Preparing for a Job Interview: What You Should Know

Got a lump in your throat in anticipation of a big upcoming job interview? You don’t have to be stressed.

Only about 20% of applicants make it to the interview stage for a job posting, so you should count yourself in good company if you’ve made it this far. You should also take solace in the fact that there are some tried and true tips for acing the interview.

Learning how to prepare for a job interview will help you not just for this position, but also for your overall professional development. The tips below will help you prepare for a job interview so that you can land the new job of your dreams.

Dress for the Job You Want

Take your new job interview as an opportunity to expand your wardrobe. Making money for and with a company is as much a social activity as anything else. This means you should learn the dress code of your industry and show that you’re willing to put your best foot forward.

A man should have at least one blue, gray, and tan colored suit and women should find a mixture of pants suits and dresses that fit their tastes.

Tighten Up Your Resume

Your resume will either sell you to a company or sell you short. Resumes should provide a glowing display of your job skills, in addition to a concise explanation of your work history.

Here are some points that’ll help you create the perfect resume:

• Keep it to one to two pages whenever possible
• Use positive, action-oriented language
• Find a visually pleasing template
• Come up with some solid references that will speak for you
• Highlight the most impressive accomplishments or previously held positions

A resume doctor can help you either craft one from scratch or fix it up to get more bites on interviews. You can also get your hands on a free resume builder that will let you fill one out yourself.

Practice Your Speaking and Hold a Mock Interview

Work on both your verbal and non-verbal communication going into a job interview. Focus on speaking clearly with good diction and pronunciation. You can do jaw exercises that help you open up your mouth more with you speak, and use your tongue to enunciate.

Be mindful of your body language as well, since studies show that 55% of communication is non-verbal. Learn to maintain correct posture and maintain eye contact with whoever you’re talking to. These little details display confidence and that you’re the right person for the job.

Research the Company, Position, and Industry

Do your homework going into the interview so that you can speak eloquently about the company, the job role, and the industry as a whole. The more research you do into these matters, the more you’ll be ready for any curveball questions.

The company wants to see that you’re not only currently qualified, but also ready to grow into bigger and better roles. Dedicate yourself to non-stop learning in your industry so that you’re always prepared when these opportunities present themselves.

Prepare for a Job Interview Like a Champion

The tips above will help you prepare for a job interview so that you can build your career brick by brick. Once you learn how to nail an interview, you’ll feel more confident to apply to positions that serve your goals.

Keep building your skillset so that you can improve both your personal and professional life. Begin with these words of advice and check out our other articles related to business and career development.