Congratulations! After all the hard work of perfecting your resume and diversifying your job search, you landed an interview meeting. Now is the time to start preparing for this interview. Waiting until the last minute can leave you frazzled and making the right impression takes some planning. 

By following these steps, you will be able to arrive for the interview feeling prepared and ready to land your dream job.  

Tips to Prepare for Your Interview

Employers appreciate it when you arrive to the interview prepared and informed. Do your research on the company and make sure you have a firm understanding of the role you are interviewing for so you will be able to communicate how you will add value in this role. Practicing your interview techniques will also help you to feel more confident in the interview. Use these tips to prepare ahead for the interview:

• Research the Company: Look at the company’s website. This helps you develop questions you can ask, including understanding the company’s culture. One of the best places to start is at the “About Us” page. You can also view their Glassdoor profile, read recent news articles, blog posts, or the content on their social media pages to learn more about the company. 
• Understand the Job: Review the job description and think about what the company is looking for in a successful candidate. Consider how this role contributes to the success of the company and how, in this role, you can make an impact. List the qualities and skills that are required or critical for the position.
• Highlight Yourself: Using the list you created, jot down up to ten of your assets that satisfy the requirements of this role. Consider your skills, qualities, certifications, experiences, and how you have been successful in the past. Remember to think about specific examples to support your responses to questions. This is your opportunity to share your strengths and highlight how you will add value to their company.
• Brush up on Your Interview Techniques:Keep the S.T.A.R. Model in mind when thinking about how you will answer questions. S.T.A.R. stands for Situation/Task, Action, Result.This format allows the interviewer to understand the situation or tasks involved, the actions you took to accomplish the task or approach the situation, and the result of your actions.  In your examples, you will want to start off by explaining what you needed to accomplish or the situation you faced (Situation/Task). Next, you will want to show what you specifically did to accomplish the task or handle the situation (Action). Finally, you will want to explain the outcome (Result). This will ensure you are providing the detail the interviewer needs to assess your qualifications for the role.
• Practice Makes Perfect: Make sure you feel comfortable interviewing by practicing in front of a mirror or ask a friend to conduct a mock interview with you. You do not want your responses to seem rehearsed, but planning ahead and knowing what examples you can pull from will help you feel more confident in the interview.
• Prepare Your Interview Outfit Ahead of Time: Having an outfit ready at all times is a good habit. Think about your overall presentation and dress for success. The goal is to dress appropriately for the position to which you are applying.
• Pull Together the Items You Will Need: There are items you should and should not bring. Bring extra copies of your resume, reference list, and a list of questions. Also, bring a pen and paper for any notes. Turn your cell phone off or on silent. You do not want to bring in anything that will be distracting to you on the interviewer; so no outside food or beverages and no chewing gum during an interview.
• Know Where You Are Going: Pull up driving directions and plan the best route. You may want to do a test run so you know exactly where you are going. Always plan for delays. It is better to arrive early and wait to go in for your interview than rushing in last minute or late.

At Wesley Enhanced Living, we seek career-minded individuals who are excited to grow personally and professionally and make a positive impact on our resident’s lives. To be successful in our environment, individuals should be able to demonstrate the necessary skills and capabilities to show you will be committed to our mission and will be able to help move our company forward. 

If you want to make a compelling difference in the lives of others, are enthusiastic about life-long learning, and are seeking employment where your strengths will be valued, then please learn more about Wesley Enhanced Living’s career opportunities.