If you have a job interview coming up, you should spend time preparing for it. In fact, the more you prepare for the interview, the better you’re likely to perform. How should you start preparing for a job interview the week before it’s scheduled? And what can you do on that day to maximize your chances of being hired?
The Week Before
The week before your job interview, assuming you have that much time to prepare, you should focus on the following:
- Polish up your skills. If you want to give yourself even more of an edge, consider polishing up your skills. You’re not going to be able to get years of experience in a week, but you can add some extra things to your resume or portfolio in anticipation of this interview. As a simple example, you can get certified to safely operate forklift equipment online in just a few hours. It’s unlikely that any single skill or certification is going to land you the job, but cumulatively, these little things help.
- Prepare some canned responses (but don’t go overboard). Although some companies take extremely novel approaches to interviews, you’ll likely be asked some familiar questions, like what your five-year plan is or what your greatest weakness is. Consider going over some of these common questions and preparing some canned responses; in other words, think about what you might want to say in these situations. That said, you shouldn’t go overboard. If you prepare too much, your responses are going to sound formulaic and robotic. Interviewers want to see authenticity and personality.
- Research the company and your interviewer. Spend time researching the company you want to work for and your interviewer, specifically, if possible. The more you know about the environment you’re entering, the better you’ll be able to perform. Remember to cater your responses to this specific employer and environment, rather than simply returning generic messages. And if you can show that you’ve done your homework, it’s going to make a positive impact.
- Prepare your route (or technology). If you’re going to drive or otherwise travel to the place of the interview, prepare your route ahead of time; make sure you know exactly how long it takes, and develop some alternative pathways in case there are unforeseen circumstances. This way, you can practically guarantee you’re going to be on time. If it’s a virtual interview, you’ll need to prepare your technological setup. Test the conferencing software and update your computer to avoid any possible issues.
- Finalize and print your resumes. Use this week to finalize and print some resumes. Your interviewer may already have an advanced copy of your resume, but it still shows preparedness to arrive with available copies in the event you have multiple interviewers.
- Check your wardrobe. Speculate about what you might want to wear to the interview. It’s important to dress for the job you want and dress in a way that flatters you. With a week to prepare, you should have time to make any repairs or modifications necessary to your favorite outfit.
- Practice mock interviews. Many people benefit from practicing with mock interviews. You can have a spouse, a parent, or another friend or family member pretend to interview you so you get used to the experience. This is especially important if you haven’t been to a job interview in a long time.
- Create backup plans (if necessary). You should also use this week to create a handful of backup plans. What are you going to do if your computer doesn’t work and the virtual interview is about to start? What if you get a question you don’t know how to answer?
The Day Before
The day before your job interview, consider focusing on these items:
- Get prepared. Do everything you can to prepare for the day of the interview. That could mean laying out your clothes, getting gas for your car, or even pre-making portions of your breakfast. The less you have to worry about the next day, the better.
- Set your alarm early. If your interview is in the morning, consider setting your alarm extra early. This will give you more time to wake up, acclimate, and take care of all your responsibilities so you can focus on the interview when the time comes.
- Check the details. Double-check all the details to make sure your memory is accurate. Are your resumes technically perfect? Are you sure about what this company does and what its values are?
- Relax. It’s normal to be nervous before an interview, but you need tomake a focused effort to relax if you want to do your best. Engage in activities that make you calm and at peace.
The Morning Of
At long last, the morning of your interview will arrive. Hopefully, you’ve done all the prep work necessary to feel confident and ready for the opportunity that lies ahead. This is a great chance to do a final run-through of all your most important items, make sure you have all the necessary materials to bring, and spend some extra time putting yourself together so you look your best.
From there, it’s simply a matter of executing the work you’ve already done and determining whether this is the best fit for you.
