Research the company

Learn about the company or person you are applying to and have as much information about them as you can. What are their vision and mission?

What do they stand for and does it align with your values? What are the company’s goals and are they congruent with yours?

Ensure that you know what the company does as this will inform you on how to answer questions about the value you will bring to the company.

Prepare

Practice how you talk and describe yourself. Do mock presentations beforehand. Do not go to think in the interview room.

Do not let simple questions such as what the company does trip you up. The internet is your friend.

Research possible interview questions and master how to answer them. Get possible questions that you can ask if called upon to ask the panel questions.

It can be about what job expectations they have of you if they employ you or something like the insight into a new product they are launching.

These questions show that you did your research and are invested in getting the job.

Tailor your skills to the role

Most roles have a job description, as it is the list that describes all the pertinent duties required of a potential employee.

When applying online or sending through your resume, ensure that it reflects how your skills match the roles listed.

When preparing for the interview, go through the job description once more and match your skills to it.

Ensure that you can confidently show what value you are bringing to the organisation.

Dress appropriately

If you are going for a modelling interview, dress like a runway model usually in tight jeans and a fitting white vest- unless otherwise indicated.

If interviewing to join an advertising agency, dress in a trendy way. If you are interviewing to be a banker, a crisp suit and tie will do.

Understand the role you are applying for and dress accordingly. Remember that fashion speaks way before you even utter any word in the interview room. 

Be punctual

Learn where the interview is happening and show up in time. That there was traffic and there is road construction on your route are not good excuses to be late.

Plan to arrive early to allow for such things as traffic jams and emergencies. If the interview is on Zoom, please do not be late.

It shows a lack of responsibility and in case of a tie with another interviewee, this might be what disqualifies you.

Sell yourself

We have been taught to be happy and to never blow our trumpets. A job interview is not the place to play small and humble. No one knows you in that interview room better than yourself.

Talk about your successes, strengths, career highlights, and wins. Blow that trumpet with all the air you can muster.

Just be careful to say nothing but the truth. Lying has a way of tripping you up and catching up with you later. Brag, but honestly.

Keep calm and smile

Do not stress out even when asked a hard question. Smile and breathe slowly, then think about possible answers to the question.

Speak slowly to buy yourself time. Do not use filler words such as ‘uum’ and ‘like’, as they communicate lack of confidence.

Have open body language where your arms are not crossed against your interviewers, but are hanging loosely or clasped in front of you.

Do not fidget either, as it is distracting. Breathe and answer the questions slowly but surely.

Keep it positive

No matter how disgruntled you are with your previous or current boss, do not badmouth them to your potential boss during an interview.

Being asked why you are moving jobs is not your chance to talk about how awful and incompetent your previous boss was.

This just shows you are emotionally immature, as you might do the same thing to the guys about to hire you.

Speak about how the new organisation can help you broaden your skillset, then go scream about how unfair your previous or current boss is on an uninhabited island where no one can hear you.

Referees matter

Ensure the people you have put in your resume as referees know they are your referees. Ensure they are honest people who want the best for you.

If you keep getting to the last stage of three to five interviews, but are not getting the job, it is time to change your referees as they could be sabotaging you.

Learn, keep at it

You will not always get the job. You might have to go for several interviews before you land the job. Do not lose hope. Keep going for interviews and keep working on yourself and how you present yourself.

As you wait for the next big opportunity, upskill. There are plenty of free, credible, online certifications you can do and add to your resume. Learn from every interview you go for and keep it moving.