Congratulations! The hardest part is over, you’ve managed to score yourself an interview with the company you have been dying to work for and now its time to show them the badass that you are. For all of you who have little to no interview experience, this article is for you!
1. Research the company for which you are interviewing.
This is a very important step for preparing for any interview. You can easily set yourself apart from all of the other interviewees if you can speak confidentially about the company you are trying to work for. It is important to make sure you are up to date with any news surrounding the company, whether they just hired a new CEO or if they just launched a new product. Interviewers will be impressed by your preparedness.
2. Research potential interview questions and be prepared to answer them.
The Internet is your best friend. There are hundreds of interview questions online ranging from the basics all the way to the strangest questions you could ever imagine. Practice answering each of these questions; either write them down, answer them out loud or even get a friend or family member to practice them with you.
3. Make sure to wear business professional clothes.
Appearing professional for an interview is always a good idea. If you know anyone that works in the company, feel free to ask them what the dress code is. If they say that people in the office usually dress pretty casual, it is always good to dress up a little more than the office norm. Depending on the dress code, interview apparel can range anywhere from dress pants with a nice blouse to a skirt/pantsuit with heels.
4. Be sure to drive to the interview location before the date.
Being on time is extremely important. I can not stress this enough. This is the first personal impression that you are making and arriving late is never okay. Drive to the destination of the interview a few days before so you know what the parking situation will be like, the possibility of traffic and to figure out the easiest route there.
5. Follow up afterward
After you have killed your interview, it is important to follow up with the person who interviewed you. Sending an email or even better a thank you card really shows how passionate you are about the job opportunity and how appreciative you are of their time.
After following these 5 steps, you will be one step closer to being employed!