Times are certainly tough for job seekers at the moment, but there is no harm in being prepared for when you land an interview. Employers have never had a better time in terms of the quality and number of job applicants available. However, by doing a bit of research and preparing properly you can give yourself every chance of making a good impression.
Employers are usually unimpressed if the interviewee knows nothing about the organisation where they are applying for work it shows a lack of initiative. So it is useful to know a bit about the company before you go in the door. Find out what products or services the company is involved in, how big the company is, and whether they have other premises or offices. If you know of somebody who works there already, or works in the same industry and knows about the business or organisation, try to talk to them in advance. Check to see if there is a company website, and stick their name into Google to see what comes up.
Research the job itself too. Have a clear idea of the duties and responsibilities of the position that you ve applied for and what the role involves on a day-to-day basis. Analyse the job ad closely to find out what kind of person the company are looking for. Match the required qualities with the skills and qualifications you listed on your CV, and take the opportunity to bring this up during the interview. The interviewer will be impressed with how you seem to tick all the boxes.
There are a number of questions that tend to crop up in most interviews. It is a good idea to think in advance about what you will say if they are asked. There is no need to learn answers off by heart, but you can impress an interviewer by showing a readiness to address the specific issues they raise, rather than just providing a series of bland and forgettable answers.
Prepare a list of seven or eight things that you want the interviewer to remember about you after you leave the room. Pick things relevant to the job available examples can include courses you have studied, other work experience, personal qualities, related hobbies and interests, and obstacles you have overcome in the past.
Interviewers will usually ask if you have any questions of your own, so it is a good idea to have a few prepared. Ask about future career and promotion prospects and how the company or organisation is likely to develop in the future. This is a good chance to show your enthusiasm for the job and the company you want to work for. Remember to ask when the decision will be made, so you contact them if you have not heard anything by then, and are not fretting about whether you should have heard something a week or two later.
