Before I started my permanent job at Warwick, I had already gained work experience at five different places (Institute of Education, University of York, Nanyang Tech University, University of Melbourne, and London School of Economics). However, what I have experienced more than the workplaces themselves is attending job interviews, both successful and unsuccessful. Altogether, I have probably been to nearly 50 interviews since 2005.

Today, I would like to take this opportunity to share some simple yet important tips that I have learned from my experiences of attending various job interviews (from the perspective of both being interviewed and interviewing others). Here are three tips on how to prepare for a job interview that might be helpful for those getting ready for one.

1. Research the Job and the Company as thoroughly as possible, including the person who will be interviewing you. Most interviewers want to know how much you understand about their organization and how keen you are to be part of their team. The best signal that indicates your desire to work there is your knowledge about their organization or even about the interviewer themselves.

In simple terms, try to find out everything you can about the person who might be your future boss, including their name and work experience (if you are applying for an academic position like me, see if there are colleagues you would like to work with because of shared interests).

Importantly, understanding what the organization does and what it excels at can help you articulate what value you can add to them. Remember, a job interview is not just about you wanting the job; the interviewer also wants to find good candidates (it’s a two-way street, not a one-way street). Don’t just think that every condition of the job must be perfect for you without considering what they will gain from you. You need to think about how you can contribute to improving their workplace.

2. Prepare the Best Outfit for the Interview (but it should also be appropriate for the job you are applying for). Andrew Oswald, my professor during my PhD studies, once told me that even though he knew my capabilities, others who didn’t have the same information might make quick judgments based on my appearance. If I got the job and my colleagues had the chance to learn about my true abilities, my everyday attire might not be a big issue. However, on the day of the interview, the likelihood of people making quick judgments based on appearance increases (so I quickly invested in a new suit).

3. Always Prepare Questions You Want to Ask About the Job and the Workplace before every interview. This is because the last question you will often be asked is, “Do you have any questions for us?” Showing that you have thought about questions related to them indicates that you have done your homework about the job you want and that you genuinely want to work there.

The final tip, which I didn’t include in the three above, is if you can choose the time for your interview, try to schedule it after lunch. Avoid scheduling it before they have their lunch break. Research in psychology has found that people who are happy—perhaps after a satisfying meal—can remember the good qualities of the people they meet better than those who are not as happy (possibly because they are hungry), who tend to remember the negative qualities more.

In closing, I wish everyone good luck with their job interviews. However, if you don’t get the job you desire, I encourage you to think that perhaps that job wasn’t the right fit for you after all.

Thanks for the information from thaipublica.org