Africa Jobs: 5 tips to help prepare you for a job interview
Once you get the call for the interview, the next thing that you have to do is prepare for it both emotionally and intellectually. You can never over prepare for an interview. The more prepared you are, the harder it will be to make mistakes. Giving a great interview is not as hard as some may think but not as easy as others do either.
Remember:
During an interview, you are a Salesman. You are there to sell yourself to your prospective employer. You want to market yourself in the most interesting way possible. Great preparation for the interview is your best bet. A salesman that is knowledgeable, friendly and positive always gets the close.
1. Do Your Research about the company
It doesn’t matter how much knowledge or experience you have about the position that you are trying to get in a company if you don’t have a clue who the company is or what they do. It is disastrous to enter into an interview and not be able to tell your interviewer what their company is about. How else are you going to tell them why you feel that you would be a good addition to their company?
Consult the prospective company’s website. You can get all of the general knowledge about them that way, including the names of key people and their job titles. Go through everything, including the pages that show samples of their work and/or products.
Download media files if there are any. Google the company and read articles about them and soak in as much information as possible. Another thing that would be nice to do is to check out the surrounding area around the company. It makes for a nice breaker during the interview. You can make a comment about a particular monument or resting place nearby.
2. Know Your Contact before the interview
When called for an interview, always ask who will be interviewing you (whether it is a panel interview or a one-on-one interview). It is nice to be able to greet your interviewer by name at the beginning of the interview without first being told who they are. It shows that you are on top of things, and have prepared beforehand. You will also want to do some research on the person that will be conducting your interview. Learn what they do for the company and if they have any achievements in the company.
3. Practice Your Responses
It is best, especially if you are prone to nervousness, to practice giving your responses to the questions that may be asked of you. You should practice your wording and the tone of voice that you plan to use; try keeping your responses as brief as possible, but with as much detail as you can. (Key Tip)
When you are trying to work out the proper responses to the interviewer’s questions, you will also want to practice the art of getting your nerves under control. A good idea is to practice answering your interview questions with a friend. Get his or her opinion about your delivery and gestures and ask their opinion on insights for you to use during the real interview.
4. Dress the Part of an interviewee
Pre-select your attire the day before your interview. You want to make sure that your clothes do not have any wrinkles or stains on them. Pick an outfit that best suits the type of job that you are applying for. If you are going to work in an office setting, you should dress conservatively. Try to avoid mini skirts and shirts that show too much skin. A nice dark suit is good for a male females.
Of course if you are planning to work outdoors or in an artistic environment, you can dress a little more casually. Just be certain to avoid wearing revealing clothing, tattered clothing or over / under sized clothing.
And ladies, try and avoid wearing too much make-up. Sandals and gym shoes are also a no-no! The same goes for hats and too much accessories. It gives the wrong impression and it sends an unprofessional message.
5. Get Organized before the interview
Make sure that all of the things that you will need for the interview are prepared the day before. Make a checklist of the things that you will need if you have to. You should always have an extra resume handy during the interview. You should also bring a note pad to take notes during the interview if needed. (Only write down the important things that you think you will need to remember). If you have a business card, have one handy, it makes for easy contact later, and it also shows that you are professional; not to mention, it may help the employer to remember your name.
Want more interview tips? Then you definitely need to read these two articles below. Click on link 1. or 2. to read more:
Did I leave any tips out? What tips do you have that you can share with Africa? Please share the knowledge below.
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