9 Things to Consider Before Your Interview

You got an interview! Yay! 

Don’t let the panic set in. So you start practising your answers and what you’re going to say but here are some other things to consider to help you get prepped and ready for the big day.

1. Practise breathing exercises

Try banishing those stress symptoms with breathing exercises. Find one that works for you and practise it before and on the day of your interview to bring you some calm.

2. Research your route 

Find out which is the easiest way to the interview and screen shot the information on your phone in case your internet doesn’t work just when you need it the most. That's happened to us all at one time or another.

3. Work out your times

It sounds obvious but travelling can take longer than you think. Aim to be 10 minutes early, then work back from there to see what time you need to leave. Factor in extra time for delays in traffic or public transport. If you end up arriving too early then use the opportunity to explore the area or look through the notes you made when preparing.

4. Choose a winning outfit

Make sure your interview outfit is already picked out and ironed at least the night before so you know everything works together. When you have it on it should make you look and feel confident and professional. Opt for comfortable but smart shoes; you don’t want to be worrying about painful feet or blisters on the day.  

5. Smart up your accessories

To complete your outfit make sure your bag, scarf, coat and other accessories give you that professional edge. There is a Chinese proverb which essentially means there's no point looking good if your feet don't match.

6. Copies of interview documents

Print a copy of your application form, Job Description and Person Specification for your interview prep, additionally, it's useful to have them available on the day. You may also be required to bring identification and qualification certificates too so ensure you have read the interview instructions so you know exactly what to bring. 

7. Eating beforehand

Make sure you aren’t hungry during your interview, you don’t want your stomach to interrupt you explaining why you think you’re perfect for the job. Eat something light and not too smelly so give anything with onions, garlic and beans a miss. You might want to pack a snack bar and a bottle of water for your journey.

8. Gum and mints

Fresh breath is everyone’s friend and whilst you don’t want to be chewing gum or talking with a mint in your mouth, it can help you deal with a dry mouth if you’re nervous before the interview. If you suffer from a bad case of dry mouth during interviews, you can try chewing gum but ensure you chew just a small piece so it isn’t obvious. Under no other circumstances is it okay to eat or chew gum in an interview!

9. Notebook and pen

You may have written your questions for the interviewers in a notebook and it’s useful to be able to make note of any relevant information during the interview.

Make sure you have everything packed and ready the night before! Do you have any pre-interview tips or things you do to help you on the day?

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This post was inspired by http://blog.simplyhired.com/jobsearch/interviews/7-essentials-bring-bag-job-interview/