certainly increase your chances of selection. But there is only one condition you have to be 100% focused on in these 21 days.

Below are a few helpful tips that will make your life easy to follow “21-days rule”:

Meditate each day

Meditate each day, preferably at the same time and same place for at least 10 minutes, and review your day ahead, connect with your inner self, and retrospect. This will also calm your body and mind, and they will remain in sync throughout the day.

Join your social media platforms

Join your social media platforms of choice, notice the current happenings around the globe, check what is in the “trending” section of society, and participate in the conversation. Share your experience, knowledge, and advice to help others.

Set aside one day each week

Set aside one day each week as a dedicated marketing day for your business, for example, every Monday. Use this day to improve your brand, attract more audiences, and build a reputation.

Read

Read a few pages from any book of your choice each day, during a break, at lunchtime, or before sleeping. Create a balance between your reading material for pleasure and business.

Build a Network

Communicate with the world and build a network of your own regularly to promote yourself, to grow as an individual, and to build a trustworthy set of associates, suppliers, and prospective clients.

Add exercise to your day

Go to the gym or step outside and run, walk, jog, cycle, etc. Exercise encourages a revival of body, mind, and spirit as you permit yourself to take time out from the pressures and demands of everyday life. It is also beneficial to continually improving your health and keep the graphs of your life growing in an upward direction.

Volunteer to help a local charity

It may be a known organization near your place of residence or some form of donation online. Pay it forward when you can and give this society a little of yourself and your time. You may never know as someone has said, “give the world the best you have, and the best will come back to you!”

Take an interest in the music of any genre

As you might know, music is a wonderful rejuvenating tool for your soul. It acts as a calibration device for your mind. Play any instrument, listen to good music of your choice – pop, rock, acoustic, world, ambient, etc.

If you follow a few of the points mentioned above, it will be easy to embrace the “21-days rule,” and this, in turn, will have a positive impact on your interview because all these will indirectly converge at one point and produce a successful outcome in your interview.

What are the top 15 questions asked in an interview?

The top 15 questions asked in an interview are listed below. They might surprise you, but certainly, they are asked by hiring managers.

You can’t just mug the answers to these questions and speak in front of the employee. The answers to the question must be real and must come from you.

Following are the top 15 questions asked in an interview-

1. Tell me something about you?

2. Why do you want to work for this company?

3. How did you hear about this job?

4. Why are you looking for a job?

5. Tell me something about your resume?

6. Why should we hire you?

7. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

8. How do you introduce yourself professionally?

9. What is your dream job?

10. What do you expect from your co-workers & company?

11. How do you deal with stress?

12. What will you do in your first month of the job?

13. What is the first thing you will do once you are hired?

14. What are your salary requirements?

15. Do you have any questions?

What are the most common interview questions and answers?

We receive specific questions in the comment box & emails from our viewers and rising candidates.

Questions like

1. How do you answer tell me about yourself?

2. How do you sell yourself during an interview?.

3. Why do you feel you are qualified for this position's best answer?

Indeed, we don’t answer these questions like these are self-build questions. We highly recommend you not to learn these questions from somewhere and speak in front of the employer. As an employer, he will recognize your answer in seconds. That will undoubtedly lead to the cancellation of your selection.

We are not like other websites and mediums that believe in their benefits. We believe in consumer wealth and benefits. That’s the reason why we provide quality and truth full content to our viewers. Content that applies to the viewer in real life.

What should you not say in an interview?

Following are the things you must not say in the interview-

1. “My last company was disgusting.”

No matter how your last company was, don’t even think of saying negative things about the previous job. If you speak negatively about the previous job, this will depict that you are not humble. Try to keep a positive and neutral answer. This will depict that you won't say negatively about this company if you are hired.

2. “What exactly is this company about?”

Never walk into an interview without researching the company. This shows that you are not serious about your job and company in general. Try to find out as much as you can about the company before the interview or get in touch with a former employee if you can.

3. “I left because I could not get along with my boss.”

Don’t speak negatively about your boss or any people you have worked with. Though there are some times in life where we cannot get along with certain people, by sharing this during an interview, your interviewer may get the impression that you are challenging to work with.

5. “It’s on my Resume”

Sometimes, employers will ask those exact things that are already present on your resume. Don’t say that “it’s there on my Resume” because, during such a period, employers are indirectly testing your communication and social skills.

How well you convey your ideas and skills to others? Instead, use this as an opportunity and elaborate on it by connecting it with some experience.

6. “I can do whatever you offer me to do in this company.”

Never give a generalized answer that you can do everything that you are offered. Be specific. Dig dip into the job role you are being offered and explore things to say in those particular areas.

7. “How soon are employees promoted here?”

This question may pose as a sign of arrogance because employers don’t want to discuss promotions and all in the first meeting. Instead, ask in a different way like “what are the different career paths in this company?”

“How many leaves do I get in a year?”

By asking this question during an interview, you are being demanded and a little bit arrogant. Employers want to know what you can give to the company, not what’s in it for you if you join the company.

“Nope…no questions!”

At the end of the interview, most employers will ask you, “Any questions for me?” At this time, employers are expecting that you take more interest in company matters, your job role, learning opportunities, etc.

So, don’t remain silent and ask some well-thought questions like “What are the skills you are looking for in this particular job role?” OR “What are the biggest challenges someone would face in this job role?” etc.

What are the most common interview mistakes?

Following are the most common interview mistakes-

1. Forgetting to follow up

Almost every other candidate forgets to send a follow-up message. You must learn this basic rule of an interview to send a follow-up email. You must send a follow-up email within 24 hours of the interview.

An email thanking the employer for conducting an interview and taking out time for you. This will depict a humble and positive attitude to the employer. This method could also fix your selection in the company

2. Displaying low energy

Displaying low energy is a big turn-off for the interviewer. Low attitude consists of acts like lack of eye contact, slumped shoulders, slowness, etc. Try to avoid all the listed low-energy performances. Low attitude depicts negativity, which no company needs.

3. Arriving late

Since there are many interviews to be covered in a day, including specific meetings and other stuff, interviewers prefer candidates who are punctual and arrive on time. It messes up the entire schedule not only for you but also for other interviewees and interviewers.

4. Appearing unpolished and casual

After you dress up for an interview, take some time, and look in the mirror. Many times, people appear too shabby for interviews, and this makes their approach look casual. Wear clean & ironed formals, comb your hair properly, and avoid wearing attractive ornaments/accessories.

Why do you want this job the best answer?

According to us, the following is the best answer to Why do you want this job?-

The job is opening at your reputable organization. The job has the potential to provide me with a personality boost. The company is my ultimate door to various opportunities. It can certainly bring the best out of me in this company. I am sure that once I join this company, I will grow as well as my career.

What are the best tips for an interview?

Following are the best tips for an interview-

1. Impress interview in 5 minutes

Some studies have concluded that the first impression is created in the first 5 minutes. You must have this aim of creating the first impression to crack the interview. Come in with full energy and enthusiasm to create this impression.

2. Follow the interviewer

Don’t try to over-question the interviewer in any sense. The interview is not sitting there to play tug of war with you. The company wants a candidate who believes in teamwork instead of shellfish behavior. Just keep on going following the interviewer for the best results.

3. Research about the company beforehand

Try to do maximum research about the company before approaching the interview. This will help you to pitch in some interesting things about the company during the interview. An interviewer will also feel that you are interested in the company and job role.

4. Get some sleep

As you know, sleep is an integral and important part of our life. The same is true for an interview.

As some interviews take hours to complete (depending on the number of rounds). Take enough sleep a day before the interview, so the next day, you will feel energized and focused.

5. Dress to Impress

It is a known fact that “The first impression is the last impression.” Interviewers make an impression of you in their mind in the first few seconds the moment you enter into the room by looking at what you are wearing and your body language. Wear ironed clothes (formals), polished shoes; don’t put on too much perfume.

Last-minute interview preparation plan

Following is the Last-minute interview preparation plan

STEP- 1 Do Research

We recommend you to carryout out in-depth research of the employer & company. This will keep you 1 step ahead of the other candidates.

STEP-2 Prepare stories

Stories will help you to keep the conversation going on between the interview and you. Make sure that your story is prepared that will increase the conversation.

STEP-3 Exercise

Exercise will keep you fit and active for the interview. You require active energy for the interview. This energy will be provided by exercise. Make sure to carry out a quick 15-minute workout session.

STEP-4 Gather Questions

An elegant part of the interview questions, try to develop and gather professional questions for an employer. This will depict to the interviewer that you believe in research and analysis.

STEP-5 Dress for interview

Dress, as acknowledged before, is your first impression. Therefore dress in your best suit and polish your shoes for the interview. The interview must get that professional vibe from your dress.

STEP-6 Assemble the documents

Documents are the only thing that will prove your achievements and strengths. Make sure to assemble them and represent them perfectly in front of the employer.

STEP-7 Have a Healthy meal

Have a healthy meal before the interview. This meal will act as fuel for your body and soul. Make sure that this is a healthy fuel instead of junk food as junk food will make you feel sloppy and sleepy.

STEP-8 Develop a positive mindset

Due to anxiety and pressure, many candidates tend to develop the imagination of failing the interview. You must not think that you are not capable of cracking the interview. You must develop a winner and a positive mindset for the interview.

STEP- 9 Prepare the Thank you mail before the interview

A follow email regarding the interview must be pre-prepared before the interview. This will make your work easy. After the interview, you will be exhausted and tired. This will cause you to develop a low-quality thank you mail.

STEP- 10 Carryout a 5-minute prayer

You might not be a conscious person but believe that prayer will create a sight of positivity in you. It's not the time to fight between the existent of God. But to create positivity within you that will be required in the interview.

STEP- 11 Carryout a final recheck

Re-check whether you have done everything or not. It happens in many cases that due to pressure, people tend to forget important aspects and things. It's always good to be safe and well-prepared for the interview.

STEP- 12 Leave the house 1 hour before

You don’t know when an emergency or challenge may hit you. Thus make sure to leave the house before 1 hour for an interview. This will help you to reach the destination early. In addition to this, it will also allow you time to settle down

CONCLUSION

With newly emerging organizations requirement of skilled individuals is growing competition in the market. Interviews are getting to a point where only highly skilled and experienced people are selected. To be on par with the ever-increasing demand for skilled labor, one has to keep up with the same.

The important job interview tips mentioned in this article will help to bring out the best in you while approaching any job interview.

With proper aspects like planning, time management, prioritizing, acquiring specific skillsets. It will be easy to crack any interview in the future.

If you have any queries regarding “How to Prepare for Any Interview” or any suggestion/s, please feel free to comment below and let us know.