It doesn’t matter if it’s your first job interview or you’ve done plenty of them before, most people find job interviews pretty stressful.
The secret to managing that stress is to feel prepared.
You can do this in a few different ways — researching, practising and planning for the day itself.
What to research before a job interview
Doing your research before a job interview means finding out everything you can about the employer and the job.
Knowing this stuff will boost your confidence, help you ask good questions and show the interviewer you’re serious about the job.
Some things you can find out about an employer before a job interview include:
- what they do
- who their customers are
- who their competitors are
- where they’re located, and whether they have more than one location
- what their values are (sometimes called vision and mission).
How to do your job interview research
The employer’s website is a good place to start.
Many company or organisation websites have an ‘about’ page. This page will give you all the key facts including what they do, how they do it, and where they’re located.
Read employer reviews
Finding out what people are saying online about the employer can also tell you a lot about what it would be like to work there.
Try searching for:
- customer reviews
- employee reviews
- social media mentions.
Search review sites to get an idea of the employer’s reputation. Employee review sites are also helpful but you may need to have an account to read them.
Keep in mind that these reviews only show one side of the story. An unhappy and anonymous ex-employee may be trying to get even with the employer with a bad review.
Don’t believe everything you read.
Research the competition
Understanding the wider market and being able to talk about it is a good way to show that you’ve done your research.
Do an online search to find out about other companies or organisations that offer similar products or services. You can then research those companies online.
Call the business or organisation
Small businesses might not have much of a web presence. If you can’t find what you need with an online search, call and ask to talk to someone about the job they’re hiring for. When a job is advertised there is usually a contact name for that job.
Tell them you’re coming in for an interview and you’d like to ask a few questions about what they do.
They’ll be impressed by your initiative.
Visit the employer
If your interview is with a retail or hospitality business, or another type of organisation with a space that’s open to the public, you could go and have a look around.
Ask the staff what it’s like to work there, tell them you have an interview and ask if they have any advice.
How to practise for a job interview
You’ve done your research and are ready to prepare for the interview itself.
One thing we know about all job interviews is that the interviewer will ask you some questions.
A great place to start your interview practice is to think about the kind of questions they might ask and how you might answer them.
We’ve got some ideas on how to practise answering different types of questions:
- Have some answers ready for common interview questions.
- Prepare for tricky interview questions.
- Be ready for any inappropriate interview questions so you know what to do if you get asked things that make you uncomfortable.
Prepare your own interview questions
It’s not only the interviewer who gets to ask questions. You can too.
Asking questions shows you’re interested in the job. It’s also a chance for you to find out if you want the job.
Here are some things you could ask if they haven’t been discussed already:
- How big is the team?
- What are the hours?
- Where will I sit (if it’s in an office)?
- Who will be my manager?
- When are you looking for someone to start?
- Will the job be ongoing?
- You might also ask about how much you’ll be paid. It's better to ask that question right at the end, unless the interviewer brings it up earlier.
Do a mock interview
It can help to do a practise interview with a friend or family member. You can ask them to run through our answering interview questions page with you.
It's a good idea to practise how you'll behave as well as your answers. Things to think about:
- how you’ll enter the room
- how you’ll greet the interviewer
- how to ask for any adjustments you might need.
It might even be good to dress in the clothes you’re going to wear on the day. If you’re not sure what to wear, take a look at our tips on how to dress for a job interview.
The day of the job interview
The big day’s here.
You’ve done your research, you’ve got your questions ready and you’ve run through a mock interview or two.
All that’s left is to double-check you’ve done everything you can to make a good impression.
Check the interview time and location
You’d be surprised how often people get the time and place wrong for an interview. To make sure this doesn’t happen:
- Check you've been told where the interview will be and at what time (if you're not sure, contact the employer and ask).
- Look up the address where the interview will be held.
- Work out how you’re going to get there and how long it will take.
- Double-check you’ve got the location and time right.
- Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early.
Look your best
Employers will judge you on your appearance, so it’s important to look your best at your interview.
Make sure you have washed, your clothes are clean and ironed, and your appearance is neat and tidy.
Bring your resume or folio
It’s worth bringing a copy of your resume to the interview. It can help remind you of your experience and give you something to leave behind.
If you’ve been asked to prepare a folio with examples of your work, bring that too.
We’ve got more advice on how to create a folio as well as information on how to write a resume.
