There were 35.2 million UK jobs on offer in December 2021, reports the Office for National Statistics. With things back on track after a tumultuous couple of years, now is the time to get that dream job.
But when your job interview date looms, you can get tense. How do you know what to say? What if you ruin your chances with poor interview prep?
Preparing for a job interview can be a breeze. All you need is a solid interview preparation strategy.
Read on for your job interview tips.
Research: the Keystone of Interview Prep
Being well-informed will impress 88% of hiring decision-makers, says Glassdoor.
Delve into the job itself, then match your interview answers to it. Find out what your day-to-day schedule looks like. What demands will you have to meet?
Dig deep into the company. Find out what values they hold, what statements they relish, and what the press says about them.
How many years have they been operating? Where do they stand in the market? Become an expert in what they sell, produce, or service.
Revise Your Interview Answers
Some job interview questions are predictable. Plan how to answer questions about motivation, what you bring to the role, and why you chose this company.
Use your research to match your answers to the company’s values.
For technical roles like programming, you may need to do a test or evaluation. Find out about this beforehand. Search online, call an expert or ask a friend in the industry for a job interview guide.
Practise Before You Take to the Stage
You can role-play interviews with friends or family. It may feel a bit awkward at first, but it will help you on the day. Ask for feedback; tell them to be ruthless with their job interview advice.
You can rehearse a condensed pitch by yourself. Cut your planned answers down to a few paragraphs. This helps you summarise what you want to say.
Print Your Documents
This could include right-to-work documents like passports or national insurance. But you should also print your qualifications, background checks, and CV. Keep these in a neat file to show how organised you are.
It’s an idea to make digital copies on a USB drive. This means you can transfer them to your (hopefully!) new company’s servers. It also gives you backups in case something befalls your paper copies.
Dress to Impress and Plan Your Route
The right outfit can boost your charisma. Research the dress code of your chosen industry.
Business, legal and finance roles suit elegant dress that isn’t too flashy. Design your outfit like an artist for creative roles. Show you’re robust for hands-on jobs.
All your interview prep goes to waste if you turn up late. Expect things to go wrong en route. Plan for traffic delays, detours, and public transport issues.
Job interview in the city? Get there an hour early and study your notes from a cafe. You can even rehearse in your car.
Make Your Best Impression
We hope our guide to interview prep helped you get that job. With the right strategy, you can calm your nerves and perform at your best. Now get in there!
Looking to recruit for your team?
Bryan Co Associates can help you recruit for temporary and permanent roles. We have experience in most industries, and our team takes pride in being the best.
