Feb 15, 2021 in Career Coaching

How to prepare for a job interview.

See the best tips and advice.

11 members found this to be effective.

It's your turn now! Let's support each other by clicking "Helpful".

+1

Article cover image

DISCUSS #Relationship

DISCUSS #Parenting

You're one step closer to getting hired! See the best way to prepare for a job interview by reading this article. 

This final step is crucial to securing a job. You need to ace it so that you can make a good impression and ultimately convince the hiring manager into choosing you over other candidates. 

With the COVID-19 pandemic at large, many companies are hiring remote workers which means that more interviews are being conducted online. Even if you're not used to working in an online environment, now is your chance to learn and adapt to this. 

It's also perfectly normal to feel anxious and nervous before your interview. However, it is essential for you to control this so that you can make an outstanding impression. 

WikiExpert suggestion

Here are 9 tips to nail your next job interview. Read this article by Cindy Makita, Online Career Coach. 

The best way to prepare for a job interview

Follow these steps so that you can nail your interview:

Job interview tips infographic

WikiExpert suggestion

Read this article that has important information about how to prepare for your next job interview. Written by Louise Jenner, Online Career Coach. 

Do your research about the company

Before your interview, it is essential to research the company that is interested in hiring you. This will show the hiring manager that you've taken an interest in them and also that you're clued up about the company. It will also prove that you've put in the effort into the interview and it will increase your chances of getting the job.

Start by visiting their website and LinkedIn pages to see what they're about, their mission, accomplishments, how they work, etc. This will also benefit you in the long-run should you get hired. 

WikiExpert suggestion

Read this article by Cindy Makita, Online Career Coach, how to research a company before an interview. Here, you will get detailed tips on what to look for when researching. 

Provide success stories

Don't be afraid to speak about your previous successes in the past! This will increase your chances of getting hired. Go into detail about what made your projects successful and the role you played in them. 

WikiExpert suggestion

If you're feeling uncomfortable boasting about your previous achievements or not sure about the best ways to present yourself, read this article for some tips on how to sell yourself in the job market by Matt Craven, Online Career Coach. 

Explain your past experience that's relevant to the job

If you have any past jobs or projects that are relevant to the job that you are being interviewed for, do mention it and provide details about it. This will show that you're the perfect candidate for the position. 

Also, if you're planning on expanding your skills on anything that's relevant to the job, do mention that too! It will show that you take a deep interest in your career and that you're willing to progress. 

Practice your speaking skills

Whether it is a physical or online interview, your speaking skills are important! So, try and practice beforehand. Ask a friend or family member to help you. Or you can seek the help of an Online Career Coach to help sharpen your speaking skills and give you tips on how to improve. 

Identify your strengths and weaknesses

One of the most common interview questions is "what are your strengths and weaknesses?" So, be prepared to have answers to these. Take some time to think about it, write it down if needed and then practice your answers. 

Dress appropriately and professionally

Even though it's an online video interview, you still need to make a good impression by looking presentable. Ensure that you wear a professional outfit and that you are looking neat and tidy. 

Your dressing should impress the hiring manager. Keep it simple but elegant. 

Develop interview etiquette

Your body language is essential even during an online interview it can give a positive or negative impression about you. 

Sit up straight and maintain eye contact but don't stare, keeping looking around the room or fidget. Also, avoid crossing your arms and pointing at the hiring manager. 

Pay attention in the interview and show interest, enthusiasm and gratitude. Be friendly but don't overshare details about your personal life such as financial status, relationship problems, etc. 

Don't be impatient either or rude when being asked questions. 

If you had negative work experiences in the past, no need to tell the hiring manager about that or complain about ex-employers or colleagues. This will give him a very unprofessional impression of you. 

Ensure that your internet connection is stable 

Imagine going through all the effort of preparing for an interview and then having it interrupted because of a poor connection. To prevent this from happening, test it before the interview and have a backup plan should it fail. 

Be punctual

There's nothing worse than unpunctuality, whether it is a physical or online interview. Be ready at your computer before the time of the interview. This will also give you time to test your connection, lighting, etc. 

If you run into an issue due to unforeseen circumstances, be sure to let the interviewer know and be apologetic and explain the situation. 

Don't appear to be desperate

As mentioned earlier, show interest but be careful not to display any hint of desperation. Don't question the hiring manager as to whether you've got the job or not. 

You can be honest that you need the job but don't go overboard on that and harass the interviewer. 

After the interview, you can send a thank-you note to show your appreciation to him for taking the time and interest in your application. 

Do not send countless follow-up emails after the interview to the hiring manager and allow some time as they could be reviewing and interviewing a handful of other applicants. This will annoy the recruiter. 

You can follow-up with the hiring manager via email around one week after the interview if you haven't heard anything from them. When doing so, be polite and keep your email short. Avoid emphasizing how much you need the job in your follow-up. 

Conclusion

You've come this far and now you've reached the final step toward securing a job. However, this last step might be the most difficult one to master. So, if you need a little advice and guidance on this, you can read through Expert articles on how to prepare for a job interview. Or if you'd like more help and professional guidance, you can book a session with one of our Online Career Coaches. 

All the best with your next interview!

Articles that helped others

Article illustration image
Maria Smithson's profile image
Sep 13, 2020
Why hire a career coach?

The past five years I've hired 100+ people. Through this, I've been able to discern why some people get hired while others don't. My goal is to help you to manage your mind while interviewing (it can be scary!) and create career goals and achieve them.

Career Coaching
Number of helpful indications
11
Article illustration image
Ann Verster's profile image
Sep 8, 2021
What is the Purpose of a Career Coach

A career coach is a professional who specializes in helping people advance and make informed decisions about their careers.

Career Coaching
Number of helpful indications
10
Article illustration image
Ann Verster's profile image
Oct 22, 2020
Do I need a Career Coach to find a Job?

Your resume IS critical to standing out, but that's only taking a baby step towards finding a job successfully.

Career Coaching
Number of helpful indications
11

WikiExpert - Effective Support That Helped Others

WikiExpert - Effective Support That Helped Others

Welcome to WikiExpert! Effective Solutions Trusted by Others

Have you recently checked the "Discuss with Experts"?

Together, for Support WE TRUST!

Already have an account? Log in