How to prepare for an interview in 3 steps

How to prepare for an interview in 3 steps How to prepare for an interview in 3 steps This is what to do before, during, and after a job interview.I cannot stress the importance of interview preparation too much! You only get one chance to prove to a potential employer why you’re the right candidate for the job. It’s imperative you walk in prepared for an interview with a premeditated plan for selling yourself.  Unfortunately, too many well-qualified candidates fail to spend enough time on interview preparation and subsequently lose out on a good offer.Interview prep not your forte? Try implementing this simple 3-step job interview preparation plan to help you score your ideal career.Step 1: Before the interviewLanding the interview is an accomplishment in its own right. But you still have a lot of prep work to do if you want to walk away with the job.Follow Ladders on Flipboard!Follow Ladders’ magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and more!Research the companyFirst, you’ll need to research the target company. Go through the company’s website, editorials and annual reports. Read up on their ongoing projects, future plans, and ultimate goals. Try to figure out the size of the company, how many employees they have and what kind of work environment they offer. You’ll use this information to demonstrate your knowledge of the company during the interview.Research the interviewerIf you are given the recruiters’ name beforehand, look into their social media profiles (Linkedin, Facebook, etc.). Try to find out their title, experience, and overall personality. This will help you prepare questions and give you more confidence to face him/her in person.Prepare questionsOnce you research the company, generate a list of questions that may be asked by the interviewer. Practice your responses. This will help ease your nerves when it’s time for the real thing. Next, prepare a list of questions to ask the interviewer. Ask about the role expectations, the culture, growth opportunitiesâ€" anything that will give you a clearer picture of what it would be like to work for this organization. Asking questions shows you’re not only engaged in the interview but interested and already thinking about your future with this company.Prepare copies of important documentsMake copies of your resume/CV and other important documents (cover letter, list of references, etc.) in advance. You don’t want to be scrambling to get your documents organized the day of the interview! Most recruiters will bring a copy of your submitted documents to the interview, but if they fail to, you’ll be a step ahead.Step 2: Day of the interviewYou’ve done the necessary prep work. Now let’s wow the recruiter.Dress for successAs a general rule, it’s best to dress in formal wear, or at the very least, business casual. Men, if you do not own a suit, wear a nice dress shirt and slacks. Women have a little more flexibility, but you can’t go wrong with a nice blouse, blazer and a long skirt (trousers are a lso acceptable). Accessories are fine too, in moderation. Neutral colors such as black, gray, brown and blue are suitable for both men and women.Eat somethingToo many candidates make the mistake of not eating before interviewing and suffer from a lack of attentiveness as a result. Before you go into the interview, eat a meal that contains vitamin E, omega 3 and antioxidants. This will improve brain functionality and help you stay alert.Arrive earlyMake sure to arrive at least 15-25 minutes before the interview begins. Arriving early sets the tone that you are a professional and will be reliable if offered the position. Don’t use your phone or other mobile devices to pass the time when waiting. Instead, you should spend this time practicing your prepared questions and responses in your head.Answering the questionsSpeak clearly and with confidence when interviewing. Play up your strengths and translatable skills to show how you could be a potential asset to the target company. Keep your answers short, simple and honest. Don’t try to be over smart- instead, present yourself as a confident and sensible professional. Never use slang words, clichés (eg. “I’m a people person”) or criticize a former employer when interviewing.Step 3: After the interviewYou were well-prepared and your answers to the recruiter’s inquiries provoked their interest. It’s time to solidify the deal.Leaving the InterviewAfter the interview has concluded, shake hands with the interviewer(s) and thank them for their time. If they don’t tell you when they will contact you going forward, ask about their expected decision-making period. Keep your head held high and leave with confidence.Following upAfter an appropriate amount of time (approximately 24 hours), follow up with the recruiter. Send each interviewer a thank-you note. Seventy-five percent of interviewers confirmed that thank-you notes impact their decision process. So do yourself a favor and send a well-written, persona lized response that reiterates why you’re the best candidate for the position.Knowing exactly what is expected of you before, during and after an interview will put you in the best position to prove you’re the best candidate for any job. Incorporate these tips into your interview strategy and your dream job will be yours in no time!This article was first published on January 10, 2017. How to prepare for an interview in 3 steps This is what to do before, during, and after a job interview.I cannot stress the importance of interview preparation too much! You only get one chance to prove to a potential employer why you’re the right candidate for the job. It’s imperative you walk in prepared for an interview with a premeditated plan for selling yourself.  Unfortunately, too many well-qualified candidates fail to spend enough time on interview preparation and subsequently lose out on good offers.Related from Ladders How to answer ‘Why are you looking for a new job?’ How to answer the 5 most important interview questions 4 ways to take the initiative after a terrible job interview Interview prep not your forte? Try implementing this simple 3-step job interview preparation plan to help you score your ideal career.Step 1: Before the interviewLanding the interview is an accomplishment in its own right. But you still have a lot of prep work to do if you want to walk away with the job.Research the companyFirst, you’ll need to research the target company. Go through the company’s website, editorials and annual reports. Read up on their ongoing projects, future plans and ultimate goals. Try to figure out the size of company, how many employees they have and what kind of work environment they offer. You’ll use this information to demonstrate your knowledge of the company during the interview.Research the interviewerIf you are given the recruiters’ name beforehand, look into their social media profiles (Linkedin, Facebook, etc.). Try to find out their title, experience and overall personality. This will help you prepare questions and give you more confidence to face him/her in person.Prepare questionsOnce you research the company, generate a list of questions that may be asked by the interviewer. Practice your responses. This will help ease your nerves when it’s time for the real thing. Next, prepare a list of questions to ask the interviewer. Ask about the role expectations, the culture, growth opportunitiesâ€" anything that will give you a clearer picture of what it would be like to work for this organization. Asking questions shows you’re not only engaged in the interview, but interested and already thinking about your future with this company.Prepare copies of important documentsMake copies of your resume/CV and other important documents (cover letter, list of references, etc.) in advance. You don’t want to be scrambling to get your documents organized the day of the interview! Most recruiters will bring a copy of your submitted documents to the interview, but if they fail to, you’ll be a step ahead.Step 2: Day of the intervie wYou’ve done the necessary prep work. Now let’s wow the recruiter.Dress for successAs a general rule, it’s best to dress in formalwear, or at the very least, business casual. Men, if you do not own a suit, wear a nice dress shirt and slacks. Women have a little more flexibility, but you can’t go wrong with a nice blouse, blazer and a long skirt (trousers are also acceptable). Accessories are fine too, in moderation. Neutral colors such as black, gray, brown and blue are suitable for both men and women.Eat somethingToo many candidates make the mistake of not eating before interviewing and suffer from a lack of attentiveness as a result. Before you go into the interview, eat a meal that contains vitamin E, omega 3 and antioxidants. This will improve brain functionality and help you stay alert.Arrive earlyMake sure to arrive at least 15-25 minutes before the interview begins. Arriving early sets the tone that you are a professional and will be reliable if offered the position. Don’t use your phone or other mobile devices to pass time when waiting. Instead, you should spend this time practicing your prepared questions and responses in your head.Answering the questionsSpeak clearly and with confidence when interviewing. Play up your strengths and translatable skills to show how you could be a potential asset to the target company. Keep your answers short, simple and honest. Don’t try to be over smart- instead present yourself as a confident and sensible professional. Never use slang words, clichés (ig. “I’m a people person”) or criticize a former employer when interviewing.Step 3: After the interviewYou were well-prepared and your answers to the recruiter’s inquires provoked their interest. It’s time to solidify the deal.Leaving the InterviewAfter the interview has concluded, shake hands with the interviewer(s) and thank them for their time. If they don’t tell you when they will contact you going forward, ask about their expected decision- making period. Keep your head held high and leave with confidence.Following upAfter an appropriate amount of time (approximately 24 hours), follow up with the recruiter. Send each interviewer a thank-you note. Seventy-five percent of interviewers confirmed that thank-you notes impact their decision process. So do yourself a favor and send a well-written, personalized response that reiterates why you’re the best candidate for the position.Knowing exactly what is expected of you before, during and after an interview will put you in the best position to prove you’re the best candidate for any job. Incorporate these tips into your interview strategy and your dream job will be yours in no time!