Job Interview Guide: Prepare, Perform and Follow Up
A job interview is your chance to show an employer the person behind the CV. Good preparation takes away much of the nervousness and helps you give your best. This guide walks you through the process, from the night before to the follow-up.
Research the company. Read their website and recent news. Know what they do, who their customers are and anything new they are working on.
Understand the job. Go through the advert line by line and think of an example from your own experience for each main requirement.
Practise common questions. Expect "Tell me about yourself", "Why do you want this job?", "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" and "Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult situation." Practise your answers out loud, keeping them clear and specific.
Prepare your documents. Bring extra copies of your CV, your CSEC/CAPE results, HEART/NSTA Trust certificates or degree transcripts from UTech or UWI, and, if asked, your TRN and police record from the JCF.
Dress appropriately. Neat and conservative is safest for most interviews in Jamaica. When in doubt, dress one level smarter than the everyday dress at the company.
Plan your journey. Know exactly where you are going and how long it takes, allowing extra time for traffic. Aim to arrive ten to fifteen minutes early.
During the interview, greet everyone politely, listen carefully, take a moment to think before answering and be honest. If you do not know something, say so and explain how you would find out.
Ask questions of your own. For example, what a typical day looks like, how performance is measured or what training is offered.
Close well. Say you are interested in the job, ask about the next steps and thank them for their time.
Follow up. Send a short thank-you email the same day.
When you are ready to put this into practice, browse the latest openings on Splash Jamaica.