Maximising Your Interview Performance
Getting ready for your next job interview? Do you plan to follow your usual routine? Simply reviewing the job requirements and browsing the company website, only to then fret about how to recall all that information on the actual day? Or would you prefer to learn some effective methods to prepare for your upcoming job interview and approach it with confidence and enthusiasm?
Here are a few techniques that can aid you in your preparation and enhance your probability of success.
Consider what is important to you
Before diving into your job interview preparation, let’s take a few moments to reflect on your career goals. Have you ever considered what your ideal job looks like?
I often ask my coaching clients to complete a Career Wheel exercise, which is also featured in my eBook. This exercise helps you identify what is crucial to you in a job, what has been missing in your career, and what you aspire for in the future. You may prioritise your relationships with colleagues, management, or customers.
Alternatively, the physical environment could be a significant factor, such as location, commute, or access to outdoor spaces. Considerations like salary, vacation time, and employee benefits should be weighed against work-life balance, professional development opportunities, and career advancement prospects.
Get clear about what great looks like to you
When it comes to job interviews, it is important to have a clear understanding of what you are looking for in each aspect of your work life. What makes a great commute for one person may not be the same for another. Some may prefer the convenience of working from home, while others enjoy the routine of a daily commute.
Similarly, everyone has their own preferred level of customer interaction. While some thrive on face-to-face meetings, others may prefer to work behind the scenes.
Taking the time to consider these areas of your work life can help you approach job interviews with confidence and enthusiasm!
Research the company culture when preparing for your job interview
Before your interview, take advantage of the opportunity to investigate the company and determine how closely their values align with your own concept of excellence. You will be pleased to know that the research process has become increasingly effortless thanks to the numerous resources at your disposal.
Although ideally, you would have completed this research prior to submitting your application, if you have yet to do so… do it now!
Visit the company’s website
It goes without saying that conducting thorough research before your upcoming job interview is crucial. While visiting the company’s website is a must, it is important to keep in mind that the site is designed to highlight the company’s strengths and present it in the best possible light. It is essentially a virtual storefront, where everything appears polished and perfect.
Therefore, it is essential to keep your priorities in mind and carefully examine the information available on the website. By doing so, you can gain valuable insights into the company’s culture, values, and work environment, helping you make an informed decision about your next career move.
Check social media pages
For those seeking insight into a company’s culture, social media platforms offer a wealth of information. The company’s website will typically provide links to their social media pages, which can offer a glimpse into their charity work and team activities on platforms like Meta, formerly known as Facebook. Meanwhile, X, formerly known as Twitter, can offer an unfiltered look at what others are saying about the company, both positive and negative.
If you’re preparing for an upcoming job interview, taking a proactive approach to engaging with the company on social media can be beneficial. Consider liking and following their accounts and sharing positive comments on their posts.
Additionally, LinkedIn can be a valuable resource for researching existing employees and gaining insight into the person who will be interviewing you. (You can look at their profiles anonymously if you prefer.)
By leveraging social media effectively, you can gain a more comprehensive understanding of a company’s culture and make a positive impression during the interview process!
Don’t forget to Google the company
It’s always a good idea to gather as much information as possible about the company you’re interested in. One way to do this is by searching for their name on Google and checking out their reviews. This will give you an idea of what other people think of the company, which can be helpful in preparing for your interview.
Additionally, you may want to look for recent news articles about the company. If they’ve recently landed a big contract or opened a new location, this could be useful information to bring up during your interview.
Doing your research will not only help you feel more confident, but it will also show the interviewer that you’re genuinely interested in the company and its success!
Check on Glassdoor
Glassdoor.com is a valuable resource to check out. It can be compared to Trip Advisor for job seekers, but with one significant difference – all the reviews are anonymous. On this site, previous and current employees have the opportunity to rate their employers. While negative reviews from disgruntled employees could be forgiven, it’s essential to see a fair share of positive ones too. Since there’s no incentive for employees to leave positive reviews, a good number of rave reviews is undoubtedly a good sign.
A visit to Glassdoor as you prepare for your next job interview is a must!
Record your findings
So, you’ve done some in dept research on your possible new boss! Fingers crossed you jotted down some notes because now you can start piecing together whether their values align with yours and if they tick off all the boxes on your must-have list.
Your next step
It’s important to approach a job opportunity with caution, as what may have seemed perfect on paper may not be the case. While researching for your upcoming interview, you may have come across something that has caused doubt or concern.
In this situation, you have a couple of options. You could choose to cancel the interview and politely explain that you don’t feel like you would be a good fit for the company. It’s important to be prepared to offer feedback if they ask why you came to this decision.
Alternatively, you could attend the interview and see firsthand what the company is like. Meeting current employees and experiencing the atmosphere may pleasantly surprise you and help you make a more informed decision. Just come with an open mind and see for yourself!
If your research has confirmed that this company truly aligns with your goals and values, you’ll be over the moon! Feeling excited about the company and the role before the interview already sets you apart from other candidates who haven’t done their homework as well as you have.
Good luck!
Book Your Interview Prep Coaching Sessions Here
For one-to-one help getting super-prepared for your next interview, please click the button above to book your Interview Prep Sessions with me, Louise Jenner, The Dream Job Coach. We’ll meet in person, online via Zoom for 2 sessions. There will be some homework for you to complete in between our meetings.
“In my opinion there has never been a better time to conduct a career change than right now. The companies that are hiring now are looking for great people who will do a brilliant job for them. That’s YOU, isn’t it?”
Louise Jenner, The Dream Job Coach.
Copyright: Louise Jenner, 2023.
This blog was first published by Louise Jenner in 2020 and was updated in 2023 by Falcon Digital.
