3 handy techniques to prepare for the interview

As much as we prepare in life, there will always be the element of surprise. You can never fully anticipate a situation and control what comes towards you. It might sound scary, but it shouldn’t be. The first step to mitigate this is to acknowledge it. When you accept that the unexpected is part of our lives, you are more relaxed, thus better equipped to perform well. “It chances in an hour, that happens not in seven years.” 

Acceptance and detachment are just a starting point; there is much more to acing an interview, but let’s take it one step at a time. Today’s focus is 3 handy techniques to prepare for the interview. 

Do your research beforehand 

Fortunately, you are not the first (nor the last candidate) to have an interview for a specific position within a company. So, search the web to find relevant information about the framework. 

There are specific websites (Glassdoor) or general forums in which people discuss their interview experiences and the company’s recruitment process. These can help you get a general idea of what happens; however, please take all of it with a grain of salt! Don’t get biased and remember that everyone is sharing personal thoughts, influenced by personal experience. We are all different, so our encounters are not the same. Consider only the framework that is described and objective points that are presented like the steps, specific questions asked during the interview. Don’t be swayed by opinions, either bad or good. Keep an open-mind so that you prepared without being influenced beforehand. 

One of the most reliable sources that paint a picture of what to expect in a hiring process is the company’s website. Most firms nowadays explain the requirements and steps in their “Career” section. Moreover, you will discover their core values and leadership principles and will be able to assess whether these correspond to yours.

This due diligence will positively influence your job search, increasing your chances of finding a suitable organization. 

Use an unbiased 3rd party 

We tend to always focus on doing all the work ourselves, ignoring the power of teamwork. Having access to a different point of view benefits not only objectiveness but can also show you fresh angles that you might have overlooked. 

So, it is handy to prepare with a coach or an HR expert for your next interview. Professionals, apart from the fact of having extensive expertise with potential questions and scenarios, can also help you refine your answers. Your goal should be to leverage your experience as best as possible, and a specialist can show you how. They can highlight improvement areas in your resume; direct you towards the best-suited areas for you; perform role-plays so that you are better equipped for the actual occurrence; debrief you and provide growth feedback. 

Most people envision coaching as a costly, tiresome operation that requires a lot of resources, both financial and time-wise. It is not true at all! Coaching can target a specific short-term goal (like finding a new job or just preparing for aa specific interview), but it can also be a thorough transformation process towards your best self. You decide which option you want to leverage first. 

Be yourself everyone else is taken

Last but not least, we are closing the circle with this advice so that you remember to always stay true to yourself. Pretending to be different than how you are, just for the sake of getting hired, will ultimately prove to be a mistake. You’ll end up having to do things you cannot do or pretend to be someone you are not, which is exhausting and unproductive. A project manager position is not the same in every company, as companies are not the same. The culture and processes make them unique, as personality makes individuals unique. For your peace of mind and professional growth, focus on finding not only A job but THE place for you. This will ensure a smooth career path and will help you thrive.  

Personal and professional development is an on-going process and you should never be done with it. Be open-minded, listen to feedback, read, analyze, commit to continuous improvement and all the right doors will open to you.