We all dream and aspire to get into formal or informal employment. Every day, thousands of people are invited for job interviews in areas of their specialization.
Majority of job seekers, however, perceive interviews as a difficult task but this is not the case.
A job seeker's chance of being hired for the job depends on how he or she prepares for the job interview.
Sussy Ngaina, a Public Relations Lecturer at private university in Nairobi notes that 80 percent of job seekers are never hired because they fail to prepare for the interview adequately.
“From the moment one decides to send a job application to the time he or she is invited for the interview, he or she should adequately prepare himself or herself to stand a higher chance of being hired,” she says.
According to Ngaina, here are 5 tips on how to prepare for a job interview and stand a better chance of being hired.
1. Research on organization
You should know about the organization that has invited you for the interview. Knowing about the organization helps you to answer questions you may be asked about it.
You can visit the organization's website or social media platforms and understand its mission, vision and core values. You should also understand the mandate of the organization and its stakeholders.
It also helps you to draft questions you may want to ask during the interview.
2. Plan what to wear for the interview
How you dress is a key component in any interview whether formal or informal.
Dressing wrongly or 'overdressing' may cost you the job opportunity. Always strive to wear the right outfits for the interview.
When planning on what to wear, factor in the type of interview you are going for, timings and place where the interview will take place.
You should adopt conservative colours like black, white, grey and blue for the interview.
Also, avoid shouting colors like range. Make sure you iron the outfit.
3. Plan on what to carry
For any job interview, always carry your academic certificates and testimonials and arrange them well in a neatly labeled folder.
You should also carry a notebook and a pen for the interview.
4. Understand what the interviewer wants
You should take time to understand the experience you have and the work description of the position you have applied for.
Take time to go through each qualification requirement and match it with your skills.
5. Prepare/rehearse on possible questions
Having understood what your prospective employer wants, you can draft questions you want to ask and also practice how to answer any questions asked by the interviewer.
On the interview day, arrive early at the venue-probably 30 minutes before the interview starts.
This will help you to calm down and familiarize yourself with the venue of the interview.
All the best in your next interview.