Interview Preparation

How to prepare for the Interview?

Every job interview is a learning experience. The biggest mistake one could ever do is not to be prepared for an interview. Preparation for an interview is quite a complex process, which involves research, practice, and an ample personal and professional assessment of the interviewee. Also, as final preparation for interview, appearance and dress details, expectations, protocol and other formal aspects can be included. There is no universal code on "how to be successful at a job interview", which is applicable to everybody, but there are some important tips people should take into consideration when preparing for an interview.

Self-assessment is one of the most important and consistent part of the interview preparation process. It can take the shape of a SWOT analysis, where talent, abilities, skills, strengths, weaknesses and work values are analyzed and pointed out in order to help the candidate to succeed in the interview. Accomplishments should be recorded in a file, and this file should be the core of one's resume. Some professional achievements might have been forgotten, and such a file would be really helpful. There is an ensemble of vital elements for a job interview: the personal presence, the resume, and the relation between person's skills, abilities and experience and the job description. All these three elements should be impeccable and should harmoniously fit into this triangle. The candidate should be aware that errors in resumes are unacceptable and that the resume should have functional headers in order to be easy readable.

Research is another important aspect of interview preparation: research about the company, the interviewer, about the position itself. It is about common sense to know some basic facts about the company the candidate will interact with, so checking the online presence of the company, the website, is most of the times the best research one can do. Being informed, up to date with information about the company and the vacant position is always a plus for candidates.

Practice helps candidates to have a relaxed attitude during the interview, and will make the "battle" much easier to approach. Practicing the answers to classic questions will mean a lot, because one will be prepared to answer. It is very important for a candidate to study his own voice, gestures, enthusiasm and facial expressions, because body language transmits our real emotions and very often interviewers know how to interpret it. It would be great to make a good impression through the body language, and this impression to be supported by one's skills and experience.

Preparing questions about the company and about the position will prove candidate's involvement and interest in the company and the job position. Questions about the salary and benefits are not recommended from the first meeting with company's representatives, but any others related to company's activity are welcome.

Candidates should be informed about the cultural organization in that company and should dress accordingly. Clothing should always be clean, not too tight, not too short and not uncomfortable. Accessories should be minimal and decent. Preparation, as I have already mentioned, is a complex process, and all aspects are important in order to be a memorable candidate.


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