Perfect interview preparation
Interviews are like icebergs: there’s a lot more to them than meets the eye. The little bit on top is what happens in the room, while the big bit down below is the solid preparation that you have done before the interview. If you don’t do your preparation, you won’t have a solid base, and you might find yourself tipped headfirst into the freezing water of unemployment!
Work out your top skills
Good preparation is essential for a successful interview. The first step is to remind yourself what you are offering the potential employer. It may be a while since you filled in their application form so dig it out and look at the statements you made about yourself. Draw up a list of ten or twelve skills and abilities you feel happy talking about. For each skill, think of experiences that you can use as evidence to persuade the interviewer of your abilities.
Find out what the employer wants
Most organisations are upfront with their selection criteria. There will usually be a section on their website or in their recruitment brochure which explains ‘what we expect from you’. If you have met someone from the company at a careers fair or presentation, you should have been told what these essential attributes are. It pays to find out what they emphasise in particular. If there is no brochure or online presence, check out similar employers or give them a call and ask for a job description or check out the relevant sector on this site for more information.
Match it to your abilities
All being well, the criteria that the employer is selecting against should be pretty similar to the list of skills you are offering. Don’t be dismayed if you are uncertain about some of the things they seem to want. After all, one of the things they’re looking for is potential. Just demonstrating that you have recognised the importance of a particular criterion will impress the interviewer much more than mumbling apologetically. You will have a chance to learn if you get the job.
Remind yourself of your studies
Re-acquaint yourself with the fine details of your degree study. Employers will be interested in hearing you talk about your course intelligently and in some depth. It’s easy to forget most of what you studied, so go over the relevant parts to remind yourself what you learned. If you did (or are doing) a dissertation or project, make sure you’ll be able to tell the recruiter about it.
Research the company
Find out more about organisations by looking in the appropriate reference file in your careers service. Have a look on the employer’s website and dig out any annual reports or company newsletters. The employer profiles here are an ideal starting point. If you can turn up something interesting from these sources or by reading the newspapers, you will have an important advantage over other candidates. Interviewers like to know that you actively applied to work for their organisation, as it suggests that you’re interested in a long-term career with them.
Why is preparation important?
Being well prepared for your interview implies that you’ll be well prepared for meetings at work. It’s absolutely critical that you know what an employer is looking for because the interview will be based on these criteria. If you know what they want, you can work out what questions will be asked and prepare your answers accordingly. Don’t over-prepare or you may sound stilted, but it’s good to think about what you’ll say. Even if there’s not a specific assessment sheet, the interviewer will record how far you have demonstrated your possession of their criteria. Prepare some examples and you’ll be on your way to a successful interview.
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