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A confident candidate sits across from a recruiter during an interview in a modern office, holding a resume, with a view of the city in the background.

Adequate preparation for a job interview is the key to success, allowing you to present yourself at your best. However, many candidates make mistakes that can cost them their dream job. With my more than 20 years of experience in HR, I've put together five proven tips to help you make the most of your opportunity.

Before the interview, it's a good idea to review the company's social media activity and analyze your own online image, as many recruiters review candidates' profiles in these media before making a hiring decision.

Being prepared with frequently asked questions can significantly increase your chances of success.

The interview is the primary tool for evaluating candidates. During this meeting, the most important decisions are made, both for head hunters and hiring managers. Although the topic of interview preparation has been discussed many times before, many candidates still face difficulties in this area. Instead of focusing on the causes of these problems, I decided to focus on practical solutions.

Define your work experience

The first step to successfully preparing for a job interview is to understand your professional role and present it skillfully. Your work experience is a key element that you should skillfully present during an interview. Start by thinking about your answer to the question, "Who are you professionally?" This question often opens an interview, and the answer to it is often trite or overly broad. To avoid story-telling or generalities, think about the following:

Characteristics of your professional role: What are the key tasks, work pace, and industry specifics?

Distinguishing features of your role: What makes your position different from similar roles at other companies? You can talk about the scale of the operation, the size of the team, changes and multi-facetedness.

The crux of your position: What are the main goals and responsibilities that define your role?

The importance of your role in the company: How does your job impact the organization? What benefits does your position bring to the company?

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): What are your most important measures of success? What results are you accountable for?

It's also a good idea to think about your financial expectations based on your work experience and average salaries for similar positions, as this question may come up at the initial interview with the recruiter.

Understand the context of the recruitment interview

In order to present yourself effectively at an interview, you need to understand the context in which the interview is taking place. Before the meeting, do thorough research on the company and the position you are applying for. The more you know about the context of the interview, the better prepared you will be for the interview. Here are some steps to take:

Job Description: Review the requirements and responsibilities in detail. Think through how your experience and skills match these requirements.

Company Information: Read about the company's mission, vision and values. Understand what the organization's goals are and how your role can help with that. Knowing information about our company and its culture can help you answer recruitment questions.

Opinion of friends: ask friends who may have had contact with the company or position. Their opinions can provide valuable information.

Information from the recruiter: Consult with the head hunter to learn more about what is expected of the candidate. Gathering information about the potential employer will allow you to better tailor your answers to their expectations.

Challenges and KPIs: Find out what the key challenges and KPIs are for the position. This will allow you to better tailor your answers to the employer's needs

Get ready for the most frequently asked questions

During a job interview, you can expect to be asked difficult questions that often trouble candidates. Being prepared for the most common questions that may be asked during an interview is key. Preparing for common recruitment questions that are relevant to recruiters can significantly increase your chances of success. Prepare answers to so-called "killers" such as:

Your strengths: What qualities and skills set you apart from other candidates? Prepare specific examples from your professional life that illustrate these strengths.

Your weaknesses: Be honest, but at the same time show that you are working on your weaknesses. Outline specific actions you are taking to develop yourself.

Biggest Failure: Tell about a situation where something went wrong, but at the same time show what you learned from it and how it affected your professional development.

Greatest Success: Choose the achievement that best demonstrates your skills and commitment. Show what benefit your action has brought to the company.

Hobbies and interests: Show that you have passions outside of work. This can be an opportunity to establish a personal connection with the interviewer.

Interview questions can be varied, but you should be prepared with a typical recruitment question about your strengths and weaknesses.

The key to an effective answer is knowing yourself and the context. Prepare 2-3 specific examples that illustrate your answers well. Remember that it is important not only what you say, but also how you say it. Answer confidently, but not arrogantly, and try to be authentic.

Research your interlocutors

Too often, candidates do not check who will be conducting the interview. Understanding who will be conducting the recruitment interview can help you better prepare for the meeting. To better prepare for a meeting, do research on your interviewers. This can help you better understand what to expect and how best to tailor your answers. Here are some steps to take:

Career trajectory: Find out where they worked before. You may have had common work experiences that can become a topic of conversation.

Current role: Find out what position they hold in the company. This will help you understand what expectations they may have of the candidate.

Common friends: check to see if you have common friends on LinkedIn. This can be a good starting point for networking.

Activity on LinkedIn: see what they have recently posted or liked. This can give you clues as to what is important to them.

Media presence: Read articles or interviews with them. This will help you better understand their thinking and approach to work.

Improve your communication skills

During a job interview, it's not just the content that counts, but also the way you convey it. Communication skills are key to making a good impression on the interviewer. Communication skills are key during job interviews to make a good impression on the interviewer. Here are some tips on how to improve them:

Practice active listening: pay attention to what the interlocutor is saying, and try to answer his questions in a precise and specific way.

Maintain eye contact: This shows confidence and interest in the conversation.

Speak clearly and understandably: Avoid jargon and overly complicated expressions. Focus on clarity and simplicity.

Be confident but not arrogant: Confidence is important, but try to avoid being too proud.

Ask questions: Show that you are interested in the company and the position. Asking questions is also a way to better understand the employer's expectations.

Summary

Using the above tips will help you effectively prepare for a job interview. Good preparation will allow you to present yourself at your best and increase your chances of success. Remember that proper preparation is the key to a successful interview that all parties will be happy with.

Most interviews begin with the typical question about introducing oneself, which is a key moment for the candidate.

Remember to make it clear during the interview why you want to change jobs and what positive motivations you have.

Prepare, understand the context, think through your answers, learn more about your interviewees and improve your communication skills - and your interview will be a success.