Preparation before the interview

Many people, who apply for jobs, are very anxious before the interview. This is completely in vain. After all, an interview is a good opportunity to demonstrate your best qualities to the employer. An interview is a much better form of checking an employee than, for instance, questioning or testing. However, the fear of the interview is common for most candidates. After all, most often it is the unknown that we are afraid of – and what awaits us there behind this terrible door? So, in most cases, a polite and friendly person will be waiting for you there, who will want to know about your ability to do a specific job.

Study information about the company

You need to collect as much information as possible about the company and its business. This will help you:

decide if you want to work for such a company.
prepare for specific questions you may be asked.
impress with the knowledge of the company (which suggests that you are truly interested in the position).

List of required documents

You should take the following documents with you to your interview:

passport (some organizations have a pass system);
the main document about education – a diploma or certificate;
diplomas, certificates, certificates of completing additional training, if this is related to the proposed vacancy;
work book (if any) or its photocopy;
letters of recommendation. Young professionals should compulsorily collect and store all reviews about their various practices and internships and present them at an interview instead of letters of recommendation.

Make copies of your resume

Make multiple copies of your resume. You never know how many people you will have to talk to, so you should always keep your resume ready if anyone wants to look at it. Prepare the essentials for your interview and put them in your bag. It should be large enough to fit the things you need every day and what you need directly for the meeting with the employer: additional copies of your resume, a notebook, a pen, and so on. Disassemble your bag. If you have to dig through a pile of old candy wrappers, phone chargers, receipts and other junk looking for a resume, you will look disorganized. Everything you need should be neatly folded and instantly accessible. The less you have to look through your bag, the better.

Answers to the most popular questions

In order not to get confused when answering simple questions, you can prepare and think over the answers in advance.

Questions you will come across in every interview:

Tell us a little about yourself.

How would you describe yourself?

Tell us about your last job.

Reason for leaving your previous job.

What do you know about our company?

What attracts you to our company?

Why do you want to work with us?

How does your education or work experience relate to this job?

How can you be useful to our company?

What are your strengths?

What are your main disadvantages?

What type of work do you most like (dislike) doing?

What did you like most and what least in your previous job?

What was your biggest mistake in your previous job?

What are your interests outside of work?

What are your goals in life?

How do you plan to achieve them?

What would you like to change in your past?

What salary are you expecting?

What will you do if … (this is usually followed by a description of any critical situation from your activity)?

Tell a little about yourself

In order to appear in a favorable light before the employer, it is worth preparing a self-presentation in advance.

1. First of all, define the purpose of this presentation.
2. Self-presentation should not last more than 15 minutes. If the employer is willing to listen to you longer, you need to think about what information can be left “in reserve”.
3. Everything you say should be subordinate to your purpose. Therefore, do not talk about things that are not directly related to the future vacancy.
4. To perceive information solely by ear is quite difficult for most people. Therefore, if your profession does not involve a portfolio, take with you some visual evidence of your experience, education, achievements. In addition to diplomas, certificates, written recommendations, these can be photographs or, for example, letters of thanks from clients. In the course of self-presentation, you can show them to the employer.
5. During the presentation, emphasize your personal qualities, which, from the point of view of the employer, are required for successful work in this position.
6. If this company requires an employee with good teamwork skills, then during the presentation, use the pronoun “we” more often and remember your colleagues with a kind word.
7. In the course of the presentation, be sure to try to give information to the employer on all the points discussed above.

We will briefly list them again:

professional knowledge, abilities and skills;
ability to work;
motivation and its adequacy to the vacancy;
personal circumstances that allow to work successfully – health, absence of bad habits, living conditions, family;
personal qualities and their adequacy to the corporate norms of the company and position;
security for the organization;
additionally – the ability and desire to acquire new knowledge, abilities and skills.

10. Be sure to emphasize in your presentation what advantages and benefits the company will receive if you become an employee. Remember that any presentation is made only based on the needs of those to whom it is intended.

Prepare for the test task

When preparing for an interview, be prepared to complete the test task. Repeat, if necessary, theoretical material. Practice speaking in front of the mirror, and so on.

Consider your appearance

If you go to a company that has a strict dress code, you need to be conservative. However, if you are going to a start-up interview, being conservative can get in the way: it will raise suspicion from potential colleagues. But, before putting on a suit, you should find out if there is a dress code in the digging. Make sure your suit is perfectly clean, ironed and fits well. This will play into your hands. Try to look your best: When you look your best, you tend to feel more confident.

Plan your route to the office

Consider in advance the route you will take to your interview. Consider traffic jams in the city. Calculate the time required for the trip.

Don’t forget to sleep and have a good mood!

It is very important to leave all worries and anxiety at home, and take only the willingness to calmly answer questions for an interview. After all, your fear in this case is your enemy. When we are worried, we are insecure, scattered, and in this state you can hardly impress yourself.