Foolproof Job Interview Success – 4 Step Preparation Process

Photo by Headway on Unsplash

I wrote earlier (What Makes a great CV – 2 Differentiators to get you that Job) about how to improve your CV to secure a job interview.

What’s next though?; How do you ensure that this one shot goes smoothly during the crucial face to face part of the recruitment process.

It should be easy (!), all you need to do is convince the interviewer that you will make their life easier by them selecting you for the job. But how do you go about that?

For many years, all the interviews I went for consisted of me preparing to justify my work background, skills and accomplishments against the role. I was always on the back foot. Sometimes I convinced them and was offered the job; sometimes I wasn’t.

“All you need to do is convince the interviewer that you will make their life easier by them selecting you for the job”

My last interview was for a role I really wanted, the stakes were higher than they had ever been before. I couldn’t be on the back foot for this one. I received some of the best interview advice I have ever heard from a friend. He showed me how to get on the front foot.

I was so amazed with such as simple and effective process, I wanted to put this into writing and share it with you all. (In case you are wondering, it worked for me and I got the job.)

The Process

Its all about preparation of course, but luckily it isn’t complicated and you can do this all for free with access to the internet.

By working through these 4 preparation steps in the days leading up to the interview, you will go into it ready to set the tone of what you want to cover in the interview.

1. Business Context
2. Role Challenges and Approach
3. Key Areas and Aims
4. Other Areas of Focus

The 4 Steps in Detail — Work through the 4 areas and take your notes

Step 1 — What is the Business Context?