Your interview skills balance sheet and the project plan you have prepared will make you confident that you are ready for that presentation that is the interview.
On the day before the interview, you can enhance your confidence by rehearsing your project plan:
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Re-read the interview instructions and make sure you understand them.
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Check your travel details. Look online to see if there are any delays anticipated due to works etc. check the weather forecast to see if that might cause problems.
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Re-read the job description and revisit your interview skills balance sheet to reassure yourself that meet the requirements well.
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Rehearse possible interview questions. Why are you a good fit for the role? I have some possible interview questions later in this course.
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Rehearse your discussion of projects you have been involved in. What was the challenges; how did you go about addressing it; who did you work with; what was the outcome?
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Consider a positive response to the "what is your weakest area?" question.
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Plan an engaging opening line for the interview. Something about the company, its history, the location, family connections, and so on. I'll talk some more about that in the next lesson.
Interview Nerves
We're all nervous before an interview – it's a sign of anticipation and excitement. So enjoy the tension. It means you are pumped up: ready.
We don't want to stop interview nerves; rather we want to channel them for positive effective. Focus on the positive: what will getting this job do for you? I mean, really. What will this job bring you – more experience; better prospects; a more interesting workplace; and more money perhaps, but that shouldn't be your main aim for moving.
On that day before the interview, visualise the interview. Mentally rehearse yourself dealing with the questions; talking through your "case study" examples; and addressing probing questions positively and calmly.
And repeat this on the day of the interview as you travel in.
Aim to arrive as relaxed as you can be and confident that you have covered all the bases.
On Arrival for the Interview
The day of the interview has arrived. And remember, we are treating this as a project presentation. You've given presentations before. You can be nervous but also be aware that you can do this. You have done the preparation and you have the skills and experience they are looking for.
Arrive in plenty of time, as I said, and find somewhere nearby to hang-out for a bit.
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Double-check the job description and recognise that you have the skills and experience they are looking for.
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Rehearse the projects you have worked on; tasks you've delivered; and the improvements you've contributed to. Be ready to tell some interesting and positive stories.
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Consider how you work with others and how you might deal with tricky inter-personal situations. You'll be asked about how you deal with tricky situations.
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Visualise going into the interview and greeting everyone pleasantly and then sitting down, relaxed but alert, ready for it to start.
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Think of a couple of questions you might ask at the end. I'll come back to that later.
Just before you go into the interview, get excited about working there. Why do you really want this role? I mean, really? How will this job benefit you and your family personally; and how can you add value for the organization?
Now you are ready to go.
Thank you for listening to this lesson. In our next lesson, we cover the interview itself.
