How to Effectively Prepare for an Interview

Flutterwave announced in July 2022 that over 8,000 job seekers have applied for the 200 slots reserved for its Graduate Trainee program. This huge number of applicants for a few slots is often the reality of many “big” organisations across the country. The competition for the little space available has made several job seekers include high-sounding titles and descriptions they cannot defend in their CVs. In a bid to escape this trap, most companies determine those who are worthy to be on their payroll through interviews. This post will guide you on how to prepare for your next interview.

Things to do before going for an interview

Abraham Lincoln, the 16^th U.S. President once said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” The message here is clear, the underground preparation that goes into an action is more important that the act itself. Therefore, before talking about all the things you need to do during the interview, it is important to lay a solid foundation to build upon. Within the understanding that you know the meaning of an interview, let’s dive into the river.

1. Study the job description and the organisation

It’s expected that you already know the name of company, and the role you intend to fill. However, what else do you know that will place you ahead of your competitors? You must carefully go through the job description and ensure that you know something about everything your prospective employers are seeking. Also, conduct thorough research on the company and extract as much information as possible.

What they do, how you can fit into their vision and mission, where the company is at the moment and where they are headed. You needn’t go too far. Simply check the website and social media pages of the company, especially on LinkedIn. You can also contact some of the company’s past and present employees to know more about the organization’s culture and goals.

2. Practice general interview questions and answers

Understandably, there are interview questions specifically tailored for the role you are seeking, these are majorly competency-based questions that are meant to test your understanding of your field. In addition to these, there are also other questions that would likely be asked in most interviews, regardless of the profession and the employment level. “Tell me about yourself” or its twin brother, “can we meet you?” You will hardly escape “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” Why you want to work with the company and where you see yourself in the next 5 years, are also questions you will likely not escape in an interview.

SEE ALSO:

• Contract of Employment
• Principles and Practice of Redundancy

3. Dress according to the industry best practice

Job interviews are not fashion parades where you show your latest wardrobe additions. Ensure you comply with the unwritten laws of modesty when going for an interview. Avoid controversial wears and accessories, you never can tell who is sitting on the panel. In case you are applying for a regulated role such as a legal counsel in a law firm or an inhouse role in a corporate organization, resist the urge to show up in anything apart from a suit and white shirt.

4. Make clear plans for travelling and accommodation (if applicable)

Although, most recruitment processes are now conducted online, some organizations still require you to show up for a physical interview. If that is the case, make an effective plan on how to get to the location on time and have your accommodation settled. The essence of this is to prepare your mind and be relaxed before the interview and to also get to the location on time.

You don’t want to be caught  running late to the interview hall, or not being able to show up because of transportation issues. More so, you’ll likely not be coordinated enough to give a good response to the interview questions. If you applied to an organization in a busy city like Lagos, you shouldn’t joke with this information.

5. Have a clear mental picture of your career goals before the interview

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years, and/or similar questions would most likely be thrown at you during the interview? You don’t want to be found stammering. The goal is to know if your mid and long-term career goals align with the vision of the organization.

Also, they want to be sure that all the resources that would be invested in training and exposing you to their trade secrets will not go down the drain if you intend to leave in the next few months. You needn’t tell lies to get the job. Please ensure that you tailor your goals to depict your willingness and readiness to work in the organization and that you do not intend to leave anytime soon.

6. How optimized are your social media profiles?

A lot of individuals have lamented how they lost juicy offers due to poor social media profile. Also, some HR officers have been reiterating the fact that social media is the new CV and you have to guard what you do on that space jealously. Lest you freak out, the organisation is not expecting you to be a content creator posting every day on LinkedIn or Twitter. It’s about the kinds of post you engage and how you present yourself on social media. A Twitter user once shared an experience of how he was denied a job in one of the top commercial banks in the country due to a post he made in the past to “drag” the bank.

Conclusion

The National Youth Service Corps Scheme releases thousands of Corps members to the labour market up to six times every year in Nigeria, and the country has one of the highest rates of youth unemployment in the world. This implies that thousands of youths are joining the labour market with little or no jobs to go around for everyone. One of the ways to stand out among other job applicants competing for the same role is to follow the tips stated above. Success in your job pursuit!!!