To succeed on a test, exam, or in a sporting event, you must practice diligently and prepare yourself for anything that comes your way. An interview is nothing different. There are many things you should do before an interview; the last thing you want to do is show up unprepared. If you do, you’re making it easy for the hiring manager to disregard you and focus his or her attention on other candidates. Here’s a list of a few things you should do before heading into a big interview:
5 Things to do Before an Interview
1. Learn About The Company
Bottom line: the more you know the better. Researching your potential employer is absolutely something you should do prior to the interview. Demonstrating that you are interested in a company sends strong signals about your initiative and commitment. If you can show the hiring manager that you have previous knowledge of the company before he or she even tells you anything, you’re already a step ahead of all the other candidates. If you can tell the employer something they don’t know about their own company, it could work wonders.
2. Dress For Success
The clothes make the man, as they say. Dress the part. Dress how you would if you were already starting your first day. It’s a fact that in today’s world if you don’t look up to par, most employers will rule you out in their minds before you even start talking. Create a winning first impression. Go the whole nine yards: get the haircut, shine the shoes, and get the suit pressed. You only get one chance to make a first impression.
3. Know Yourself – Look Over Your Resume
This is one of the top things that people don’t do and I don’t understand why. People seem to think that once they place an achievement on their resumes, they can forget about it. But actually, the exact opposite is true; once you put an item on your resume, learn it and be prepared to expand on it. Express your strengths and what you could bring to the table as an employee.
4. Have Questions Ready
This is a must. Take some time and really figure out what you want to know when you’re interviewing. If it’s true that only boring people are bored, then only uninteresting people are uninterested in their potential employers. Don’t send that signal. If you don’t ask any questions, some employers will assume that you’re not interested in their company. Don’t be afraid. Think about what really matters to you about the particular position and firm you’re interviewing with. Dig deep and ask about the different facets of the company and/or the job position.
5. Get A Good Night’s Sleep
Once you’ve done all the above and prepared for your interview, it’s time to get a good night’s sleep. Some people are up all night worried or anxious before going to that job interview they’ve been waiting for so long. But, you have to relax and get some rest. Fatigue can cause you to lose focus, slow you down, and make you forgetful. Get some sleep and don’t let a bad night cancel out all you’ve done-you’ve worked too hard to get your foot in the door.
