You just got the call: They want to bring you in for an interview! After celebrating for a moment it hits you, that nervous feeling that many people get when they’re getting ready for an interview. What will I need to bring? What should I wear? How early is too early to get there? Should I eat something beforehand? All these questions and more flood your mind, and it can get to be a little overwhelming. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for your interview like a pro!
Get Some Rest
No one is at their best when they are tired, and that goes double when you have an interview. It can be hard to answer questions and explain your experience when you’re struggling to stay awake. Make sure you get to bed at a reasonable time, and try to have your interview scheduled for a time that’s late enough in the day for you to be awake, alert, and ready to go; and don’t spend your night before your interview out partying (save that for after you get the job!).
Dress the Part
“Dress for the job you want, not the job you have” as the saying goes; but that may not always be the best course of action for an interview. You definitely want to be dressed well for your interview, but you also want to make sure that what you’re wearing meshes well and makes sense for the position you’re applying for. You wouldn’t want to wear jeans and a t-shirt to an interview for a clerical or office administrative position; just like you probably wouldn’t wear a suit to an interview for general labor work. Company culture is also a factor in determining what to wear. Some companies have a more relaxed dress code, and that can be reflected in what you wear to your interview. Do your homework on the company and come dressed appropriately. If you’re still not sure what to wear, business casual is often the safest bet (i.e. dress pants with belt, tucked in dress shirt, dress shoes, etc.)
Fuel Up
Just like its hard to function when you’re tired, its hard to function when you’re hungry. Before you head into your interview make sure you eat something so that you give the interview your full attention and you’re not distracted thinking about how you should’ve stopped at that McDonald’s you saw on your way in. Speaking of, you want to make sure when you do eat something, its not messy or something heavy that will leave you feeling lethargic. You don’t want to ruin your interview outfit right before you head in to speak to a recruiter, and you definitely don’t want to be left feeling worse than before you ate. Instead, try to eat something light about an hour before your interview time to make sure you’re feeling energized and focused.
Prepare For The Worst
Whatever can go wrong will go wrong, and its important that you prepare for anything that might come up between waking up in the morning and sitting down for your interview. Keep extra copies of your resume on hand, lay out your interview clothes the night before, check traffic reports so you know if you need to leave early, etc. You want to make sure that in the event that something goes wrong, you’re prepared to adapt and still make it on time for your interview. Make sure you know the contact information of the recruiter you will be meeting with in the event the worst case scenario happens and you need to cancel or reschedule your interview. If this happens, try to call in well in advance of your interview time; and if it is something that comes up last minute, make sure you briefly explain your reasoning and communicate you apologize for the inconvenience and would still very much like to meet with them.
Arrive On Time
Punctuality is important when you’re attending an interview. The recruiter has taken time out of their day to meet with you, and you want to repay that by being on time. The best bet is to arrive early, but not TOO early. You don’t want to be sitting in the lobby waiting for 20-30 minutes; and in some cases, there won’t be a lobby to wait in. The best course of action is to arrive 5-10 minutes early to allow time to be checked in. In the event you are running late, make sure you either contact the recruiter directly or their office to let them know you will be running late. In some cases, you may need to reschedule the interview; be sure to ask what the best date/time would be for another interview, and adjust your schedule accordingly.
Come Prepared
Making it on time and dressed well for your interview doesn’t count for much if you haven’t brought everything you need along with you. The must haves include your resume and at least two forms of identification, but there are several other items you should consider bringing as well to maximize your interview time. These include a notepad and paper for taking notes, directions to your interview location as well as contact information for the person you are meeting with, a list of professional references if they aren’t already listed on your resume, and a list of questions to ask the interviewer about the position or company. It may also benefit you to bring a portfolio of relevant work you have done in the past if the position you applied for requires previous experience.