Preparing for an Interview

Interviews can be a daunting experience for people at all stages in their career. In this article, we've pulled out some key methods of preparation for your next interview and the key elements of a typical interview process from our FREE interview guide. 

Research

Before the interview we recommend that you find out everything you can about the business of your potential new employer. Your Grafton Recruitment Consultant will have provided you with some initial detail, but it is also worth investigating further into their products / services, corporate structure etc. Many businesses today have strong websites that contain useful information about them, their operations and their business culture. Other places you can research the company include:

• Annual reports
• Company directories
• Company brochures
• Social Media - Linked In, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
• Google searches

If you know anyone who works for the company already then you can ask them for any additional information as part of your research.

Preparation

Make sure that you are properly prepared in advance of your interview:

• Check the location before the day and all modes of transport to get there
• Check who you are meeting and whether there are any special instructions for arriving e.g. security checks / parking permits etc.
• Thoroughly read the job description and know where your role will fit into the organisation
• Expect the interviewer to do a CV walkthrough so check that you have the detail and dates you need to discuss this. This may include technical questions and reasons for leaving
• Think of key achievements you had in each of the roles you have held in the past

Day of the interview

Plan to arrive fifteen minutes early and always allow plenty of time. Think in advance about potential hold ups and plan for these. You can always look for a local café to wait in should you be early.

For more tips on preparing for your interview, download our FREE interview guide here.