Pre-interview Checklist: What to Do Before Your Job Interview

Imagine these scenarios, 

👉 The interview has started and the interviewer asks for your resume and you don’t have it.

👉 The first question catches you off guard because you didn't prepare or anticipate it.

👉 The interviewer asks you about the company and you draw a blank.

What’s the aftermath of these situations? 

You leave a negative impression.

You may be perceived as disorganised, uninterested or even unqualified for the position.

If you want to crack your interviews, you cannot just wing it.

These are some common things that you should be aware of.

Creating a checklist before the interview can save you from these awkward and embarrassing moments. ✔️

This pre-interview preparation checklist will make you less nervous, less anxious and more confident.

What is a Pre-interview Checklist?

There is no such thing as too much interview preparation, still feeling unprepared before the big day is way too common. 

But if you have a checklist to refer to, to make sure that you have done everything can certainly calm the pre-interview jitters.

A pre-interview checklist is a handy list of tasks and preparations you need to tackle before the interview.

This checklist covers all the important stuff like researching the company, understanding the job description, and practising those tricky interview questions.

It reminds you to gather all the necessary documents, polish up your resume and portfolio, and even fine-tune your online presence.

This checklist keeps you organised and pretty much ready for anything that might come your way increasing your chances of nailing that interview. 🌟

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What is the Importance of the Pre-interview Preparation Checklist?

Here are some points highlighting the importance of a pre-interview preparation checklist: 👇

📌 Stay organised: 

A checklist keeps all your tasks and preparations organised in one place. 

It helps you prioritise and stay on top of everything you need to do before the interview.

No more scrambling or forgetting crucial steps. ✔️

📌 Minimise surprises: 

By going through a checklist, you can anticipate potential questions, scenarios, or requirements during the interview. 

This helps you prepare thoughtful responses and reduces the chances of being caught off guard. 🌟

📌 Show professionalism: 

Following a pre-interview checklist shows your professionalism and commitment to the job opportunity. 

Employers appreciate candidates who take the time and effort to be well-prepared. 

It sets you apart from others who may not have put in the same level of preparation.

📌 Boost confidence: 

When you have completed all the necessary preparations, you'll feel more confident heading into the interview. 

A checklist helps you cover all the necessary bases.

📌 Make a strong impression: 

Being well-prepared allows you to make a strong and positive impression on the interviewer. 

You'll come across as organised, attentive, and enthusiastic about the opportunity.

It increases your chances of leaving a lasting impact. ✔️

📌 Avoid forgetting essential items: 

The checklist reminds you to gather all necessary documents, such as extra copies of your resume, references, certifications, or work samples. 

Forgetting these items can create an awkward situation during the interview and may leave a negative impression.

Things to do Before an Interview: 9-Step Pre-Interview Preparation Checklist ✍️

Now that we know the importance of a pre-interview checklist, it's time to see what preparation steps you should take before the interview.

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1. Research the Company

Let’s start with the most basic thing - researching the company.

Now this doesn’t mean that you need to know each and every event that took place there. 

📌 Knowing basic things like their mission statement, their products or services, who their customers are, and who is the CEO would suffice.

Visit the company’s website and social media platforms to glance over their current status. 

For example, if you're interviewing at a tech startup, find out about their latest innovations or projects.

2. Study the Job Description

Analyse the skills and qualifications required for the role by going through the job description.

These skills and qualifications should be added to your resume to get shortlisted.

Also, identify specific examples from your past experiences that align with those requirements. 

For instance, if the job description mentions strong leadership skills, prepare to discuss a time when you successfully led a team.

3. Review Your Resume and Cover Letter

One common mistake that candidates make is not going through their resumes before the interview. 

Since your resume is shortlisted, you are deemed a potential candidate.

💡 So expect questions based on the information that you have given.

Refresh your memory on the experiences, achievements, and skills highlighted in your resume and cover letter. 

Be ready to provide detailed explanations or stories that demonstrate your capabilities. 

For example, if you listed project management as a skill, mention a project where you effectively coordinated a team and met tight deadlines.

4. Review your portfolio

If you’ve got a portfolio showcasing your work, take some time to give it a thorough once-over.

Make sure that it reflects your best and most recent projects. 

Get familiar with the nitty-gritty details of each project such as the challenges you faced and the results you achieved. 

For example, if you're a graphic designer, be ready to discuss the process and creativity behind the mentioned design projects.

5. Assess your online presence

Google your own name.

Yeah, seriously! 

You see, these days online presence can make or break your career.

Recruiters are increasingly checking out candidates' online presence. 

Review your social media profiles like LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook from an employer's perspective. 

💡 Remove or tweak any content that could be seen as unprofessional or inconsistent with the image you want to portray. 

For example, if your LinkedIn profile is not updated, now’s the time.

6. Practise Interview Questions

As I mentioned earlier, if you do not anticipate the questions, you might fumble.

So create a list of common interview questions and practice the answers out loud in front of a mirror.

Some common interview questions are, 

"Tell me about yourself" or 

"What are your strengths and weaknesses?" 

Practice delivering your responses confidently and to the point. 

Make it more relatable by using real-life examples from your own experiences.

For example, if asked about a time you faced a challenge, share a situation where you encountered a problem at work and successfully resolved it.

The best way to illustrate these stories is with the help of the STAR interview method. 🌟

7. Try out Mock Interviews 

Nothing beats practising with mock interviews for interview preparation. 

While asking a friend or family member for help is fine, connecting with a mentor or experienced professional can take your preparation to the next level.

Remember, the success of mock interviews depends on honest and constructive feedback. 

Consider reaching out to a mentor in your desired field who can provide expert guidance.

They can conduct mock interviews, ask you challenging questions, and provide valuable feedback based on their experience.

This will help you refine your answers and become more comfortable with the interview format.

However, if you don't have access to a mentor, don't worry!

At Preplaced, you can browse through a list of mentor profiles and select the one based on your needs.

You even get a chance to book a free 1:1 trial session before committing to the mentorship. 😄

8. Gather Necessary Documents

Organise multiple copies of your resume, cover letter, references, and any additional documents requested by the employer. 

Print the important documents.

And keep them in a neat folder or portfolio, making them easy to access when needed during the interview.

9. Prepare Your Questions to Ask the Recruiter

Treat the interview as a two-way street where you and the recruiter both are actively engaging. 

When the recruiter is done asking, you’ll also get a chance to voice your own questions.

This is your chance to direct the conversation and show genuine curiosity for the role. 

💡 For this, create a list of questions that would give you better clarity into the role and company culture. 

Here are some questions that you can refer to.

• What opportunities are there to grow and advance professionally within the company?
• How does the company help employees develop and learn?
• How does the team collaborate and communicate internally?
• What is the management style within the company?
• Are there any upcoming projects or initiatives that I could potentially contribute to?
• How does the company measure success in this role?
• What is the onboarding process like for new employees?

Wrapping it up

With so much on your plate, I hope this pre-interview preparation checklist can help you feel confident and relaxed.

📌 With this checklist, you can show that you've done your homework, know your stuff, and genuinely care about the opportunity. 

So, before your next job interview, save this checklist and take the time to go through it. ✨

👀 Not able to crack your interviews? Connect 1:1 here with an industry mentor and land your dream job! 

Recommended Reading:

Getting rejected in interviews? What are you doing wrong?

Interviewing After a Long Employment Gap? Here's What to Do