How to Prepare for Job Interview Questions

Practice makes perfect when it comes to interview success.

A job interview can be thought of as a professional conversation between two parties looking to make the best decision. Your main goal as a job candidate is to show the interviewer that you're the best person for the job, and you do that by responding to the interviewers questions with the answers he wants to hear. The only way you can do that is by preparing your answers ahead of time and knowing how your qualifications fit with the company's goals.

Instructions

1. Research the company before the interview. Understand its history, people and its future prospects. Read up on financial reports and what people are saying about them in the news. Read the company website, and especially its mission statement. This helps you prepare for questions about why you want to work for the company and can help you formulate answers that align you with its goals.

2. Read your resume. Remind yourself of your accomplishments. Reading your resume helps refresh your memory and pull out specific examples that you can use to demonstrate how you accomplished a task, handled a conflict and got the job done. Many interview questions focus on how you acted in the past to determine how you will act in the future, and having specific examples of what you did on the job shows the interviewer that you can handle any task. Write down your examples and study them in the days leading up to the interview.

3. Read up on the most commonly asked interview questions. You can find books at the library and articles online that detail these common questions. Use them as a guide and formulate your answers to these questions. Keep your answers brief and concise. Get to the point.

4. Practice answering interview questions. Have a friend or family member mock interview you. Practice answering the questions by yourself in front of a mirror. Practice smiling and looking people in the eye when you talk to them.

Tips & Warnings

• Think of an interview as a professional conversation between two parties, each having needs the other might satisfy

• Both parties are looking for a "good buying decision".

• First impression is also key so dress your professional best.

References

• Better Mondays: Be Prepared for Behavioral Interview Questions