Here are some tips on how to prepare for a job interview and how to impress on the day.
You have an interview! How will you prepare?
You sent your job application and you’ve been invited for an interview. Here are some things you can do to make sure you are fully prepared.
Company research
Do some research on the company before your interview. Find out their purpose and values. What do they do? Do they offer services or products? Who are their customers?
Take a look at their website and social media: have they made any big announcements, or have there been any recent developments in the company?
What sort of feedback or comments do they get on their social posts?
Find out who their competitors are. What do they do differently? What do you admire about the company? Is there something in particular that makes you want to work with them?
Your job description
Look over the advert and the job description of the post you applied for. What will your key responsibilities be? What are your main tasks?
Check what skills and qualifications are needed for the role. How do your own skills and strengths line up with those in the job description?
Your CV/Portfolio
You may have updated your CV and LinkedIn profile when you applied for the job. If not, review them and make sure that your skills and experience align with the job role. Be prepared to answer questions about anything that you added to your application such as hobbies or volunteer work.
If you have a portfolio, make sure that it showcases your best work.
Take a copy of your CV with you to the interview, so you have it to hand if they ask for it.
Accommodations
Find out whether you need to book an interpreter or if the company is providing one. Make sure they are booked in plenty of time.
If your interview is via Zoom, change your settings to gallery view so that you can see the interviewer and interpreter at the same time.
In some programmes, such as Zoom, captions have to be enabled by the person running the call before the meeting starts. So, if you use captions, let them know in advance.
Location
Check the location of the interview. If you aren’t familiar with the area, visit before the interview for a practice run. Work out how far it is from the car park/bus stop/train station. See what the local area is like.
Work out how long it will take you to get there and give yourself extra time on the day.
If you are having an online interview, it will probably be via Teams, Google Meet or Zoom. Practice using the program first so that you are familiar with it. Make sure that your camera and microphone (if you use one) are working and you have a good internet connection.
Make sure that the room you will be in for the interview is tidy and well lit. Don’t have anything too personal in the background. Having your back to a blank wall is fine.
They will send you a link to join the meeting – try to join a few minutes early.
What to wear
You may be able to find out about the company’s dress code from pictures on their website or social media pages. Even if the dress code is casual, for the interview you should wear something that makes you feel professional and confident.
Make sure that you are well groomed, ie hair and nails. Perfume/aftershave might make you feel confident but don’t use anything too overpowering.
On the day
For an in person interview, make sure you arrive 5/10 minutes early. For an online interview, log in 5 minutes early.
It’s normal to be nervous. If you’re struggling, try picking out things in the waiting area to focus your attention on. Or you could sit and write your shopping list or ideas for questions in a notebook. Try breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth to help regulate your breathing.
Think about other times you have felt nervous. What helped then?
Don’t forget that you are interviewing them too. Is this a place you would enjoy working in? What are the people like?
First impressions count. With everyone you meet, smile, make eye contact, be open, friendly and professional. They may be asked for their opinion later.
When you meet your interviewer, make eye contact, smile and shake their hand. (If you struggle with making eye contact look at a different area of their face). Sit up straight and lean slightly forwards.
If you are online, look directly at your camera occasionally as well as your screen.
Common Interview Questions
“Tell me about yourself.”
Tell them about any recent achievements. Include any hobbies or interests that align with the values or purpose of the company.
“Why do you want to work with us?”
Tell them what attracted you to the company, include anything that interested you from their website or social media.
“Why do you think you’re right for this role?”
Talk about your skills and experience that match their job role and person specification.
“What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
Align your strengths to things they have mentioned in the job role. When you talk about weaknesses, say how you overcome them.
“Describe a challenge that you faced, how did you manage it?”
Think of a challenge that you’ve had before that might come up in this role. How could you do things differently to make it better next time?
If the interviewer hasn’t met a deaf person before, they may want to ask how you would manage in different work situations and what accommodations you will need. However, if their questions are too personal or make you uncomfortable, they could be crossing a line. Questions about your medical history, such as why/how you became deaf are not relevant.
Questions to ask at an interview
Asking questions shows that you are engaged and interested in the role. You may think of some questions during the interview. If not, it’s a good idea to have some prepared. Here are a few ideas:-
“Who will I be working with?”
“What’s the work environment like?”
“Why do you like working here?”
“What are the biggest challenges of this role”
“How does this role fit in with the company structure?”
You may be able to think of other questions to ask from your research of the company’s website and social media. At the end of the interview, you could ask when you are likely to hear back from them.
You may be given a tour of the building. Even if you are shown round by different people, this is still part of the interview process. It’s another opportunity to ask questions about the role, talk about your experience and meet the people you could be working with.
After the interview
Send an email to your interviewer thanking them for their time and the interview opportunity.
Make some notes for yourself on what you think went well and what you could improve on.
Good luck!
