Preparing for an interview comes with a high level of anxiety and lots of questions.
Do I look presentable? What if I answer the questions incorrectly? What if I’m making a mistake?
When trying to answer these questions, you get so negative that you begin to doubt your capability.
Preparing for an interview can be a difficult and unsettling task, but with the right guidance, you can be confident and prepared to impress the interviewer.
You can successfully prepare for an interview without second-guessing yourself if you follow the guidelines below.
1. Do Your Research
How well do you know the company? What position are you applying for? What do they expect from you?
Doing your research and knowing the answers to these questions will provide better knowledge and insight into the company’s culture, the skills required for the job, and the experience and qualities they are looking for in a candidate.
2. Practice Answering Common Questions
Practice, they say, makes one perfect. It could be in the form of a role play with a friend/relative or with your mirror; practice answering common interview questions to increase your level of preparedness and your chances of impressing the interviewer.
3. Body Language and Appearance
Body language and appearance work hand in hand. Some clothes are natural confidence boosters and you feel so fly in them.
The importance of appearance cannot be overemphasised. The way you are dressed reflects the type of person you are. So always ensure you are dressed professionally and present yourself with confidence and poise.
When you walk into an interview, establish good eye contact, maintain a good sitting posture, and smile.
4. Answer and Ask Questions
It is important that you are fully prepared to answer questions about your resume and previous work experiences.
It is also important to ask the interviewer well-versed and insightful questions. This will show that you are genuinely interested in both the position and the company.
Here are some examples of the questions you could ask: What do you enjoy most about your job in this company? What is the company’s most pressing challenge right now?
5. Practice Responses to Behavioural Interview Questions
These are questions in which we are asked to provide specific examples of how we handled certain situations in the past.
Behavioural interview questions typically begin with “Tell me about a time when…”
For instance, “Tell me about a time when you had to work with a tight deadline.” It is important to provide specific details and examples when answering these types of questions.
Above all, I understand that you need the job and how intense the pressure could be, but tone down the desperation and play it cool. Put on a Duchenne smile, it creates a good feeling and makes people think well of us.
Affirmations
Affirmations help to uplift one’s spirit and erase doubts that may arise. Don’t belittle yourself, walk in with your affirmations resonating in your heart:
“I deserve every good thing in life.”
“All good things come to me.”
“I attract success.”
God’s speed with that interview.
You rock!
Researched by Iloh Chioma Sandra
