For many applicants, the job interview is a big challenge. You only have one chance to make a good first personal impression, so it can be helpful to prepare well for the interview. Below, we've compiled some helpful tips that can help you successfully navigate your job interview.
1. Your appearance
For a positive aura, make sure you have a friendly smile, a firm handshake, and an upright posture. Maintain eye contact with your interviewer and signal interest in the conversation with a slight nod of the head.
Avoid gesturing nervously with your hands. Place your hands loosely in your lap or on the table. Don't forget to put your smartphone on silent.
2. Self-presentation
Practice at home in front of the mirror how you would like to introduce yourself. Film yourself or practice with someone. Make sure you speak loudly and clearly. The self-presentation should not be too long. Stages of your professional life that are not relevant to the job can be omitted. Briefly state the main points of your resume. If there are any questions left unanswered, the recruiter will certainly ask you about the points that are still open.
3. Gather information about the company and interlocutors
Find out exactly on the company website how long the company has been in existence, what services and products it offers, at which locations it is present and how many employees are employed. Values, visions, mission statement as well as the corporate culture are furthermore also information which is partly visible on the website and you should have a look at it before the interview. Nowadays, you can also find a lot of exciting information on the social media channels of the companies.
If you know who will be interviewing you, you may be able to research them in advance. By now, many employees have a LinkedIn profile. This could help you find out a lot about the person in advance, which could at best ease your nervousness a little.
4. Preparation for interview questions
You can prepare for certain questions in advance, as they are bound to be asked in one form or another. Do not memorize the answers, but think about what you would answer. The following topics are very likely to be covered in the interview:
Ideally, only talk about things that are relevant to the current job. If possible, always try to give examples of what you have to say.
5. Questions you can ask at the interview
Usually at the end of the interview, you still have the opportunity to ask questions. Think about interesting questions about the job and the company in advance. These can be questions about the workplace, the working hours, the training and tasks, the team or even the training opportunities.
6. Notes
Take a notepad and pen with you to the interview. This way you can take notes and additionally take a look at your questions. We also recommend that you take a copy of your resume and a printout of the job posting with you.
7. The right outfit
The right clothing shows at first glance whether you are taking the job interview seriously. Dress appropriately for the industry and company philosophy. If you have applied to a bank, for example, a suit and tie are mandatory. Check the company website to see how employees are dressed. This will give you an idea of what style is expected. If no such information is available, tend to dress more formally.
8. The arrival
Allow enough time to get there. If you are taking the car, check in advance where there is parking or whether there might be detour and traffic jams. If you are traveling by train, bus or streetcar, find out the connections in good time and plan for any delays. It is better to be a few minutes early, then you will have time to collect yourself again.
Batterman Consulting Basel AG
Executive Search,
Byfangweg 1a, CH-4051 Basel
T +41 58 680 55 55
basel@batterman.ch
