A friend had an interview a year ago with a private company in Lagos, and I happened to hear about how the interview went for her and her other friend. They had prepared by checking the company’s website, knew all the names of the members of the Board, and were well familiar with the services the company renders.
My friend also researched online and read about common interviews questions, and their appropriate answers. During the interview, the ultimate surprise happened. They were not asked a single question concerning what they had memorised on the company’s website. Instead, they were asked only the classic interview questions. This posed a problem, as her other friend wasn’t prepared for that.
The one mistake she made, and which a lot of other job seekers make, is learning everything they can about a company, but ignoring the usual questions that come up in an interview. Interview questions are generic for a reason. They are designed to test your work ethic, response to pressure, and communication skills, all of which will tell a recruiter if you are a right fit for the company.
There are two simple ways to be prepared for an interview, so as to ensure that you do not make any mistakes that could have been avoided.
Do Your Research
Run a Google search for popular interview questions and write them down. My go-to resource for interview questions was always Forbes’ tips on answering interview questions. It contains as many questions as can possibly come up in any interview.
Write Out The Questions And Practice
Ask yourself how you would respond if a question on your list came up during an interview. Write down your answer and practice it till you feel confident about it. Before you know it, you might even feel less fearful about the interview now that you are well armed with your answers to any questions the recruiter may come up with.
About the author: Amina Salau is a writer and editor running The Illuminated Pen. You can find her online at www.theilluminatedpen.com and on Twitter (@_Aminah)
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