There it is. You open your email and after a lot of anticipation, you have finally received an invitation to a job interview. So what’s next?

Job interviews can be both exciting and unnerving. And more often than not you feel like you are under a lot of pressure to perform better than ever. It feels like you have to dive deep into some else’s thoughts to guess what it is they want from you. You get a rush of questions going through your head. Questions like:

“What should I say?”

“How do I make a great impression?”

“What should I wear?”

As an applicant, you tend to focus on impressing your potential employer during a job interview. In the meantime, it is easy to forget that this should go both ways. As much as you are there for the company to assess your fit for the role, you should not hesitate to do the same.

Job interviews create the perfect opportunity for both parties to mutually evaluate whether working together will be a good fit.

So what are the main things to consider when preparing for a job interview?

These steps will let you in on the secret how you can confidently ace a job interview.

Tips for Acing a Job Interview

Before you start mapping out things you want to say and highlight during a job interview, first you need to clearly define your goals. Having a clear idea of what it is you want to achieve in the interview will allow you to stay focused while preparing and create a concise plan.

Structure this in a way that not only includes things you want to showcase about yourself but also things you want to ask the company representative. Again, this interview is there to benefit both parties. You should not hesitate to evaluate your potential employer since they are also evaluating you.

A job interview is not just about having all the right answers. After all, there is no such thing. Nobody has a list of answers written out and nobody is expecting you to get them right. Interviewers are more interested in getting to know you as a person than getting particular answers out of you.

Confidence and poise are equally important. And while nerves can sometimes get the best of us, preparation is the best cure for that. As long as you have done thorough research before the interview, you will feel confident answering any question thrown your way and land your dream job.

1. Get to Know the Company

You know the role you’ve applied for inside and out. You’re confident that you’re a great fit for it. And as much as that matters, that alone doesn’t guarantee success.

Yes, being a good fit for the role is great! But are you a good fit for the company? Furthermore, is the company a good fit for you?

There is no way of knowing that unless you get to know the company before the interview. You might know some bits and pieces that were enough for you to want to apply for the role but when you go to a job interview you need to know more than that.

What makes the company tick? What is its mission? What’s the company structure?

Researching the company is an important part of preparing for a job interview. This will allow you to think about the interview questions and prepare your answers. It will also give you the opportunity to prepare questions you might have about the company.

Start by thoroughly looking through the company website. Make notes and write down any questions that pop up. Knowing a little bit about the company history always helps and so does understanding their goals and mission.

Nowadays, it is equally important to look through social media channels. You can tell a lot from that.

A company that uses social media strategically is forward-thinking. And the way how they communicate with their audience can tell you a lot about what language they use, how they engage, and how they pursue their goals on a day-to-day basis.

Understanding the company means understanding their audience. Who are they working for and who are they working with? Seeing the bigger picture will allow you to tailor your job interview approach much better.

2. Go over the job requirements

We all have a tendency to skip the details. Instead, we go for the bigger picture. This also happens when we apply for jobs. The devil is in the details.

There is a reason why job adverts have a very detailed layout and clearly listed requirements. While the role may be familiar, each company could be looking for very particular nuances within that role.

Before the interview, make sure to go over the job requirements one more time and tailor what you’re going to say accordingly.

You might be eager to tell the interviewer about your assets and that’s fantastic! But make sure that these assets correlate with job requirements.

A great way to structure this is by writing down the requirements on a piece of paper and matching them with an asset of yours. Or vice versa. If you can match that with your past experience, even better.

3. Practice the Interview Process

Nothing builds confidence better than practice. It’s not just actors and comedians that need to rehearse. All forms of public speaking benefit from practice and rehearsing.

It’s one thing to have it all mapped out in your head but saying things out loud and in front of people is another thing. That’s why practicing with another person is so important.

Whether it’s someone from your family or a friend, have them ask you potential interview questions and practice answering them. Furthermore, collecting feedback can also help you improve your answers and how you present yourself.

4. Prepare Questions

Okay, we’ve mentioned this before but we’ll say it again. A job interview is a perfect opportunity for you to evaluate your potential future employer, too. So get those questions ready!

One of the biggest mistakes job applicants make is not asking questions. It is almost certainly guaranteed that towards the end of your interview you will be asked whether you have any questions. And it’s a good idea to have some.

It’s never a trick question. And this section of the interview is genuinely there for you – the potential future employee of the company.

First, you might have some questions about the role and the specifics of the job. Secondly, this is your best opportunity to clarify any uncertainties. And third, feel free to ask anything you want to know about the company. Whether it’s day-to-day operations or getting to know the collective, this is your chance to envision whether it’s a place you really want to work at.

5. Focus on the Positive

Yes, job interviews can be intimidating. Everyone’s always talking about how to impress the person interviewing you and how to leave a lasting impression. But there’s one thing people keep forgetting.

What’s that, you’re thinking?

If you’ve made it to the interview, they already think highly of you. So instead of thinking about the negative, always focus on the positive.

The job market can be a tough place and landing an interview is an achievement of its own.

Nobody would be interviewing you unless they think you are worth their time. This means that the interviewer is familiar with you and your previous experience. Isn’t that encouraging?

Secondly, there is no such thing as the perfect interview. At the end of the day, job interviews are a part of life. And in life, things don’t always play out according to a script. Embracing that can be incredibly empowering.

Feeling confident about your skills, your personality, and previous experience is enough to radiate positive vibes. And that’s more important than worrying about not forgetting each and every step of interview etiquette.

The secret trick to approaching job interviews in a positive way is not to think of them as job interviews. Instead, think of it as a collaborative meeting.

One way you can do that is by thinking of your skills and your experience as a service and the person interviewing you is your potential client. What are their needs? And how can your expertise help them meet their goals?

The more you approach the job interview as a mutually beneficial deal, the less nervous you will feel.

Things to Keep in Mind

• Presenting yourself in a professional manner is important. But so is feeling comfortable and like yourself. Think about a smart outfit for the interview but one that you feel comfortable in.

• We all like to be called by our name. It makes us feel special. Know who will be interviewing you and don’t hesitate to call them by their name during the interview.

• Be kind. Be polite. And build a rapport. Engage with your interviewers upon arrival and embrace tasteful smalltalk.