How to Prepare Yourself for a Job Interview

Finding the right job for you can be a challenge. You probably want a brand that you can relate to when it comes to culture, ambition, goals etc. You may also want a company that is located nearby. And then of course the function itselfs: is it challenging enough, do you get enough time for self-employment, can you relate to the specific tasks etc. But when you finally have found the job you like, often the real struggle just begins. After all, you need to get in! We can't help you find the exact match when it comes to a new job. But we can help you to prepare yourself for a job interview to increase the chance of you getting in. Curious? Then make sure to read on. 

Prepare an Elevator Pitch  

Some companies think it's outdated, but still many companies ask you to present yourself in a 1-minute elevator pitch.  After all, it's a great way to get to know someone in a short amount of time. Besides that, an elevator pitch allows you to demonstrate your soft skills and passion. What do you choose to tell about yourself, can you present yourself well, can you make contact with others, what is your communication style etc. Body language says so much more than you may think in advance. 

Prepare yourself for questions

Of course every business interview is different. But there are always some typical questions that you can expect, such as:

• Why do you want to work here?

• What makes you the right fit for this function? 

• What are your good (and bad) qualities

• Where do you see yourself in five years?

• Can you demonstrate a skill by means of an example (project/situation etc.)

It helps you to prepare a short answer to these questions, so you can easily tackle them with a clear story. 

Make up some questions yourself

Of course the job interviewer will ask you many questions in order to see if you're a good candidate. But it's also wise to prepare some questions for the interviewer yourself. After all, he's not the only one who needs to know if you match the function, but also you need to find out if the job is really the one for you. You probably have only read a job offer. So use this time to ask about the ins and outs of the function.

Dress professionally and be there on time

A first impression is everything. Therefore, good preparation is not only about thinking of questions, but also about presenting yourself. Make sure that you dress properly. Find out more about the culture of the company you're applying to. Is it formal or informal? Merino clothing (Dutch: merinowol kleding), for instance a merino shirt (Dutch: merinowol shirt) combined with a colbert, is business casual and almost always the right choice. And don't forget to be on time. Rather too soon than too late!