{"id":7015,"date":"2021-04-06T04:15:22","date_gmt":"2021-04-06T04:15:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/explorecareers.emotedigital.com.au\/?p=7015"},"modified":"2024-06-03T14:24:18","modified_gmt":"2024-06-03T04:24:18","slug":"how-to-prepare-for-your-very-first-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/how-to-prepare-for-your-very-first-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Prepare for Your Very First Interview"},"content":{"rendered":"

Okay, a show of hands: who gets nervous about attending interviews?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Yup. Everyone here in the office put their hand up!<\/p>\n

Feeling nervous or anxious about attending an interview is a normal experience. It\u2019s rarely the case that we land an interview and don\u2019t care about the opportunity it might lead us to. We get nervous because we really<\/em> want that opportunity – and we really<\/em> want to make a good impression!<\/p>\n

The truth is, you\u2019re likely always going to feel at least a little bit nervous about attending an interview, but you can help to keep those nerves in check and put your best foot forward with a few key tips for preparation.<\/p>\n

The Week Before<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The week before your interview, these are the things you should be focusing on:<\/p>\n

Do Your Research<\/strong><\/p>\n

And we don\u2019t mean a quick scan of the front page of the company website!<\/p>\n

Check their social media, industry news websites, and website. Read key sections including company values, strategic plans, careers and \u2018work for us\u2019 sections, staff and latest news pages. All this information will be helpful for you in building your impression of the company, but it will also impress when you\u2019re asked \u2018what do you know about us?\u2019 and you can talk confidently about the latest company projects or milestones.<\/p>\n

Get Some Practice In<\/strong><\/p>\n

With mum, dad, a sibling, a teacher, a careers advisor, or the dog (okay, maybe not the dog. They\u2019re great but probably not very helpful in this context<\/em>).<\/p>\n

Research the top common interview questions and make sure you practice your answers. Aim to talk through your answer confidently, but don\u2019t sound like a robot repeating a script. Doing this with someone who can give you support and feedback will help you feel less nervous and capable when you\u2019re in that interview room. Top questions to practice include:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Tell us a bit about yourself.<\/em><\/li>\n
  • Why do you want this job?<\/em><\/li>\n
  • Can you give us an example from your experience that would make you a good candidate for this role?<\/em>Plan Your Journey<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Do a trial run at the same time as your interview (traffic changes throughout the day, so if your interview is at 3 pm, a trial run at 10 am probably won\u2019t be helpful!). Whether you\u2019re catching the bus, an Uber or the taxi of mum and dad: plan your journey. This will help you familiarise yourself with the actual journey itself and create less room for anxiety on the day.<\/p>\n

    Check traffic updates the night before for disruptions, and always wake up early on the day of your actual interview to do the same so you have plenty of time to factor in any potential delays.<\/p>\n

    The Night Before<\/strong><\/h4>\n

    When your interview is the next day, here are a few things to help keep calm the night before:<\/p>\n

    Prepare Your Outfit<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Never underestimate how much looking sharp can help your interview nerves!<\/p>\n

    Make sure you pick something clean, ironed, that fits well, and you feel comfortable in. No point wearing those super-smart trousers if they\u2019re too tight when you sit down and will have you fidgeting the whole time. Prepare everything right down to the right colour socks and polished shoes the night before.<\/p>\n

    Having everything ready and waiting for you in the morning is another way to remove any unnecessary stress and help you feel relaxed and confident as you get on your way.<\/p>\n

    Prepare Some Questions to Ask<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Avoid anything around salary, time off or benefits. Focus on your role, the projects you\u2019ll be involved with, your team, and the work culture. Questions around these topics show you\u2019re interested and invested in the opportunity at hand.<\/p>\n

    Oh, and don\u2019t be afraid to ask when you\u2019ll hear back about your interview. It\u2019s always good to know so you can be ready for a call or email.<\/p>\n

    Get a Good Nights Sleep<\/strong><\/p>\n

    When we\u2019re feeling nervous, it can be easy to sit awake at night worrying or aimlessly scrolling through our phones to try and make ourselves feel better. But a good night of rest will help you to feel much calmer. Try meditating or reading a book to help you drift off and feel well-rested.<\/p>\n

    Ensure you set your alarm to allow yourself plenty of time to get up, ready and out the door.<\/p>\n

    On the Day<\/strong><\/h4>\n

    And on the big day of the interview, a few things to remember:<\/p>\n

    Eat a Good Breakfast<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Or lunch, or both!<\/p>\n

    Whatever time your interview is, make sure you eat a good healthy meal beforehand. Because you know what\u2019s terrible for interview nerves? A growling, empty stomach at the interview table that everyone<\/em> can hear.<\/p>\n

    Get there on Time<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Being late stresses everyone involved out and doesn\u2019t create the glowing first impression we know you\u2019ll be after. Always arrive 5-10 minutes early (but no more, arriving too early puts pressure on the employer who might be with another candidate. Also not a good first impression!).<\/p>\n

    If you\u2019re running late because something happened, make sure you phone ahead and let them know and apologise. Stay calm and be professional.<\/p>\n

    Send the \u2018Thank You\u2019 Follow Up<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Once you\u2019re done, make sure you send the follow-up email. Thank the interview panel for their time and opportunity to meet with them. Express you\u2019re still interested in the role after learning more about it, and you look forward to hearing about their decision.<\/p>\n

    Don\u2019t be afraid to use this opportunity to ask any questions you forgot, or that came up after you left the interview room. Employers are usually always happy to answer, and it creates a positive impression that you\u2019re still engaged in the role.<\/p>\n

    …<\/p>\n

    If you\u2019ve done the research, preparation and practice, you should (fingers crossed) find the interview a less daunting experience.<\/p>\n

    And we\u2019ll all cross our fingers for a positive outcome!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Okay, a show of hands: who gets nervous about attending interviews? Yup. Everyone here in the office put their hand […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":7016,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[635],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7015"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7015"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7015\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12334,"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7015\/revisions\/12334"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7016"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7015"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7015"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7015"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}