1. RESEARCH THE COMPANY: 

Learn as much as possible about the company’s history, products, services, and culture. 

Thorough research will equip you to answer questions about why you want to work for the company and align your responses with its mission and values.  A solid understanding of the company’s goals and objectives and how the role fits into the company’s overall strategy will also result in you articulating your long-term vision for the position.

Understanding the company culture and demonstrating how they would fit in can improve their chances of landing the job.

Your knowledge of the company’s competitors and its position in the market will enable you to highlight your unique strengths and demonstrate your understanding of the industry.

GET INFORMATION FROM:

• Company websites, a starting point, are companies’ official websites, where you can find information about their history, mission, values, and products/services.

• ​Read recent news articles about the company to stay updated on current events and learn about their business dealings.

• ​Crunchbase and similar websites provide
  • business insights about private and public companies;
  • investors;
  • new articles, and industry competitors.

• Glassdoor is another excellent source of information to read reviews and learn about a company’s culture, management, and compensation.

• LinkedIn is a top source to find information on the company and their employees, see what they have posted, and gain insight into its culture and values. Exploring the hiring manager, and team, their backgrounds, experiences, knowledge and communication styles will give you an advantage. If possible, contact current company employees during the final interview and ask about their work experiences.

2. REVIEW YOUR OWN SOCIAL MEDIA FOOTPRINT:

Remember that in the same way, you research prospective employers, future hiring managers will look into your social media footprint. 

3. REVIEW THE JOB DESCRIPTION:

Gain a better understanding of what the interviewer is searching for by becoming familiar with the duties, necessities, and qualifications associated with the job.

4. KNOW YOUR CV:

Ensure that you are familiar with the content of your CV – employment dates, project experiences and accomplishments. Consider what the interviewer wants to know and what would apply to the organisation. 

5.  PREPARE FOR YOUR INTERVIEW:

Struggling to articulate ideas and work experiences can interfere with applicants’ ability to sell themselves and effectively convey their value to prospective employers. Preparing for potential questions and answers will manage stress levels and support fluent, knowledgeable responses.

(A)  Common interview questions:

• Prepare answers to common interview questions by considering your experiences, skills, and qualities that make you a good fit for the job. 

(B)  Beharviour l Interview Questions:

• Besides questions about interests, knowledge areas and experience, HR representatives and Hiring Managers often ask behavioural interview questions designed to assess how a candidate has behaved in past situations to predict future behaviour. The interviewer asks questions about past experiences to determine how the candidate handled specific challenges and to evaluate their problem-solving skills, teamwork, leadership, and other important qualities. 

Examples of behavioural interview questions include:

• “Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult co-worker.”
• “Can you describe a situation where you had to make a tough decision?”
• “Can you give an example of how you have handled a challenge in your previous role?”
• “Describe a situation where you had to work with a team to achieve a common goal.”

To assist you in preparing for behavioural interview questions, focusing on the job description (JD) can be helpful:

• Identify the critical skills and competencies required for the role. Review the JD and list the critical skills and competencies needed for the position. This will help you understand what the interviewer is looking for and allow you to prepare relevant examples.
• Consider your past experiences and look for examples (real-life workplace scenarios) demonstrating your skills and competencies. Focus on experiences that align with the critical requirements listed in the JD.
• Prepare short stories that illustrate your experiences and highlight your skills and competencies. Be sure to include specific details and results/achievements to support your claims.
• Practice your responses out loud to help enhance your delivery and build confidence. Practice answering different variations of behavioural questions to help you prepare for a wide range of questions.
• Behavioural interview questions often lead to follow-up questions that ask for more detail. Prepare for these by thinking about the impact of your actions and the results of your experiences.

(C) Technical Interview Questions:

Technical interview questions assess your knowledge, skills, and experience concerning the job requirements. The interviewer may ask you about your understanding of core concepts, how you approach solving problems and your experience with specific technologies or tools. Depending on the job requirement, this could be coding, algorithms, data structures, systems design etc.

It’s essential to articulate your thought processes and explain your steps to solve a problem, even if the final solution is imperfect. The interviewer evaluates your technical ability and ability to communicate effectively and work well under pressure.

It’s a good idea to prepare for various theoretical and practical questions and be ready to provide relevant examples from your past experiences. 

• Use online platforms and familiarise yourself with different coding languages.
• Prepare for whiteboard coding and be ready to write code on a whiteboard and explain your thought process.
• Familiarise yourself with commonly used tools and technologies in the industry.
• Read technical books, articles, and blogs related to the job requirements.
• Attend technical workshops and conferences to stay updated with industry trends and developments.
• Participate in online coding challenges and hackathons to practice your skills.
• Practising with a mock interviewer can be a great way to prepare and build confidence for a technical interview. It allows you to get feedback on your communication skills, problem-solving approach, and technical knowledge. 

6.  APPEARANCE AND DRESS CODE:

• Appearance matters during an interview because it makes a first impression on the interviewer and can impact the perception of the candidate’s professionalism, attention to detail, and level of respect for the company and the interview process.

• A well-groomed appearance can help establish trust and credibility with the interviewer. A polished appearance can further signal confidence.

• Candidates should consider company culture when contemplating a suitable interview dress code.

The dress code can vary greatly depending on the industry, type of company, and specific role. Researching the company and understanding its expectations for interview attire is important. For example, if the company has a more formal dress code, it is appropriate to dress in formal business attire such as a suit or dress. On the other hand, if the company has a more relaxed and casual culture, dressed-down clothing such as business casual may be more suitable. Additionally, it is always better to err on the side of dressing more formally for an interview. 

7.  STAY CALM:

• It is completely normal to feel nervous during an interview.  Being overly nervous can result in candidates not communicating effectively, missing key points, or not presenting themselves in the best light.

• Interview nerves can be addressed through thorough interview preparation, practising the interview with a friend or family member, getting enough rest, dressing appropriately, and arriving early at the interview location.

• Focus on your strengths and accomplishments and be yourself. Authenticity is critical during an interview. Don’t try to be someone you’re not. Be yourself, and let your personality shine through. 

• Don’t feel pressured to answer questions quickly. Take your time, and think through your answers.