You've been asked to attend an interview - congratulations! Now what? Preparing for your interview will help you perform well, reduce your nerves and increase your chances of getting the job.
Research
Learn as much as you can about the company and its reputation - it will be easy to research big companies but may be harder if it's a small business. Start with their website, read their annual reports, read about them in the press and if possible, speak to others who either work there or know the company quite well. Know:
- The size of the company
- The products and/or services it offers
- The target market
- The workplace culture
Prepare for interview questions
Identify your key strengths and think of examples of how you can demonstrate that your have the right skills to successfully do the job. The interviewer may also ask you about your weaknesses. Think of ways you can answer these questions in a positive way - answer with a weakness that doesn't relate to the role you've applied for or state how you're currently working to improve a weakness.
If an interviewer ever addresses a gap in your skills or knowledge, express your willingness to learn.
Use Seek's Virtual Interviewer (new window) to practice your responses to common interview questions.
What should I wear?
What you wear depends entirely on the type of job and company. If you're unsure, it's best to dress conservatively in a dark suit, and always ensure you're well groomed. Avoid:
- Dirty, stained or torn clothing
- Overpowering perfume or aftershave
- Noisy jewellery
- Loud ties or shirts
- Sheer fabrics and low cut blouses
- Bringing large and bulky or numerous bags
- Anything else that's going to distract
Good luck!
Links
Seek - Job Search Strategies
Check out the Job Interviews section of this page for interview tips and ideas.
Career One - Interview Tips
Tips and info to help you get ready for that killer interview.
For more about job interviews, check out our Job interviews toolkit, with videos, downloadable tip sheets and intereactive online quizzes.
