How to Prepare for Your Full-Time Job Interview

By Tamiera Vandegrift on December 10, 2016

This is it! You’ve landed an interview for your first real full-time job and you’re well on your way to the dream career you’ve worked so hard for during your time in college. All that’s standing between the two of you is this interview. Now, never fear. We’re here to give you the best ways to prepare for your full-time job interview.

Image via: Shutterstock

Relax.

The first thing you need to do is relax. Going into the interview room completely consumed by anxiety will probably not yield the results that you want in the end. Drink some tea and relax the night before the interview. Make sure you get enough sleep that night in order to avoid those hideous eye bags the next day.

Create some sort of encouraging mantra to repeat to yourself when you start to get nervous to build your confidence. It can be something like “I’ve got this” or “I’m perfect for this position.” This may seem completely silly, but I promise it works!

Research the company you’re applying for.

Believe it or not, most companies sneak a little cheat code into their websites that holds the key to acing their interview. No, it’s not motherlode. Look out for key words that the company uses to describe themselves. Find ways and examples of how you fit those key words, or how you can contribute to the company in terms of those key words. Another helpful research tip is to keep updating yourself on the company’s actions over time. Make sure that you’re in the know. Without a doubt, you’ll impress your employer by demonstrating your interest in the position and your passion for the company itself.

Pick out the perfect outfit.

In order to get the part, you need to look the part. At least a week before the interview, have an interview outfit picked out for the big day. Wash it in advance. Make sure it has been steamed or ironed to remove any wrinkles. If you’re a man, wear a dress shirt and dress pants with loafers, or dress shoes. If you’re a woman, stick with a blouse and pencil skirt, or even a pantsuit or nice dress. Make sure that your outfit is conservative and doesn’t show off any risqué body parts.

Think about how your inspirational career figures dress and follow suit. If you don’t think you can afford interview clothes, check out this article and your campus career center. A lot of universities offer clothing rental services for job interviews. Another key hint is to wear blue! Studies show that psychologically, the color blue is associated with trustworthiness.

Practice with a friend.

Print out a sheet of practice interview questions and have a friend drill you over and over until you feel confident enough to tackle the real thing. It’s easy to get flustered by a question that catches you off guard, but by practicing religiously, you’ll not only know how to handle one challenging question, but you’ll also have the confidence to take any question that they throw at you.

Image via: HerCampus

Approaching the job interview for your first true full-time job can be super intimidating, but with these tips, you’ll be able to rock the interview and have an excellent shot at winning the position. Now get out there and get your dream job!

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format