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Sign Up NowPreparation is the foundation of success. Business leader Richard Branson once explained his achievements by saying,
“I believe luck is a preparation meeting opportunity. If you hadn’t been prepared when the opportunity came along, you wouldn’t have been ‘lucky’.”
Preparation is just as important when it comes to job interviews, as it is the main factor that helps opportunities come your way. Getting ready for an interview can be the difference between landing a job or continuing your search.
If you’re looking for guidance on interview preparation, you’re in the right place. Here you will find the basics of writing notes and getting ready for an interview, as well as whether it is acceptable to bring notes with you.
In this guide, we will cover:
Job interviews can feel stressful. That’s why it often helps to get support from a career advisor. They can guide you in practicing interview skills, researching companies, and showing how you fit the role you want.
Research plays a big role when you’re getting ready for an interview, and the first step is to learn about the company you are applying to.
Although your first contact with the company may be through the job posting, you can gain far more from the company’s website and social media accounts. Below are some useful ways to give yourself an edge in your next interview by learning more about the employer:
There’s a lot you can discover about a company just by looking into its presence online.
For instance, if you want to know more about the company’s culture to see if it is supportive or problematic, check out employee review platforms like Glassdoor. There you will find comments from people who work or have worked there, which can give you a better picture of the company’s environment.
You should also search the company on Google to learn more about how it is seen online. Look for feedback, reports, or reviews about their products or services, and how they treat customers.
Doing an online search gives you an open view of the company, something that may not always appear on the official site or social pages.
Most job postings online will mention the hiring manager’s name. Once you have that, you can look them up on the company’s website or through LinkedIn and other professional platforms.
One small note of caution: on LinkedIn and other sites, people can often see who has viewed their profile. Keep this in mind while searching, and avoid giving the impression of being intrusive. For example, don’t bring up details from their personal posts in conversation.
What excites you about this employer? This is one of the most frequent questions in interviews. That’s why you need to be clear on why you’re seeking this role at this company.
Once you’ve done your research, you’ll likely have picked up plenty of information about the advantages of working there. Whether it’s their community work, positive workplace environment, or strong salary package, you’ll come across several reasons while looking into the company.
Avoid making up something, since an interviewer can easily tell whether your interest is genuine or not.
Knowing your abilities and what you bring to the table can help you stand out as a candidate. A person who knows what they want and is ready to put in the effort often leaves a strong impression on an employer.
Ask yourself:
Employers also want to know more about you to judge if you’ll match their team. Expect questions about your future plans, including your goals for the next five years.
Be prepared to share some details about yourself, and don’t hesitate to talk about your career plans. Having set goals helps the interviewer see you in a clearer light.
Always back up the examples you give with figures. Here’s a small task: go back to the “Show your strengths for this role” section and for the answers you wrote, add clear and measurable examples to use.
For instance, instead of saying you improved sales, mention that you led a group of sales staff who raised numbers by 45% in the last quarter of 2020. Or instead of saying you built client relations, explain that you used a customer management system which lifted repeat orders by 50%.
The STAR approach is a tool for interviews which stands for:
Situation: Describe a career situation where you performed well.
Task: Outline what your duties were in that scenario.
Action: State the steps you followed to succeed.
Result: Share the outcome that came from your actions.
Now, take the answers you prepared above and frame them using the STAR method. Add context and examples that show your skills more effectively.
For example, if you raised sales by 45%, you could say that sales were falling before you took charge (Situation), your manager gave you the task of improving them (Task), you reached out to businesses in your region through cold calls (Action), which led to sales climbing by 45% in the final quarter of 2020 (Result).
If you come ready with a few of these examples, you prove that you are capable and ready to handle the role you want.
The job description itself holds all the important details about the role. You’ll usually find the main duties, the skills needed to perform them well, and the qualifications required to be considered for the job.
It may also mention other useful details, such as expected pay, the type of workplace culture, or even the name of the hiring manager. Sometimes, it might note whether the interview will be in person or done remotely over phone or video call.
The best place to begin making your notes for an interview is the job description. From there, expand your research into the company website and their social profiles.
Interviewers usually like it when candidates bring questions for them. That’s why it helps to think ahead and write down a few questions before the interview. You may already have some areas you’re unsure about and can use the interview to clear them up.
Organize Your Notes for the Interview
Review all the answers you’ve drafted. Edit them so they’re clear and straight to the point.
You should get comfortable with your responses, and one way is to say them out loud while practicing common questions.
Repetition is a good way to get familiar with your answers, so practice them more than once. Also, vary them slightly each time, as you don’t want to sound memorized but rather well-prepared.
One of the most important parts of preparation is practicing common questions. But avoid memorizing answers word-for-word.
An interviewer can quickly sense if you’re reciting something. Your replies may feel dull and rehearsed, while the goal is to have answers that feel natural and engaging.
Your short pitch is a clear summary of who you are and why you believe you’re the right fit for the role. In just 5 to 10 minutes, this pitch lets you highlight what makes you different from other applicants, including your background, abilities, and the value you can bring to the company.
By practicing your pitch, you’ll be ready to use it whenever needed during an interview. For instance, if the interviewer begins by asking you to introduce yourself, that’s the moment to deliver this pitch and create a strong start.
You can also shape your pitch around your resume summary, pulling key points from it to emphasize your strengths and long-term career plans.
Even if you’ve already sent an online version of your resume, it’s smart to bring a few extra copies with you. Having one in front of you can also serve as a quick reference point during the interview.
It’s not recommended to rely on your resume throughout the conversation, but if you need a reminder halfway through or you’re asked a tough question, a copy can help you respond with more confidence.
It also shows that you came prepared, and you’ll have extra copies to hand out if more than one person joins the interview.
Holding a mock interview can strengthen your preparation by copying the real thing. Ask a friend to step in and practice with you. Provide them with sample questions as well as details you’ve collected from the job posting and the company website to make it more realistic.
During the practice session, ask them to give feedback on your answers, as well as your body language, such as posture, tone, and eye contact. Some of their comments may feel blunt, but they will help you improve for the actual interview.
In these trial runs, wear proper interview clothing and include gestures like a firm handshake and a polite smile. While it may feel unnecessary at first, practicing this way gets you ready for the real setting.
It’s always best to ask before your interview if bringing a few notes is allowed. In most cases, interviewers don’t mind if you bring short notes as long as they don’t become a distraction.
If you plan to bring notes, make sure they are short. You don’t want to be reading full sentences from a sheet of paper while answering, as this can come across poorly and affect your performance.
Instead, prepare notes in bullet points to cover the main ideas. It’s much easier to recall short prompts rather than long text.
If you’ve researched details such as pay ranges or daily tasks, you may bring short notes on those points. This can actually give you an advantage when it comes to asking questions or discussing terms.
Again, the smart thing to do is ask first if you’re allowed to take notes during the interview. Always get permission before taking out a notepad and writing things down.
Most interviewers are fine with it and may even view it as a sign of interest and focus. If the interview is online, it’s still good practice to ask before taking notes during the call.
A job offer doesn’t usually come without effort, and you need to prepare well to perform strongly in an interview. Doing the groundwork helps you explain who you are and why you fit the role. In the end, you want to stand apart from other candidates, and solid preparation helps you achieve that.
Prepare a list of standard interview questions, draft your responses, and polish them using the STAR approach. Practice until your answers come naturally and sound confident. By doing this, you’ll give yourself a better chance in your next interview.
No matter if your interview is online or in person, it’s also useful to meet with an AI career coach from OfferLanded to get extra guidance. They can suggest practice questions, help you refine your approach, and support you in getting ready for the role.
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