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Here are the top 10 things to do when preparing for a job interview!

In recruitment, it is common to share the reasons for not selecting a candidate following an interview. But wouldn’t it be lovely to know? What actions you can take to ensure you have the best possible chance of being selected for the job? In this blog you will find 10 helpful tips you can follow to help prepare for a job interview.

10 helpful tips to help candidates to prepare for a job interview

As an international recruitment organisation, EPSN Workforce has several recruiters around the world. We speak with a lot of people, working in different areas, having different experiences and living in various countries. The candidate who is prepared, makes the best impression. Therefore, here are 10 helpful tips you can follow to help prepare for your job interview:

1. (Digital) research vacancy, company and interviewer
Make sure you know everything about the company and vacancy you are applying for. Read the vacancy several times and visit the company’s website & socials. Check if they recently had a press release or featured in any news articles. Want to make an outstanding impression? Research the interviewer(s). Know who they are, thier position within the company and what background they come from. An easy LinkedIn profile check can help provide this information. 

2. Know what you want and like about the job your interviewing for
The job interview is a result of your interest in the vacancy. Make sure you know exactly what you like about the job.

3. know how the vacancy matches your current skill set. 
If there are any other ‘desirable’ requirements the employer is asking for, think about how you would like to develop/learn these skills. Can the employer offer support to develop your skill set?  

Good ways to think about the things you can, cannot, want and don’t want:

  • Create an elevator pitch. Think of a one-liner (between 30 and 120 seconds). In this elevator pitch, you explain who you are, what you like and dislike, your experience, your vision/mission and why you are a match with the vacancy and company.
  • Do a personality-test. In this way, a highly reliable test will explain who you are, which can help you and the job interviewer. Example: you can do the Belbin test or Discovery Insights (color test).

Extra advice: it can be an advantage if you recognise the job interviewer’s profile! If the recruiter is a ‘red person based on Discovery Insights’, you know he or she is direct, dominant and likes to score. You can easily give the person a good feeling by giving compliments.

4. Think of things to ask during the interview
In this way, recruiters see you as ‘proactive’ and well prepared for the interview. Here are potential questions to ask during a job interview:

  • What are the ambitions of the company?
  • What kind of team will you be working in? What is the company’s culture? Formal vs informal, work hard & play hard, etc?
  • Is the company offering studies or courses? How are they enabling  growth for you?

5. Prepare your answers for questions  from recruiters/job interviewers
You already attended a job interview(s)? In this case, you are familiar with the (standard) questions recruiters will ask you. Here you find a small list of these questions:

  • What are your qualities?
  • What are your weaknesses? 
  • What do you want to earn (salary)?
  • Other job and working benefits/conditions?
  • Can someone recommend you? What is his/her number or email address?

Our advice? Prepare your answers for these questions!

6. Think of examples
A job interviewer asks you what your qualities are. Luckily you are prepared for this question and you directly say: I am proactive! Now you can expect a follow up question: how so? Or can you give an example?

Make sure you have several examples to explain your answers.

7. Documents, certificates or other proof? Show it!
A great way to show your qualities, certificates or experience is to bring proof. In the digital area we live in, it is easy to collect everything on your phone, tablet or laptop. If this is not possible, bring your proof in hard copy. 

8. Representative: better be overdressed than underdressed
You can only make one first impression, make it a good one! In our first tip we advised you to do research in the company. Make sure you dress for the occasion. If it is an informal company it is ok to dress casual, but our advice is better to be overdressed than underdressed.

9. Stick to agreements 
Do you like to work with someone that does not stick to agreements? No, nobody does. The best advice is to stick to the agreements you make arranging the interview. Easy advice to follow is to be on time by checking Google Maps beforehand and think of an alternative way to travel if problems occur (public transport, car, bike, etc.).

10. Still (both) in doubt? Suggest working for a day and find out it is a match!
Followed all our advice and still feel doubt or you notice the job interviewer is not fully convinced? Than the perfect way to take away the doubt is suggesting a (free) working day. In this way, you can both check if it is a match.

Do you want to know more about these advices, have questions or suggestions? Feel free to contact us via +31 (0)40 7600055 or info@epsnworkforce.com.

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