How to Prepare for an Interview
Whether you're a seasoned pro or just a beginner, it never hurts to finesse your job interview skills. Read our ten tips for a successful job interview and find the confidence you need to land the job of your dreams.
- DO YOUR RESEARCH. Read about the role and the organisation prior to the interview.
- Visit the careers site and follow the company on LinkedIn to keep up to date so that you can answer and ask specific questions.
- DRESS THE PART. Ensure that you are dressed suitably for the environment and arrive on time – first impressions count.
- PREPARE. Find out what the style of the interview is so that you can prepare. Many organisations use competency questions, based around the STAR approach (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
- USE RELEVANT EXAMPLES. Think of specific situations in your career that you feel can help demonstrate that you possess the highlighted skills. Clearly explain what you did, how and why you did it and what the outcome was.
- HIGHLIGHT CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS. What improvements have you made? What initiatives have you introduced? What have you been recognised or rewarded for? Be prepared to quantify or measure your successes.
- SHOW SELF-AWARENESS. Know your strengths and weaknesses. You may refer to your recent performance review and reflect on where you’re doing well and where you have room for improvement.
- KNOW YOUR VALUE PROPOSITION. Clearly articulate what your personal brand or value proposition is - where can you add value to the employer? Why should they hire you?
- BE HONEST. If you lie in your interview and the truth is exposed at a later date, it is extremely likely that you will have your employment terminated.
- ASK QUESTIONS. Prepare some questions beforehand to ask the interviewer. By asking questions about the job and company, it shows how interested you are in the role.
- THANK YOU. A thank you note is also a great opportunity for you to highlight your interest and suitability for the role.