When it comes to interviews, most people start preparing too late. This results in high nerves and lower chances of landing the job. Instead of rushing, follow this structured step-by-step approach to ensure you’re ready to shine in any interview.
This method reduces anxiety and positions you as a well-prepared candidate ready to tackle the role with insight and purpose.
It’s often said that “luck favours the prepared,” and nowhere is this truer than in interviews. Career expert Sarah Johnston conducted a poll that revealed most candidates spend less than two hours preparing for interviews. Inadequate preparation leads to heightened anxiety and reduces your odds of success. The solution? Start early and make thorough preparation part of your interview strategy.
Allocating more time to practice helps you anticipate difficult questions and refine your answers. This ultimately increases your chances of landing the role. Setting aside time daily or weekly to review the job description, the company’s recent news, and the role’s expectations builds confidence. This practice also helps you avoid last-minute panic.
Think back to your first-round interviews. Chances are, many of the questions were similar. Identifying this pattern is a game-changer: if you can anticipate the core questions that get asked in 90% of early interviews, you’ll be better prepared to respond with confidence and precision.
While every role is unique, there are fundamental questions interviewers ask to gauge personality, commitment, and fit. Once you identify these standard questions, you can prepare structured answers that reflect your personality and skills.
To make this preparation process more effective, start by listing the questions that tend to come up in nearly every interview. Here are five commonly asked ones:
Use these as a foundation and add any other questions relevant to your industry or position. For instance, if you’re in a technical field, you might add a question about specific technical skills, while creative fields might involve discussing past projects or innovative ideas.
For each question, create a rough answer. Use a structured framework to make your responses strong, engaging, and relevant:
This approach provides a complete response and positions you as someone who can help the organisation achieve its goals. To make your answers even more compelling, go over them a few times and make revisions. A refined answer will convey confidence and knowledge.
Set aside two or three-time blocks throughout the week to practice memorising your responses. Start by reading through your answers, then gradually remove any notes or aids. By internalising your responses, you’ll be able to communicate effectively—even under pressure.
While memorising can improve recall, it’s essential to avoid sounding overly rehearsed or robotic. Keep your answers conversational, and adapt them slightly for each interview to keep them relevant and engaging. Practice rephrasing parts of your response so you can answer in a natural tone without losing focus.
This preparation process gives you several key advantages:
Additionally, remember to put yourself in the shoes of the employer. Think about the problems they need to solve, the skills and experiences that would help you succeed in the role, and how this position fits into your career goals. By acting early and thoughtfully, you’re preparing for the interview and setting the foundation for a promising start with the company. And while every interview is unique, the process of preparing yourself in this way will build confidence that extends beyond any one opportunity.
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