Firsts are always exciting, right? First travel, first scuba diving, first hiking. However, that’s not always the case—especially when you’re about to get interviewed for your dream job. As fresh college graduates, we are nervous about our job hunting. Don’t worry, it’s normal. Thus, prepare well by heeding the best job interview tips. If you’re serious with your job hunt, take your preparation seriously.
You may ask: Why?
The competition is tougher now. The Philippine employment rate reaches 94.8% this year, as per the Philippine Statistics Authority. This means applicants are getting better on their job hunt. So, you must be on par with other competitors even though you’re a fresh grad.
How to do this, though? Follow these job interview preparation tips we’ve prepared for you.
How to Prepare for Your First Job Interview
1. Research about the company
How to prepare for your first interview? Read a lot about the company. Interviewers may ask, “What do you know about our company?” And it’s such a good impression if you could answer them confidently.
How to do this? First, read the About Us page on their website. You’ll see their core values, vision, and mission there. Second, Google them (just like how employers do to applicants like you). Lastly, check their social media accounts. You’d see reviews from their past and current workers, and even their clients.
This first job interview tip gives not only the nature of their work but also reveals the culture they have. Truly, this is a hack. You can cancel anytime when you didn’t like what you’ve read.
2. Learn about the job position
This is one of the most common job interview tips you would ever read. It’s so important; you’d read them most of the time. First of all, you apply for a specific position because you’re familiar with it. So, simply answer the interviewers when they ask you.
The job description is key. Since it’s posted, better read and understand it. You may also look for other general job descriptions online. Doing this will give you a sense of the skills and qualities your employer wants from candidates. Your job chances would improve when you follow this tip.
“Job description amnesia” is an interview red flag. It shows a lack of preparation for a job application.
3. Practice the most common job interview questions
This is the highlight of your job interview preparation: practicing the most common job interview questions. Do you need to memorize your answers? Well, it could help but you may sound “canned” or unnatural when you do it. So, practice your answers if ever you memorize them. This way, you would not sound like a robot.
In contrast, you can just review the questions and run through your answers. Reflect on your experience and you’ll get the best interview answers. But now, start off with the most common interview questions first. Here are the top 20 basic interview questions:
Top 20 Basic Interview Questions
- Tell me about yourself.
- What’s your greatest weakness?
- What’s your greatest strength?
- How do you handle stress and pressure?
- Who’s your best friend? How do you think he or she would describe you?
- What motivates you?
- What accomplishments are you the proudest of? Why?
- Why should we hire you?
- Describe situations where you have used your leadership skills.
- What did you gain from your internship experience?
- What do you see yourself doing five years from now?
- What interests you about this job?
- Do you think grades matter?
- What can you contribute to our company?
- Are you willing to travel?
- How do you feel about working evenings and weekends?
- What would make you leave a company?
- What major problems have you encountered? How did you deal with them?
- How has your school prepared you for a career?
- What’s your edge among other applicants?
4. Remember to listen and ask questions to interviewers
“Do you have questions?”
This is the all-or-nothing question. Here, the interviewers assess if you paid attention to the discussion. Or worse, if you’re truly interested in the company.
Ask them if there are unclear points. Check out these sample questions you may ask in a job interview:
Best questions to ask in a job interview
- Would you like a list of references?
- What’s the biggest challenge of this job?
- Who does this position report to? If I am offered the position, can I meet him or her before making my final acceptance decision?
- How many people work in this office?
5. Choose your job interview outfit wisely
Lastly, your preparation won’t matter if you’re not presentable on the job interview. Create a long-lasting impression by wearing the best interview outfits. Have your nails trimmed, your clothes ironed out, and your hair well groomed. So, invest in good clothes now. You can also use them at work once you’re hired.
Ace Your Hunt with Our Job Interview Tips
