Nervous about your interview? If you’re looking for a part-time job, or you just graduated and you’re in search of your first professional job—don’t worry! A touch of nerves is totally normal. You want to get the job, so it’s natural to be a little on edge about doing your very best.
What steps should you take to prepare? So glad you asked. Just follow these tried-and-true tips from a leading source of weekly paying jobs in Nashville, Franklin, Gallatin, Lebanon, and Murfreesboro, TN.
Five Ways to Prepare for Your First-Ever Job Interview
With just a little prep work, you’ll be on top of your game. This will help you to calm down a bit because you’ll feel confident and ready. Just try these tips:
1. Do a little research. What can you learn about the company and the job to which you’re applying? Check out their website’s About Us and Careers pages, and their social media. This will help you understand how much you want to work for the company, and possibly give you some questions to ask if you want to learn more.
2. Practice common interview questions and answers. A simple Google search of this topic will yield plenty of results. Review common questions and practice your answers with a friend or family member. It also helps to practice by yourself in front of a mirror. Be ready to smile and make good eye contact, too!
3. Know your route. Look up how to get to your interview (if it’s in person) so you can be on time on the day of your interview. If it helps, drive to the location so you know how long it will take you. Plan to show up 15 minutes early.
4. Prepare a quiet space for a phone or video interview. If your interview isn’t in person (as is common these days!), be sure to find a quiet, interruption-free area in which to have your interview. Be sure your phone or computer is plugged in or charged up so you don’t lose power. Have a glass of water with you in case you need it, and a pad and pen (or tablet/laptop, if you prefer) so you can take notes.
5. Look nice. No matter if you interview in person or by video (if it’s a phone video, you’re off the hook!), choose a professional outfit and be sure it’s clean and wrinkle-free. Dress for your industry. For most professional, business and medical fields, it’s a good idea to wear a suit. If you’re applying for a job in the labor or industrial field, a more casual outfit will work, such as a polo shirt/dress shirt/blouse and dress pants.
Practice Makes All the Difference
The more job interviews you go on, the more you’ll be used to what interviewers expect and how to do well. Like anything else, it comes with practice. If you work with a recruiter, he or she can help you get ready to do your very best. But if you don’t get hired after your first job interview, don’t stress! Just keep looking and keep practicing. You will find the right job for you.
If you’re in search of work in Tennessee, check out Wood Personnel Services. To learn more about what we offer, contact us today!
