5 Things To Do Before Your Interview

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5 Things To Do Before Your Interview

You were fortunate enough to get a call back for an interview. That’s great news! But also not the time to rest. Your journey is just beginning and smart candidates continue to prepare for success. Now that you know the time & date of the interview, it’s the perfect time to begin ensuring you are fully ready for what lies ahead. Here are 5 things to do before your interview.

1. Triple check résumé. You want everything to be perfect to help you stand out from the other applicants. If it comes down to you and another candidate, a simple typo or oversight may be the difference in the decision. While I obviously believe in the importance of what I do as a Certified Résumé Writer and recommend enlisting in our services for help, this point is critical regardless. Finding the right job is important enough to exhaust all resources and efforts.

2. Conduct a mock interview. Have someone ask you potential interview questions (search for common interview questions to find these) and practice verbalizing your response. It helps to actually say them out loud prior to the interview rather than simply thinking them in your head. If you feel awkward or don’t have anyone to practice with, verbalize your responses in front of the mirror.

3. Have a strong, positive closing remark. Studies have shown that the two most influential points in any conversation are the first moment and the last moment. Your closing remark will be remembered after you leave the room. Reassure them that this is your dream job and you’re prepared to work as hard as necessary to make the team more successful. If it’s intimidating to say that in front of the interview team, practice saying it aloud a few times the night before so it feels more natural.

4. Update your references. References are often an overlooked piece of the interview process. People tend to find quality references initially but forget to continuously update them. There is a good chance that your network has grown, in size and status, since you began your current job. Also, be sure that all e-mail addresses and phone numbers are still accurate. Employers are not going to spend all day trying to track someone down if their contact information isn’t accurate. If possible, give your references a heads up that you are interviewing and listing them as a reference. This way, they can give some thought to what they want to say about you.

5. Prepare relevant questions. This is sometimes easier said than done, but it is best to have at least one relevant question about the position for which you are applying. It also leads to a smoother conclusion to the interview (remember what I said about the last moment being important). If nothing else, you can always reiterate that you are excited for this opportunity and curious about the timeline for moving forward.

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