Congrats! That you have made to the interview. Now, you must be wondering how to prepare for an interview to get your dream job?
There are many steps that you have to follow to crack your interview and to make a good impression on the hiring team. You are looking here and there searching and knowing all the things which you can follow to give your best shot.
Don’t worry, I have written an article which tells you the most important steps that you have to follow to crack your interview.
How to Prepare for an Interview: 10 Best Steps to Follow
Here are the most important steps to follow:
1. Read the job description
You must read the job description, to understand what the employer is looking for. You should check your education, skills, and personality that matches the job description. Try to find out the keywords written in the description that the employer used to find a suitable candidate. Always remember to tailor your profile according to the job description.
2. Research the company
This is the most important step to follow. Do deep research of the organization when called for an interview. Check the company’s website, social media handles, etc. to know about the company’s culture, past or upcoming projects, clients, team, etc.
When you already know about the company it will help you in your interview to tailor your answers.
3. Prepare the most common questions
You may not know what the interview will ask you during the interview. But there are some common questions that are asked in almost every type of interview. You should prepare such questions in advance. The most predicted questions include “tell us about yourself”, “what is your greatest weakness” etc.
4. Arrange your documents
You must carry a hard copy of your resume or cover letter with you in your folder. You can also keep your certificates, mark sheets, etc in your folder if in case the recruiter reviews it.
Also carry those documents which the recruiter asked for like your salary slip, experience letter, etc.
5. Practice mock interview
This is another important step that you can follow to increase your confidence. You can take the help from your friend or family and try to practice like you are giving an interview. You can follow this practice as many times as you want till you get confident. I have written a separate article on interview tips & tricks you can check for better preparation.
If you are having a phone interview then you can check my article on how to ace your telephonic interview.
6. Decide your outfit
It is important what you wear for the interview. You should dress according to your profile and profession. It is recommended to dress professionally on your interview day. Make sure your clothes are clean and tidy. You should plan to make your clothes ready in advance to avoid the last-minute hassle. To know more about your interview day outfit read my article on choosing your best attire for an interview.
7. Plan your route
When going for an interview try to plan your route in advance. Check your destination from your location on Google Maps and find the best route for you. Also, make travel arrangements like if you are driving by yourself or borrowing or renting a vehicle or going from public transport. Try to plan ahead of your scheduled time so that there is no possibility of being late for the interview.
8. Get a good sleep
Another very important thing to be considered is getting a good sleep before the night of your interview. It is very common that you may not sleep well due to the stress of your interview. But believe me it does nothing good to you if you didn’t get a good sleep you will feel less energetic, sleepy and you are unable to concentrate. So try to get a better sleep to get fully charged for your interview.
9. Thank you note
After you are done with your interview always remember to send a thank-you note to your interviewer or the hiring team. It is a simple note which gives your one last chance to impress the recruiter. This will show your professional mannerism and communication skills. If you have any doubt on how to write a good thank you letter go and check here.
10. Follow up
Now after you are done with your interview you can follow up only after a certain period of time and if you didn’t get a reply. You should wait for some time before sending a follow-up email. How long to wait and how to send a follow-up clear all your queries by reading this article on follow up after the interview.
Conclusion
When you crack the ordeals to reach the interview process it became more important to prepare your best and crack this final step towards your dream job. I have mentioned all the important things which make your preparation more strong and it will help you make your interview a success. All the best!
Over to You
How is your interview turned out? Have you followed any of the above-mentioned steps to prepare for your interview? Please share your experience with us!
I would love to hear from you.