How to Prepare for a Job Interview in 10 Steps

Are you preparing for a job interview and looking for some tips? Job interview preperation is vital for making a strong first impression and securing the position.

It demonstrates your professionalism, dedication and interest in the position and company. Getting ready for the job interview significantly increases your chances of standing out in a competitive job market and securing a job offer.

Here are some steps that you can follow to prepare for a job interview:

Related: Online Interview Tips

1. Research the Company

Researching a company before a job interview is essential to demonstrate your interest, tailor your responses effectively, gain a competitive edge, and find common connections.

This will also help employers gauge a prospect’s genuine interest in the company and whether or not they prepared for the interview.

Learning about the company help answering questions like:

What do you know about our company?
What attracted you about our company?

To answer these questions, research the company: Learn about their products, services, mission, values, and culture and make sure the company’s mission and culture align with your values.

Failing to answer these kinds of questions in a job interview suggests a lack of preparation and engagement, which will almost guarantee not getting the job.

2. Review the Job Description

Understanding the requirements, responsibilities and skills needed for the job allow candidates to speak confidently about how their expertise matches the job requirements. And effectively highlight relevant accomplishments and expertise.

Reviewing the job description before a job interview helps employers understand how your skills and experiences align with the specific job requirements.

Reviewing the job post help answering questions like:

Why should we hire you?
How do your skills and experiences align with the role?
What makes you a good fit for this position?
What are your strengths in relation to this job?

Failing to review the job description before an interview can leave you unprepared, unable to highlight relevant skills, ask insightful questions, and make a good impression, ultimately reducing your chances of securing the job.

3. Research the Recruiters or the Job Interviewers

Researching the interviewer before the interview offers valuable insights and benefits, including understanding their perspective, building rapport, and anticipating potential questions. It enables you to tailor your responses to showcase how your skills align with their needs, find common ground, and demonstrate enthusiasm for the company and role. However, it’s important to be mindful of not appearing invasive or crossing privacy boundaries in your research. By striking the right balance, you can gain a competitive edge, identify potential biases, and develop thoughtful questions that highlight your interest in their work and the company.

4. Review Your Resume

Reviewing your resume before a job interview is essential as it helps refresh your memory on your work history and accomplishments, ensuring you can discuss your experiences confidently and maintain consistency in your answers.

It allows you to strategically highlight relevant experience, prepare for specific questions related to your resume, such as “what is your GPA?”

Reviewing your resume helps align your skills and qualifications with the job requirements. This preparation not only enhances your credibility but also demonstrates your suitability for the role, making you a more compelling candidate during the interview.

5. Practice Common Interview Questions

Anticipate the questions you are likely to encounter during the interview and prepare the answers. While each interview is unique, certain questions are commonly asked.

I have written an article about the most common interview questions in Canada and tips on how to answer them. It will help you answer questions such as:

Tell Me About Yourself: Craft a concise yet impactful response that highlights your relevant experience and skills.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Talk about how you are working on your weaknesses and what strengths you are focusing on.
Behavioural Questions: Prepare specific examples of how you have handled challenges, teamwork, and conflict resolution.

6. Master the STAR Technique

When answering behavioural questions, use the STAR technique:

Situation: Describe the context.
Task: Explain what needs to be done.
Action: Detail the steps you took.
Result: Share the positive outcome.

7. Prepare Questions to Ask and Questions not to Ask

Asking questions during an interview shows the job applicant’s interest, helps them learn more about the role and company culture, and allows them to evaluate how well they align with the organization.

This practice not only shows their preparedness and eagerness but also helps build rapport with the job interviewer, ensuring they have all the necessary details to make an informed decision about the opportunity.

Questions to ask during the job interview

Those questions should generally pertain to the job or the organization’s mission, as well as inquire about the next steps in the hiring process.

Can you please show me some examples of projects that I’d be working on?
What is the typical career trajectory for a person in this position?
Who would be my manager, and will I have the opportunity to meet him or her?
What does a typical day or week look like for the person in this position?
Does the company offer continued education and professional training?
How can I best contribute to the department?
Do you have any concerns about me or about my qualifications that may prevent you from selecting me for the job?
What is the next step? When do you think you will be making a decision?

However, some questions can appear demanding and overwhelming, and may reduce your chances of getting the job, so it’s important to carefully consider which questions are appropriate and which should be avoided.

Questions to avoid in a job interview

Avoid asking questions about information that could be quickly and easily found through a simple online search.
Avoid inquiring about altering the job specifics, work hours, or pay during the interview.
Never ask about the interviewer’s personal history.
Never ask about pay, time off, benefits, etc. (Wait until later in the process to inquire about these things.)
Never ask “What does your company do?”
Never ask how quickly you can be promoted.
Never ask “Do you do background checks?”
Never ask about gossip you’ve heard.
Never ask if the company monitors e-mail or Internet usage
And finally never ask too many questions

Additionally, while some may suggest taking the lead by asking numerous questions during an interview, it’s best to avoid this approach unless you are a highly acknowledged person in your industry.

8. Print Your Documentations

Bringing printed documentation to a job interview underscores your professionalism and preparedness, providing a reliable backup for technology issues and a visual reference for discussion. It allows you to share your qualifications easily, especially useful if you are one of several candidates interviewed that day. Offering a paper copy of your resume can help reinforce your standout points, ensuring the hiring manager remembers why you are a strong candidate, even if you’re the fifth interview of the day.

9. Dress Professionally

Dress to Impress!, First impressions matter. Dress appropriately for the industry and company culture. When in doubt, it is better to be slightly overdressed than underdressed.

10. Prepare Your Trip – Arrive Early

Arriving early for a job interview is essential as it reduces stress, ensures punctuality, and provides time to acclimate to the environment. Being early is a strong indicator of your professionalism and dedication, qualities that are highly valued in any workplace.

It also gives you the chance to gather your thoughts, review your notes, and calm your nerves before the interview begins.

Observing the workplace dynamics can offer valuable insights into the company culture and how employees interact, helping you better understand where you might fit in.

To ensure you arrive on time, plan your route in advance, considering traffic conditions and potential delays. Aim to be at the interview location 15-30 minutes early; if you find yourself with extra time, use it to prepare in your car or a nearby cafe. Prepare all necessary documents and materials the night before the interview to avoid last-minute hassles. Also, check the weather forecast to anticipate any additional time you might need and dress appropriately. This careful planning and preparation will help you relax and focus on making a positive and lasting impression.