How to prepare for a job interview

Interviews can be challenging, especially in today's competitive job market. Even if you are targeting your first job or seeking to advance your career, preparation is essential. Making a positive impression is crucial. Without a doubt, one of the most effective ways of preparing oneself is to know the organisation, polish oneself, and predict the questions that may arise in both technical and cultural contexts. Here, we shall discuss in detail for the new entrants into the job market or who have been in the workforce for some time and are trying to make a shift through needed changes.

Research the company and the role: In any interview, one should have a prior understanding of the company and the role one is going for. The extent of one's investigation should be in-depth so that it is not just surface-driven-check what the corporation stands for and how it views the industry. Try to read recent events related to this company, its reports, or what the company has been trying to do. For instance, interviewing at Grameenphone would be more persuasive if a candidate understood their expanding business and corporate strategy and the recent expansion to all of Bangladesh. One can try to talk to the company's past employees.

It is also important to understand the job description well. With every job description, break down the qualifications, skills, and experiences required, and assess how you fit in. Considering the demands of the role in terms of the skills required will help delineate what is expected of you more clearly.

Preparing when transitioning industries: Switching professions in the course of one's career usually causes anxiety and discomfort to the majority of people while still being possible if the correct attitude is adopted. Thus, although it is not always likely that you have worked in IT as such, there are other useful skills one can leverage. For example, if one is changing from finance to marketing, then it should be done earlier in the career, as moving from a completely opposite department might be near to impossible in the later stage. But if one is just switching industries, one should explain how one's particular past projects are relevant to the new industries including explaining relevant management and leadership skills one gained during their career.

Find out what is going on in the new industry to understand the economic, competitive, and political aspects, and decide where you can place yourself. One should talk to people who are working in the industry and conduct practice interviews to answer questions in the industry. This will not only help you practise your voice but will also ensure you know what to say about the new industry.

Importance of extracurriculars and communication skills: If you are an aspiring candidate, the interviewer will want to know how much potential you have and your willingness to learn and follow directions. Learning curve matters a lot. Besides education, also be ready to address your extracurricular activities, work experience, or internships. Be willing to communicate your writing, teamwork, and creative problem-solving abilities. For instance, if you have been involved in student bodies, portray how you acquired management, organisational, and communication skills.

Recruiters recruit in such a way that they leave no stone unturned in searching for holistically endowed individuals. Be prepared to demonstrate the ability to prepare effective presentations as well as creative writing, as these are commonplace in most settings.

Group discussions — combining management and cooperation: In most international or large companies, the interview procedure generally presupposes group discussions. Through these activities, employers are able to assess your teamwork skills as well as your listening, contribution, and team-leading skills without being a hothead.

To do well in group discussions, even if one is not speaking, one must think of what has been said and be attentive to what the other participants are saying. Take control of the conversation when necessary but do not try to dominate everyone. Work in such a way that you present your opinions without stifling their views. It becomes generic that to succeed in the recruiter's eye, you have to demonstrate both leadership and teamwork qualities.

Aptitude tests — practice makes perfect: Larger organisations and banks commonly used recruitment methods known as aptitude tests. This is used to examine the logical and mathematical abilities as well as the understanding of the English language of the respondent. For instance, if working for multinational companies or banks, such exams may form part of the exercise to measure one's general knowledge as well as analytical ability. Tests of this nature need to be prepared for. One can adapt practice tests-- GRE, or GMAT style questions -- to acquire relevance and work at your pace.

When applying for a position, organisations sometimes pose questions like, "If you went to bed and woke up as the prime minister of this country, what would you do?" These questions, as unorthodox as they are, can range from interesting to bizarre. It is not uncommon to be asked such questions because they want to assess your capacity to answer or come up with creative solutions in a matter of a minute. Therefore, it is essential to keep abreast of current affairs and sharpen your thinking to avoid such surprises.

Case presentations — structuring and presenting solutions: For many positions and fields that require analytical skills, case analysis and presentations are used quite often during interviews. These activities evaluate your skills in problem-solving, attention to detail, and so much more with respect to serving the purpose of presenting the problem.

As far as delivering effective case presentations is concerned, the easiest way is to answer questions or give information logically and create your algorithm or steps to the solution of the problem. For example, if you are presented with a task of suggesting ways to improve a company's business operations, structure your answer as follows: define the issue; explore multiple alternative solutions; and detail what results can be expected. Make sure that you practise your presentations before the actual event so that you can give credible information as well as appear confident.

Business etiquettes — look and behave the way expectations are: Your level of professionalism is reflected in how you present yourself throughout the interview. Looking the part is a special requisite dressing code--your apparel should be clean and presentable, fitting the company's working environment. A better example would be that formal clothing will be required in a corporate interview, but in new businesses, this may be more business-casual in terms of dress code.

Besides clothing, also focus on how you keep your body. Ensure proper dental hygiene and pleasant body odour. Dress neatly and stay clean. It is advisable to be courteous, humble and soft-spoken while maintaining confidence. One should be on time to introduce and present oneself with a smile to the interviewers and any member of the HR team or interview panel at the end of the session or interview. It would also help if you maintain a pleasant and respectful attitude, as first impressions do matter.

Interviews and behavioural questions: Giant organisations like Amazon offer multiple rounds of interviews. Follow-up interviews often assess the experiences in detail and how you approach problems. For instance, Elon Musk is known for asking candidates about the hardest problem they've solved-questions that are designed to assess not just your problem-solving ability but also your honesty and depth of experience.

Prepare for behavioural questions like "Tell me about a time you led a project" or "Describe a situation where you faced a crisis and managed it." Practice answering with specific, detailed examples that demonstrate your ability to handle responsibility, work under pressure, and apply your strengths to real-life situations.

Searching and preparing for new job's recruitment is a job itself: Preparing for a job interview and overall recruitment process is more than just a one-day effort--it's a process that requires significant time, energy, and reflection. It's much like taking on a job itself. From researching the company and practising mock interviews to sharpening your presentation skills and refining your etiquette, every step is essential to success. Besides, having a robust alumni network at times helps a lot.

Approach the preparation process with dedication and mindfulness, knowing that the more effort you put in, the more confident you'll feel when it's time to sit in front of the interview panel. With thorough preparation, you can turn the interview process into a platform to showcase your best self and advance your career.

Syed Raiyan Amir is a researcher at the Center for Bangladesh and Global Affairs (CBGA).

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