Daily Archives: June 3, 2014

4 Things To Do the Night Before an Interview

ToDoNightBeforeInterview_June2014_webCongrats! Your job search is progressing and you’ve landed an interview. Your excitement and nerves are probably both in overdrive. Having a plan to prepare for the big day is one way to stay in control and set yourself up for success. Express Employment Professionals has your back. Here are four things to do the night before your interview.

  1. Prepare Your Wardrobe
    It’s best to play it safe with your interview wardrobe. Even if the work environment is business casual, you should consider a more traditional business suit for your interview. Prior to the day of your interview, make sure the clothes you want to wear are clean and ready to go. Trying to locate your coordinating suit jacket or iron your shirt are stressors you don’t need when heading out to an interview. By laying out your clothes the night before, you’ve got time to swap items and make sure you are comfortable with your selection. For advice on best colors to wear to an interview and additional wardrobe tips, check out this article.
  2. Do Your Research
    The unknown can be scary, so do your research to find out as much as you can prior to your interview. Here are a few things to dig for details on:

    • The company – Check out a site like Glassdoor to learn more about the company you’re interviewing with. The “About Us” section on the company’s website is a great place to learn more about the company. Look for for information like their products, services, goals, and values. Pay attention to recent press releases from the company to learn about company milestones or initiatives. Keep an eye out for any awards the company has received. All of these details can help spark your interview conversation, which will help you feel more comfortable.
    • The job description – Take time to really read through the job description. Develop a couple of questions to ask during the interview that will help you understand what the day-to-day job activity looks like. Be prepared to share a few examples of how your experience and education matches up with what they are looking for in an employee.
    • The person you are interviewing with – Use LinkedIn or the “Our Staff” section of the company’s website to learn a few facts about the person you’re interviewing with. Look for any commonalities that help you connect with the interviewer, like if you attended the same school or worked for the same company in the past.
  3. Take Care of Yourself
    The night before your interview is not the time to pull an all-nighter. Get your rest and allow yourself time to prepare. An interview is a big opportunity, and you want to shine accordingly. You don’t want your appearance to be a distraction, so make sure you are clean shaven, your hair is modestly styled, and you’ve got fresh breath. It may sound silly to state the obvious, but we’re here to make sure you’re putting your best foot forward for a great first impression.
  4. Plan Your Route
    The best case scenario is for you to actually visit your interview location a day in advance, so you can be sure you know how to get there, and if necessary, where to park and how to get in the building. At the very least, make sure you have clear directions and instructions on where to report. Don’t just rely on your GPS or map app to help you arrive; have a backup plan in case your service is down. Think of the little details, like having money for parking and allowing time for traffic. Of course you don’t want to be late, but your interviewer probably has a full schedule, so check in no earlier than 15 minutes prior to your scheduled time.

Landing the interview is a step along the way to your new career. Take time today to make sure you’re ready for the interview, and don’t forget to follow up afterwards.

Check out this video with two different takes before the interview. What ritual do you have to get ready the night before the interview? Share it with our readers in the comments section below.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.