Young people entering the workforce face the often nerve-racking task of preparing for job interviews. The stakes are often high and even the smallest of mistakes can make or break an interview. This is why it’s important to have as many tools at your disposal as possible to help you prep. Fortunately, there are plenty of methods you can use to help you prepare for a job interview. Run through best and worst case scenarios to prevent potential disasters from happening, and figure out how to best showcase your skills.
Prepare for the Nervous Wreck
The human body can be unpredictable. You want to plan ahead for high-pressure situations so you’re able to deal with a sudden stress-related illness if necessary or worse, a hygiene-related disaster. Though you can't always prevent a runny nose or watery eyes, you can do as much as possible to take care of them when they rear their ugly heads. Carrying tissues is always a good idea when you're on the go, but especially so when heading to an important job interview. Even under the best circumstances, getting a nosebleed or an armpit full of sweat in an important job interview would be a huge distraction, but mitigating these kind of messes with some well-utilized toiletries can go a long way. It’s likely that a reasonable interviewer will not only understand that accidents happen, but actually also appreciate your ability to plan ahead for unfortunate occurrences.
Bring Notes and Take Notes
Your smartphone is an incredibly useful tool, but it's not necessarily the best choice for helping you in the middle of a job interview. Though it has the capability to take notes, fumbling with it during an interview is a choice that will make you come across as unprepared. Note cards are a perfect option for preparing for a meeting and also come in handy if you need to read off questions you’ve prepared for your interviewer during the interview. At home, note cards can help you memorize important information so that you’re able to respond to questions that might be asked. During the interview, refer to your note card for key questions about the position and organization. Bringing pre-written information shows a level of preparedness that may prove highly valuable when trying to make an impression.
Rain, Rain, Go Away
Try as you might, there are some things you just can't prevent. Toiletries are a great way to handle a sudden sickness, and note cards are a great way to combat forgetfulness, but there's nothing you can do about rainy weather. That's why bringing an umbrella with you on your job interview is an excellent idea, particularly if there's even the slightest chance of rain. Walking into an interview in soggy clothes shows your potential employer that you were either too careless to check the weather that day, or you just didn't care. On the other hand, walking into a meeting still looking put together as the rain pours outside sends an immediate signal that you're a well-prepared professional. How about a conversation starter? There are plenty of different designs for umbrellas. Find one that suits your personality to inject a bit of character into your first meeting.
Preparing for a job interview can be difficult, and at times, it can feel futile. However, success comes to those who are prepared, which is why having the right supplies to get yourself ready is a surefire way to set yourself above the competition. Sometimes, there are cases where a different candidate is just more qualified, but on the other hand, it's also completely possible to get your dream job simply because you were more prepared for the interview than everyone else. Keep these supplies in mind the next time you're in pursuit of an amazing opportunity.