Preparing for a Job Interview

by Jason Elias

You only have one shot to make a great first impression so excellent preparation is the key to a successful interview.

Some of the key fundamentals include:

Dress appropriately. How you dress tells your prospective bosses a great deal about who you are and the kind of employee you would be. You should wear appropriate business attire for the workplace.

Be warm and polite with absolutely everyone that you meet and speak with during the interview process — that receptionist likely has significantly more influence in the hiring decision than you realise.

Say it out loud. You should rehearse out loud your personal elevator pitch on why you are a great fit for the role, while also practise saying out loud 2–3 “mini case studies” from your career that highlight your strengths and suitability for the role. Be prepared to answer the “tell me about yourself” question. Voicing out loud prior to the interview will help you then be more natural during the interview.

Take copies of your CV, cover letter and academic transcripts just in case they are required.

Be prepared to deal with areas of concern. These may include gaps between roles or education, sudden changes in job direction or inadequate results. Everyone has weaknesses apparent within his/her CV. Avoid appearing regretful, protective or insecure and be agreeable to discuss these weak areas briefly but freely.

It is likely that near the end of the job interview you will be given the time and opportunity to ask your own questions. So it’s a great idea to anticipate this with some well-prepared questions on areas that may not have come up during the actual interview itself.

For additional career advice contact Jason Elias on jason@eliasrecruitment.com

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