It is perfectly normal to feel anxious, excited and a bit stressed about interviews, but some preparation beforehand can help to calm your nerves and allow you to show yourself at your very best.
- Visit one of the company's stores/hotels/restaurants.
- Look at their websites.
- Study their competition.
- Look at their financial data.
- Check your journey.
- Get to the interview 30 minutes early, but don’t announce yourself until 10 minutes before your appointment time.
- Be pleasant to the receptionist, the security guard and anyone you meet on or near the company’s premises.
- Don’t smoke just before you go in.
- Get rid of your chewing gum before you go near the company’s premises.
- Switch your mobile phone OFF before arrival. If you forget and it rings, don’t answer it.
- Check the dress code before you go.
- Know who the senior management team is (CEO, HRD, etc.)
- Check the history, ownership and recent takeover bids.
- Look up previous news stories.
- Do comment on recent successes the company has enjoyed.
- Don’t comment on any bad publicity.
- Buy or own something the company sells, if appropriate.
- Make sure your social media profiles are appropriate.
- Check out the social media profiles of the company and/or your interviewer.
- Have an idea of the share price (if a public company).
