Job interviews can be scary! It is totally normal to be super nervous – especially if it’s your first one. But it’s ok, everyone is a human being and understands that interviews are nerve-racking! 

Here are some tips to make you as prepared as you can be!  

Be prepared with research

So you got an interview, but you’re not sure how to prepare? 

The first thing you should do is research the company and the job you’re applying for. Find out everything you can about the company, this will be easier for a large company than a small business. The company’s website is a great place to start.

Try to find out:

• The company’s mission statement
• The size of the company
• The products or services the company offers
• Who its customer base is
• The workplace culture

Once you’ve found out more information, you can start to work out how the job you’re applying for fits into the bigger picture. How does the job you’re applying for help the company achieve its goals?

Look at the job description and try to work out how your strengths and experiences match the tasks required for the job. For example, if the job description says “Must be able to work in a team” think of a time when you had to work with others to achieve a goal. 

Some good examples are working on a group assignment, playing in a sports team or playing in the school band. Check out preparation tips at Youth Central.

Practice Makes Perfect

Once you have done some research it’s time to practice answering interview questions. Make a list of typical interview questions. Then work out the strengths and experiences you have that you can talk about for each question. Then ask a parent, friend or teacher to have a practice interview with you.

Here is a video that goes through some common questions asked in an interview, and how to shine in your answers!

The Interview

• Be early 
  • Make sure you arrive early for the interview, you don’t want to be stressed out because you’re running late! 
• You should wear the type of outfit you would wear if you got the job 
  • if you’re not sure what to wear dress a bit more formally
  •  Make sure you look well groomed (don’t show up looking like you haven’t showered for a week!)
• The interviewer will usually ask you if you have any questions at the end of the interview, try to think of one or two beforehand. This will make you look interested and engaged.
• Be confident and enthusiastic!
  • Your tone conveys how passionate you are about the position
• Think about your body language as well as answering the questions 
  • Try to maintain eye contact with the interviewer
  •  Try not to fidget or slouch, this can make you seem nervous 

The most important thing is to be yourself!

Group Interviews

These are common in many large retail and hospitality companies such as Coles, McDonalds, and Grill’d. These are a way of seeing how you go in a team and how you might interact with customers. 

They might include answering the same question one after another or doing some teamwork exercises. The best way to ace these interviews is to be as outgoing and enthusiastic as you can, try and connect with the interviewees and interviewers equally and show how you can shine as a team member. 

Tip! 

Another way to stand out to the interviewer is going up to the hiring team personally after the interview has ended. You can reintroduce yourself and express why you would like this job. This shows that you are passionate about the position and leaves them with a lasting memory of you!

So now you have all the tips and tricks to ace your interview. Good luck!