Four things to bring to every job interview

Extra copies of your CV

Circumstances surrounding interviews can change at the last minute, and this includes who might be in attendance.  Though most jobs are now applied for online, those doing the hiring will usually print out your CV for the interview.

Always take additional copies in case they have not brought a copy with them or additional people attend the interview at the last minute.

An understanding of the need for the role

Make sure you come to the interview with a clear understanding of the role you have applied for, including the position description, what is required to secure the role and why the company would need to have this position. You will no doubt be asked questions like ‘Why have you applied for this role?’ and ‘Why should we hire you?’ A deep understanding of the position will help you answer these questions.

People quit their jobs every day and companies don’t always choose to fill those vacated positions. Understanding why the companies need the role will help you in demonstrating your value to them.

Relevant prepared questions

By researching the company, the role, and even the industry, you will develop smart and useful questions to ask the interviewer. These will not only demonstrate your interest and understanding of the role; asking questions will also help you better understand what it’s like to work in this position and will ultimately help you decide if it’s the right move for you.

You may also like to do some research on the people interviewing you so you can understand their roles in the business and learn how long they have been with the company. This can help you when asking questions about culture or the business.

Examples of relevant work experience

Always come to an interview prepared with examples to fit possible questions or scenarios the interviewers may ask. You may have heard of the STAR technique — the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action and Result) is used by interviewers to gather all relevant information about a specific capability required for the job.

Following this technique will help you structure your responses and answer them in a logical format that best suits the interviewers.