4 Ways To Prep Before Your Next Job Interview

By Lydia Erickson on June 6, 2016

We’ve all had bad interviews, and even the good ones can be a little nerve-wracking. Read the tips below for 4 ways to prep before your next job interview.

Image by Steve Petrucelli on flickr.com

1. Get your head (and your body!) in the game.

Your brain is a part of your body, so the first of your 4 ways to prep before your next job interview should be self-care. Be nice to your body. Exercise, especially running or yoga, can raise your happiness level and lower your stress.

Try mindfulness meditation to reduce your anxiety and practice present-ness, a skill you will need during your interview. Eat brain foods, like dark chocolate, almonds, or salmon. Make sure to sleep the night before the interview. Finally, try power posing while you prep and channel your inner Wonder Woman.

2. Clothes make the (wo)man.

Choose a good interview outfit way ahead of time. Black and darker blues are both great choices for colors and will show that you are serious. Avoid too much red and stay away from brighter colors. Men can stick to pants, a button down, and a blazer, while women can wear that or a sheath dress, a blouse and pencil skirt, etc.

Make sure that your clothes are both professional and something that you feel comfortable and confident in — the goal of your wardrobe should be to give you confidence in yourself, and to demonstrate to your interviewer that you are serious and experienced.

3. Don’t be scared, just be prepared.

Job interview prep should include going over all the questions your interviewer might ask. Prepare a fitting answer for the classics, like “tell me about yourself.” Select a flaw you’re working on improving for “what’s your biggest weakness?”

Know exactly why you want to work for the company, why they should hire you, and what they will be looking for. Have a few, perhaps three, go-to stories on hand, ideally ones that show you working with clients or coworkers to solve a problem. Figure out which questions you want to ask the interviewer and make them thoughtful.

Read about the company and their mission statement and see if you can work what you learn into your answers. Never speak poorly of former bosses or coworkers, and avoid easy answers to questions. Make your interview kit — resume, references, notepad, and a pen — and check ahead of time to see if the interviewer wants anything specific. Make sure your purse, murse, satchel, etc., is all cleaned out and ready to go.

4. Finally, communication is key.

Go over all the emails to see what you may need. Where should you wait once you’re inside the building? What is the interviewer’s name? Keep in mind that your interviewer is human, too, and they almost certainly want you to succeed. If they work at a company you’re interested in, chances are they’re also someone you want to meet or even emulate, and they have definitely gone through the interview process before.

Say hello, smile, and meet their eyes when you meet them. Make sure to listen as much as you speak. A huge part of being confident, charming, and cheerful consists of being present, and giving other people genuine, considerate attention. By taking care of yourself, physically and mentally, and preparing for the interview, you will remove any causes you may have for fear, and be able to give all your focus to your interviewer.

That’s all, folks! Good luck with your interviews, and let us know of any tricks we may have missed in the comments.

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