5 min read
Getting an interview means they already think you might be able to do the job. Now they want to know two things: can you really do it, and will you be good to work with?
You cannot control everything in an interview, but you can control how prepared you are. And preparation is what most people skip.
Read the advert again, slowly. Write down the main things they are looking for. For each one, think of a real example from your life that shows you can do it. These examples are what you will use in your answers.
Find out what they do, where they operate and who their customers are. Look at their website or social media pages. If it is a shop, go in and look around. You do not need to know everything. You need enough to show you care about this job, not just any job.
Dress one step smarter than people who do that job every day. You do not need an expensive suit.
Whatever you wear, it must be clean and ironed. Keep perfume light. Switch your phone to silent before you walk in.
Be polite to everyone, including the security guard and the receptionist. Sometimes they are asked what they thought of you.
Greet the interviewer with a firm handshake if they offer one, look them in the eye, and wait to be offered a seat. Sit up, keep your hands still, and breathe. Being nervous is normal. Most interviewers expect it.
Many interview questions start with "Tell me about a time when...". The best way to answer these is with a short story using STAR:
Example: "Tell me about a time you dealt with an angry customer."
"At the supermarket where I worked (situation), a customer was shouting because he was overcharged on a special (task: I had to calm him down and fix it). I listened without interrupting, apologised, checked the price on the shelf and called my supervisor to do a refund (action). He left calm and thanked me, and my supervisor asked me to show a new cashier how I handled it (result)."
Keep each STAR answer to about one or two minutes.
This is not about your childhood. Give a 30 to 60 second summary: what you do now or studied, your most relevant experience, and why you want this job.
Use what you learned about the company. Be specific and honest.
Pick two that match the job and give a quick example of each.
Choose something real but not a deal-breaker, and say what you are doing about it. "I used to struggle to speak up in meetings, so I started preparing notes before, and now I contribute every week."
Be honest and stay positive. Contract ended, looking for growth, closer to home. Never badmouth a previous employer, even if they were terrible.
Check what similar jobs pay before the interview. Give a reasonable range, or say you are open to their offer for this role and ask what the range is.
These are common in South Africa. Answer clearly and honestly. If you are serving notice, say how long.
At the end they will usually say, "Do you have any questions?" Always ask one or two. It shows interest. Good ones:
Leave detailed questions about leave and bonuses until you have an offer.
On the same day or the next morning, send a short thank-you email or SMS: thank them for their time, say you are still keen on the job, and mention one thing you enjoyed discussing. Keep it to three or four lines.
If they gave you a date and it passes, wait two or three working days, then follow up politely once.
Not every interview leads to a job, even good ones. After each one, write down the questions you were asked and what you would answer better next time. Every interview makes the next one easier. Keep going.