How to prepare for first interview?

Ready to prepare for the first interview?

Are you first-time job interview searchers?

• Cheer up! Don’t feel a little bit nervous, stressed, and worried.
• Create a good impression about you to your employer by remaining calm and serene.

Have a simple glance over the tips listed below to help you as a first-time job seeker to make your first interview a victorious one.

“A job interview is not a test of your knowledge but your ability to use it at the right time”.

A careful examination of the job description(To help you prepare for the first interview)

• Use the employer’s posted job description as a guide.
• Job description-a list of qualities, qualifications, and background, the employer is searching for an efficient candidate.
• Convince your employer by giving all these details so that your employer will be able to confirm that you are a qualified candidate.
• The job description offers ideas to the interviewees about questions that the employer may raise throughout the interview.
• Prepare a list of the skills, personal and professional qualities, and knowledge that are needed by the employer.
• Take some time to analyze the job posting.

Perform research on the company or organization

• Take some time to research the organization/company.
• You can use the available online source to receive information about that particular company or organization.
• Researching the company or organization -a critical part to prepare for your first interview.
• It helps to provide context for interview conversations.
• Researching helps to focus on preparing thoughtful questions for the interviewers.
• Fully preparing for an interview helps you to remain calm and do an excellent performance.
• If you want to know about the organization/ company, you can check out the”About Us” and”Careers” section which is available on the website of the company or organization(If you are interviewing with a big number of employers).
• For a small number of employers, make a review of the company/organization website-to get an idea of what the company/organization is about.
• You can also check social media pages to ensure the special current focus of the company/organization.

Also Read: Tips To Be Successful In Life

Types of research to be done:

• Research the role and product or service of the company/organization.
• Research the company’s /organization’s culture.

Learn about the job

• Find out how much you can collect information about the post you have applied for.
• The more you know about the job, the easier it will be for you to answer questions about why you are an eligible person for it.
• Spend a few hours learning everything about the company.
• Talk to your friends.
• Maintain contact with your friends and relations.
• Read the current news releases.
• Browse your google.

Practice Interviewing

• Analyze and review the teenager’s guide of”interview questions and answers”.
• Ask your family members or your close friends to ask you some questions so that you can practice your answers regularly.
• You can also analyze and review another interview guide of “common interview questions”.
• These tips will enable you to practice interviewing so that you will be more comfortable with the interviewing process.
• Take another look at an interview guide of “Practice answering interview questions”.
• It will help you to calm your nerves and not to become tensed up.
• You can even use the phone interview method by asking your friend to give a cell call to help you practice answering questions over the phone.
• You can also use the panel interview method by asking your friends to pretend to be a panel expert.
• Another idea is to tape-record your answer and play it back to see whether you need to improve yourself.
• Make sure your practice consists of speaking aloud and rehearsing your answer in your mind.
• Another method of practising an interview is “video interview”.
• Proper “interview etiquette” is vital.
• Remember to extend a polite, enthusiastic, and pleasant greetings to the receptionist, your interviewer and everyone else you meet.
• During the interview, shake your hands firmly, pay attention, be interested, watch your body language, and make eye contact.

Dress Appropriately

• Choose simple and neat attire for the position you are interviewing.
• Don’t wait till the last minute to make sure whether your interview outfits are ready.
• When dressing for an interview for a professional position, dress accordingly in business attire.
• If you are applying for a casual job(a store or restaurant), it is important for you to be tidy, well-groomed, neat, clean, and present a positive image to the employer.
• Give due importance to your makeup and accessories when dressing for an interview.
• If you don’t know how to dress properly and wear the right dress outfit, ask your teacher, your family member, or counsellor to give you proper guidance.
• Concentrate on “what you should not wear” during a first job interview.
• Stick on to your grandma’s rule.
• Plan your perfect interview outfit.
• Make sure you get your outfit pressed, cleaned, and tailored.
• Shine your shoes.
• Check for loose ends.
• Manicure your fingernails.

Hairstyle

• Decide about your hairstyle.
• Your interviewer or employer is going to notice everything about you(your attire, your makeup, your hairstyle, and so on).
• So, make a good impression about you.
• You can refer to a research guide of “hairstyles for short, medium, and long hair”.

Write a good resume to prepare for your first job interview

• A good resume is a good impression for you to prepare for your first job interview.
• You must be very careful in preparing a good resume where you can include all your academic achievements, your informal experiences, your volunteering services, your participation in sports or clubs, etc.
• Have a copy of your resume with you when you go for an interview.
• Have a pen and paper to take down your notes.

Think Positive

• Don’t dwell on bad experiences.
• Be an optimist and be positive.

Get Directions

• Make sure where you are going for an interview so that you need not get lost but be a little punctual.
• If you are going for a face to face interview, you must know where you need to go.
• In that way, you can avoid going late for your interview.
• You can use your google map or similar apps to get directions if you are not sure where you are going.
• You can use your GPS program to find the best route to your place of the interview.
• Give yourself a few extra seconds and try to arrive at your interview spot a little earlier.
• If there is a need, you can confirm the interview time and place.

Send Thank You notes

• Consider your thank you letter as a sales letter.
• Type your thank you notes on paper or send them by email depending upon the interviewer’s desires.
• Do follow”a job interview with a thank you note or email” to show your interest in the job.
• Explain why you need the job, what are your qualifications, and how you will make significant contributions.

Additional Special Tips to help you prepare for your first job interview

• Be honest.
• Do inform your interviewer if you have sports or other activities that will conflict with your daily work schedule.
• Be confident in your skills and abilities when you are conversing with your interviewer.
• Remember this is your first job interview opportunity. You don’t have enough experience.
• So, be very careful in exhibiting your skills and abilities to your employer.
• Learn to be flexible.
• Make eye contact. Don’t be distracted.
• Be a good listener and take down notes.
• Incorporate all that you know about the company or organization in your discussion.
• If you feel flustered, give a pause and take a few breath to gather your ideas.
• Stay cool and calm.
• By the end of the interview, thank the interviewer for giving an opportunity.

“As a first job interview seeker, I hope that you have received a lot of ideas by spending your time reading this article on “How to prepare for the first interview?”.

Thank You!!

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