Yes! I’ve got an interview

Prepare yourself properly for your job interview

Your palms are sweating, your voice is quaking, and with the opening question, ‘Did you have any trouble finding us?’, you go into shutdown mode. But you don’t have to. Job interviews are stressful. But preparing for them will take away all those pre-interview nerves.

Text Linda Hoogstede

1. Be calm, be yourself

Remember, this conservation goes two ways. Whoever is sitting across from you should get as realistic an impression of you as possible. And you can only do that if you’re calm and if you’re yourself.

2. Get information

Make sure you’re well informed about the company/organization you’re applying for. Go on LinkedIn and search for the person who’s doing your interview. Know who they are before you go in.

3. Get your ambitions straight

You know the type of questions: ‘Where do you see yourself in five years?’ or ‘What would be your dream job?’ Interviewers like to see where your ambitions lie, as it says a lot about you as a person and as a potential colleague. Is this your dream job? Or is it a stepping stone to the next one? You and the company might be able to work together to make this a reality.

4. Important: Know who you are! What are your strongest qualities and what pitfalls do you have to watch out for? It’s impossible to be good at everything. But lots of us still think it is, which puts a huge amount of pressure on young people in particular. So, although many people struggle to do this, try to be aware of your weaknesses. This is an important consideration not only for your job interview, but also for your future career. Not sure? Ask people you know, or do a quick Belbin group role test on the web. Think of some strong examples of your qualities. Finding good examples of your weaknesses is a little trickier. For this, try thinking of a sticky situation that you managed to resolve in the end, emphasizing that you learned from it.

Now you’re ready for the interview. The culture, your ambition, and your qualities tell the recruiter whether you and the company click. Don’t focus on having an instant click with the recruiter, as you’re probably not going to work with them on the first day.

• Have an employment contract or a deed of appointment drafted.

• Read the employment conditions/ collective labour agreement carefully and consider joining a trade union.

• If you receive any benefits, remember to terminate them (www.werk.nl)

• Inquire about bridging schemes that can help you make ends meet until you receive your first salary.