The Pre-Interview Guide: Tips and Strategies for a Successful Interview

Preparation is the secret to giving a strong performance and landing the job. Check out these clothes to be ready for interviews.

There are various formats for job interviews. In some cases, getting the job may depend only on your ability to succeed in one of these. During the application process, you may occasionally be subjected to a variety of interview forms, especially at prestigious graduate businesses.

The earliest and most common sort of interview is face-to-face. At the employer’s office, a person or group will interview you to determine whether you are qualified for the position. Exams and other activities may come before or after face-to-face interviews, which typically run 45 minutes to two hours. Questions may be strength- or competency-based.

Telephone: Early in the application process, employers commonly use the telephone to screen a large number of applicants. If you are selected, you will probably be asked to attend a face-to-face interview or evaluation. Large firms are increasingly using video, particularly for graduate programme applications.

Video interviews can be live or pre-recorded and typically last 30 minutes. These have grown to be more and more well-liked as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused the majority of goods to move online.

Assessment Centers: Employers can use assessment centres to simultaneously compare the performance of many candidates. At an assessment centre, you’ll work with other applicants on projects like presentations, team building exercises, and psychometric tests. Assessment centres have recently been adjusted to be held online and are normally held for a full working day.

Study hard: Your performance in an interview is greatly influenced by how well you have prepared. Don’t put off doing this until the last minute. Prior to the interview, concentrate your research on the following:

Employer: You must prove that you are knowledgeable about the industry beyond the basics. What sector does it operate in? What challenges does it encounter? Who are its key competitors? What significant initiatives has it accomplished recently? What are its values and way of life? This degree of comprehension exhibits genuine curiosity.

If you need some ideas about what to read next, here they are:

• Keys to a Good Recruitment Strategy | Tips for Hiring
• The Importance of Human Resource Planning for Business Success
• Efficient Recruitment Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

Role: Reread the job description and, if you filled out an application form, go over it to remind yourself of how your skills and experience relate to the position. You must be able to articulate why you desire the position, demonstrate that you are familiar with the duties, and, most importantly, justify why the employer should choose you above other applicants.

Find out who will be interviewing you on the panel for the interview. The email inviting you to the interview may contain this information. On LinkedIn and in the “About us” part of the company website, you can learn more about their experience and professional interests. Making a good first impression and connecting with your interviewers may be aided by doing this.

Think about your responses to typical interview questions and prepare a few questions you’d like to ask the interviewer.

There are several other useful things to plan. When and where exactly is the interview happening? Have you prepared your route and reviewed the schedules for any public transportation you must use? Does every piece of equipment you have for phone and video interviews work?

Interviewing readiness

It is a good idea to do at least one practise interview prior to the actual transaction. You can get help with interview preparation from the career and employability office at your university.

Additionally, you can prepare written responses to typical interview questions and practise them with a reliable friend, possibly even recording and reviewing your performance.

Checking your phone connection and making sure your laptop, microphone, and any other necessary technical equipment are all in working order and that you know how to use them are also smart ideas.