Getting prepared for a job interview can be overwhelming. Moreover, if it is your first job interview, you may get a little perplexed as to how to prepare for the event. The fact is – you are not alone in this. Everyone goes through the same confusing state of mind at the time of facing their first interview. It is famously known as the interview jitter.
However, if you are wondering how to make a great first impression on the interview and secure the job, here is a quick list of tips you can follow.
Equip Yourself With Knowledge
Data is available everywhere. You will see an overwhelming amount of information available online. Due to this, data accumulation can be an easy task. Before you appear at the job interview table, gather as much information about the organization as you can. Exploring the recent news updates is essential. People often give up after reading through the company website. This is a wrong approach because websites don’t get updated daily. Therefore, you will not get the information about any recent updates. Company social media profiles are also essential platforms. You can gather a lot of news and information from social media postings. The time you spend on research will eventually help you make a great first impression.
Remember Your Resume Like The Back Of Your Hands
It will be embarrassing to miss out on a point you have written in your resume. Human resource professionals can ask anything from your resume. If you fail to reply accordingly, you may lose your chance to grab the job. For this reason, you should know your resume well and prepare for the interview questions. In addition, don’t copy anything from the internet, not even the objective. The interviewers can ask questions from the objective as well. Therefore, be careful about anything you write in your resume. The best way to avoid an embarrassing situation is to – be brutally honest about what you put in your CV.
Anticipating Interview Questions
If it is your first job interview and you are nervous, you should create a mock interview session. You will get mock interview questions online. These will help you prepare yourself for the upcoming event. Don’t shy away from asking your friends or families to help you in the mock interview.
Pay special attention to the most dreading question – tell me something about yourself. A first-timer can get confused and begin to recite their resume only. However, the interviewers don’t look for what’s in your CV. Rather they look for what’s not there in your resume. Therefore, instead of reciting your CV, be sure to speak about yourself.
Dress For Success
It is important to look smart and decent on your interview day. Nothing makes a great first impression better than smart attire. Therefore, plan your dress according to the job role you have applied for. Some job roles like journalism or field jobs accept informal attires. However, you should not appear in an interview wearing denim and a t-shirt. It will make a wrong impression and you may lose the job opportunity. Therefore, it is important to dress formally when you are appearing for an interview.
A little pampering is important when you are getting ready for a job interview. However, going overboard with dressing is not a good idea. Try to be simple yet elegant. It will help you stand out at the time of the interview.
Get Your Documents Ready
Appearing at an interview without your resume looks unprofessional. Therefore, carry at least two copies of your resume with you. The company may ask for an additional copy.
Lastly, brush up on your body language before appearing for an interview. A professional body language training session can be helpful if you are appearing for an interview for the first time.