The job interview

How do you best prepare for the job interview?

What should I pay special attention to? You may have many questions before your upcoming job interview - we're here to help you.

First of all, congratulations! You have a job interview coming up. That's a great job.

You've written a good cover letter and you've been called for an interview. This means that your qualifications are basically in order. You know what the position requires. And yet, you might be a little nervous. Now it really feels like it's do or die - a bit like it's out of your hands? But there's actually a lot you can do to make a good impression at the interview. Here's Min A-kasse's advice on how to prepare well for the job interview.

The practicalities of a job interview

It gives you peace of mind to be sure of all the practicalities. Where will the interview be held? What time? How do you get there and how long will it take? Will there be more interviews afterwards? Is there anything special you need to prepare for?

All these practical things you can ask when you're called for an interview. And if you forgot to ask something, no one will turn their nose up at you if you just call or send an email to get an answer.

Who do I meet during the interview?

It's particularly useful to know how many people are attending the interview; and not least, who they are. Typically, at the first interview you will meet the recruited manager, maybe a colleague (e.g. the union representative) and possibly also an HR employee. It's much easier to prepare when you know who you'll be sitting opposite. Also, remember that different people may have different thoughts about the position, so it's a good idea to remember to have 'messages' for everyone on the hiring committee.

Use your knowledge of the department and position

That phone call you made to the company before you wrote your application is really valuable now. It gave you good, useful information about the company and the department that you can't find online. And which it would seem a bit silly to call and ask about now that you've been called for an interview. You probably know something about what the company and department's current challenges are. You may also have asked why the position is open - whether it's a replacement or a newly created position. And you know something about what the hiring manager wants her new employee to bring to the table. You need all this knowledge now as you prepare. It will allow you to focus your efforts in the interview so that what you say about yourself is relevant to the employer.

Do your background research when interviewing for a job

You probably already have some knowledge about the company in general. If not, make sure you get it. Here you can use Google or ChatGPT to help you do your background research. Learn more about how you can use ChatGPT here.

Your background research will give you a good understanding of what the business is all about. Maybe there are some things you're curious about but can't figure out? Then ask at the interview - it shows interest.

Prepare your elevator pitch

"Tell us a little about yourself" or "Why should we hire you for this position?". Practice answering these questions briefly. Your elevator pitch is your ultra-short sales pitch and should be on point as it sets the stage for the rest of the interview.

The name of the elevator speech comes from the fact that you must be able to introduce yourself in a short elevator ride, 2-3 minutes maximum.

A structure of the elevator pitch looks like this:

1. Start by introducing yourself by name.
2. Summarize your CV and cover letter and highlight your most important professional and personal skills. This helps ensure that the key points are remembered by the recipient. Focus on what is most relevant from your education and work experience and keep it short and concise. Avoid including less relevant details such as jobs from your primary school days. If you are a recent graduate, mention your final project or degree to give an impression of your skills from your education.
3. Explain your motivation by describing what you are passionate about, what your strengths are and how you can contribute value and results.
4. Also, give a glimpse of your personality to show who you are when you're not at work and what you can contribute personally to your future team.
5. Practice, practice, practice. This can be in front of a mirror or in front of someone you trust. If necessary, make a script or cues that you can practice from. Good preparation builds confidence and ensures a clear and concise presentation. Remember to keep your presentation within 2-3 minutes.

Put yourself in the future employer's chair

Imagine you were sitting on the other side of the table during the interview. Take a critical look at your CV and cover letter. What things do you think the employer would like to hear more about? What things would you ask about yourself? It's often interesting for an employer to know about the results you've achieved in your jobs. You will probably also be asked about the reasons for your job changes.

Strengths and weaknesses

Although it's an old chestnut, you can expect to be asked about your strengths and weaknesses. Maybe you - like many people - find it difficult to talk about yourself. But the whole interview is a long, clever sales pitch for yourself. So of course you should be able to talk about your strengths and weaknesses. Be honest: Everyone has weaknesses, so that's not a disqualifier in itself. Employers love it when you have self-awareness and have developed good strategies to not let your weaknesses get in the way of your work. So what are your strengths and weaknesses? You might want to ask your network, family, friends, colleagues, former bosses or similar. Sometimes others know us pretty well.

Use artificial intelligence to prepare for a job interview

ChatGPT can be a great sparring partner when preparing for your job interview. We have compiled a number of good questions that you can ask ChatGPT to help you in your preparation. Get the guide on how to use ChatGPT before your job interview.