Preparing for a job interview is the most important thing you can do for your career. Whether it is in-person, or due to the current environment, a phone or video call, there are many steps to take to properly prepare for a successful interview. In this blog, you will receive excellent advice to ensure that your next interview is a success.

How to Prepare
When preparing for a job interview, there are a list of points I suggest to candidates for them to be successful. The points are as followed:

1. Prepare and practice your greetings
Whether in-person or online, introduce yourself to the hiring manager and whoever else is conducting the interview. Be polite, maintain eye contact, exchange pleasantries, and be sure to thank them for taking the time to interview you.

2. Prepare your two-minute self-introduction
Your two-minute self-introduction needs to include two points. The first point is the answer to the question asking about yourself. The second point is stating why you believe you should get the job. In this particular section, you need to list your professional skills, technologies you are efficient in, emphasize your achievements, and show that you are confident that you can deliver what they need. Remember to use your time wisely, as this introduction should not exceed two or three minutes.

3. Read and understand the job description
Be aware of what is listed in the job description, so you know exactly what to expect during the interview. Be sure that your skillset lines up perfectly with what the position entails and refer back to it when showcasing your skills.

4. Study your profile and resume
Prior to the interview, you should have a thorough understanding of your resume. Your resume should also match the job description. Memorize your key skills and make sure they line up with what the job description is asking.

5. Research the client
It’s always important to research the company before the interview. Look into getting more information on the project, the teams involved, the technologies involved, and the skillsets required. If you develop questions about any of these subjects in your research, ask about them in the interview. If you notice the job requires skills or technologies you have not used, you need to communicate that with the interviewer and assure them that you have used different skills and technologies and received the same output.

These are the main, and most important, points to remember when preparing for a job interview. If you follow these steps accordingly, you are on the track to success.

Virtual Interviews
In our current environment, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, interviews are taking place over the phone or through a video call. A video interview should be treated the same as an in-person interview, with the exception of some points you need to be aware of. First, you need to make sure you have exceptional internet connection. You should also dress as you would in an in-person interview. The most important thing you need to wear is a smile. Your facial expressions and professional body language are very important in an interview. Positive attitude, rapport throughout the interview, and good eye contact are also very important in a video interview. Second, during the interview, if you do not understand a question or a statement, do not be afraid to ask the interviewer to explain it further. It’s never a bad thing to ask questions during your interview, especially if you are not understanding what is being asked of you. Lastly, I suggest that you log-in to the video call five minutes before the interview starts. This allows you to check all of the settings and make sure everything is working accordingly. This also prevents you from joining the video call late and keeping the interviewer(s) waiting.

A phone interview requires the same preparation as a video interview. When preparing, be sure that your phone is fully charged and that you are in a quiet area with good reception. Avoid all possible distractions when on a phone or video interview. This includes background noise or distracting objects in the cameras view. Because the interviewer cannot see you over the phone, you must communicate in a tone that is authentic and excited.

For all types of interviews, be sure to answer questions with an example that showcases your skills. Show excitement and willingness to learn their technologies if you have not experienced something in particular. Your answers should be detailed, but not long-winded.

Follow-Up
When it comes to following up after an interview, I suggest that you send an email or a letter to the person who coordinated the interview. In this note, you should clarify how you finished the interview, what you thought about it, and how it went overall. You should also reiterate some of the questions they asked you along with your answers. Placing these details in the note shows how well you paid attention, that your skillset lines up with the job description, and it shows your excitement about the position.

General Advice
My biggest suggestion is that you do a great amount of research about the company and position you are interviewing for. Show up to your interview with a lot of knowledge about the industry, organization, and the particular assignment. You should also prepare yourself by memorizing your resume and matching it with the job description. Set the right expectations with the interview coordinator and the client. The first 15 minutes of the interview is the most important and most hiring managers have made up their mind within that timeframe. With that, answer questions in an open-ended manner, give examples about your experience, keep a positive attitude, show enthusiasm for the position and the technologies involved, and ask questions when appropriate.
Preparing for a job interview is the best way to ensure that it will be successful. The points and advice listed above are designed for success. Follow them and you are on the road toward a successful interview.

About Precision
Precision Technologies Corp. (PTC) is a leading full stack IT Company with a diversified portfolio comprising staffing services, application development, and mobility solutions and beyond. Since 2010, our clients have leveraged our staffing and consulting experience to obtain escalated technical services across the industries. We often are told that our solutions are very precise, cost-effective and process driven, thereby delivering intended results. https://precisiontechcorp.com/