Interview

Interviews are stressful situations but they are a necessary evil if you are to get the job you really want. There’s no way of completely removing that stress – if you want the job it’s natural to feel nerves – but you can approach this with much more confidence if you handle the night before properly.

This centers on two things: sleep and preparation. In this article we’ll explore why these are important and how to get them right so that you’re in the perfect position to handle your interview successfully.

Sleep

Sleep can impact upon nearly every aspect of your waking life as this article explains. If you’re not feeling fit, healthy and in a ‘good mood’ you won’t be able to focus properly on the task in hand and this will harm your chances of interview success. Your memory won’t be as sharp without a good night’s sleep either.

Yet, while most of us can probably appreciate the benefits of a good night’s sleep, many of us also struggle to be able to get one. Everyone has their own way of relaxing – maybe a bedtime read to take your mind away into another world or a nice long soak in the bath, for example. For others, the herbal remedies like camomile tea, Valerian root or other homeopathic sleep aids promoted in this article work. Pick something you are familiar with that has worked in the past and make a special effort to give yourself the best chance to sleep. Encourage other people in your house to take the chores off you.

Furthermore, it is always a good idea to stay away from electronic screens before bed – so no late night check of Twitter or Facebook – as this has also been proven to help you sleep.

Preparation

Obviously you can do lots of the research for an interview long before you go, however it is always a good idea to look over the notes you have made the day before. Don’t do this too late at night – as that won’t help your sleep – but ensure you are fully briefed on what you’re about to do.

Re-read the original job advert, have a scour around the company’s website and make sure you have any examples of previous work to hand to take with you. It’s also a handy idea to look around at other similar jobs – adverts for other positions will contain industry-relevant terminology for you to pick up.

So, if you’re going for a secondary school job then read the details of your position, look at the school website, read through its most recent Ofsted report and click here to browse what other positions in the industry are calling for.

Don’t overlook practical considerations too. Make sure you know how you’re getting there – and have checked a bus timetable or that you have enough petrol for example – have got your outfit ready and ironed and know what you’re going to eat as a breakfast that will keep you going throughout the day.