How To: Prepare for Interview
A job interview can be nerve-wracking for most people. We have created this blog post to help those job seekers be at ease and crush that job interview. In this blog post we will go over the prep work that should be done prior to your job interview.
PREP WORK
A job interview is something that you need to prepare for in advance. You need to set time to review the job description, research the company and their goals, understand the role that you applied for, reflect on your motivations, and prepare answers and questions.
The first step is to review the job description of the job you applied for. Remind yourself of what the company is looking for and how you fit in. Make sure you understand the duties and requirements to be able to explain how you can fulfill their needs and meet / exceed their expectations.
The next step is to research the company. Most employers will expect that you have done this and ask specific questions such as “Why did you choose to apply with us?” or “What do you know about us?” or “What interested you about this position and working with us?”. It is important to be specific in your answer. If you did not research and have a broad answer like “I am passionate about helping others and this jobs really connected with me.” It is likely you will not get the job. Employers are looking for specific answers like what about their culture, services, etc. excited you and made you want to apply.
Once you have researched the company and understand what they are looking for, now you can prepare answers to common questions. Although it is impossible to know exactly what the employer will ask, you can research most common interview questions. For some examples, see below:
- Tell me about yourself.
- What are your strengths? Weaknesses?
- What interests you about this role?
- How do you handle stress in the workplace?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
- How would your previous employer describe you?
- Tell me about a time where you had a bad experience working in a team. How did you address the problems? How were the issues overcome?
- Provide an example of a time where you showed leadership.
It is also common to have job-specific questions. For instance, interview questions would be vastly different when applying for an Early Childhood Educator compared to a Systems Administrator. You can conduct another search on interview questions for your role. You will find more specific questions related to your experiences and qualifications.
The last bit of prep work that a job seeker needs to do is to prepare three to five questions for the employer. Try to stay away from “What is the salary?” or “What are your benefits?” Although those are important, it is best not to ask in the first interview. Try to ask more specific questions like the following:
- What are some qualities you look for in a successful employee?
- What is your training program like?
- Can you tell me more about the team I would be working with?
- What is your favourite thing about working with the company?
- What are the biggest challenges someone in this position may face?
Once you have asked your three to five questions, it is nice to ask “What are the next steps?” That way you know what to expect following the interview.