Business English Course

How to prepare for a Job Interview

Preparing for a job interview is really important and can make the difference between getting the job and not getting it.  Here is a list of things that you should do before you go to any job interview.

 

1. Research the company on line.  

Go to the company website and look around.  Try to find out as much as you can about the company and be prepared to talk about it during the interview.  It’s good to know things like the company’s stock price, the future plans and goals of the company, as well as any major news that has to do with the company.  It’s a good idea to learn things about the company that are interesting to investors. 

 

2. Prepare some quality answers to common questions that employers often ask.

Don’t memorize answers or you will sound like a computer, but it’s smart to have a good idea of how you respond to the most common interview questions.

I’ve written a separate article about answering common interview questions here.

 

3. Make a list of intelligent questions that you want to ask the employer.

After you have answered the questions from your employer you will have an opportunity to ask some questions.  You should take advantage of this by asking intelligent questions to show that you are interested in the position and are an intelligent person.

 

Some good questions to ask:

What kind of career growth opportunities will I have here?

What kind of training does the company provide?

These two questions really show that you are interested in learning more and becoming a major part of the company.  Employers want motivated people.

**Remember, some of these answers might be found on the company website.  If you can find answers to them then a better question would be something like:

“I noticed on the website the company provides computer training.  Could you tell me a little more about that please?”

That question would really show that you already took the time to learn about the company and you are interested in learning.

 

What questions should you NOT ask?

Don’t ask about money, vacation time, or anything else that would benefit you only and not the company.  You must understand that at this job interview, you are trying to impress the employer.  You haven’t been hired yet so there is no reason to be asking about how much money or vacation you will be getting.  If the employer calls you back after the interview and decides to hire you, then that is the time to negotiate these details.  **Sometimes they will ask you questions about salary during the interview.  I’ll explain how to answer those questions in another article.

 

4. Get a haircut and make sure your clothes are really clean and ironed.

It is simply ridiculous to go to an interview not looking your best.  In the business world, image counts a lot.  People do notice if your clothes are ironed well, if they are really clean, if your shoes are shined and things like that.  A good appearance makes people think that you pay attention to detail and put a lot of effort into what you do.  That is what employers want.  Take a look at this article on “how to dress for a job interview” for more details. 

 

5. Know the location of the job interview in advance and figure out how long it takes to get there. 

Make sure you get to the job interview 15 to 20 minutes early.  Being late for an interview is really bad.  NO EXCUSES!