An interview is your chance to show that the person on your CV is real. Good preparation makes a bigger difference than nerves or experience, and most of it can be done the evening before.
Before the interview
- Read the job advert again and match each requirement to an example from your work or studies.
- Look up the company: what it does, who its customers are and any recent news.
- Plan your route and aim to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early, allowing for traffic and load-shedding.
- Prepare two or three questions to ask them.
Answering with STAR
For questions like “Tell me about a time you…”, use STAR: the Situation, the Task you had, the Action you took and the Result. Keep each answer to about two minutes and end with the result, ideally with a number.
Common questions
Tell me about yourselfWhy do you want this job?What are your strengths?A time you solved a problemWhere do you see yourself in five years?What salary do you expect?
Builder tip: Your CV is the script for “tell me about yourself”. Keep a copy from the builder with you and know every line on it.
What to bring
- Printed copies of your CV.
- Your ID and certified copies of qualifications if they asked for them.
- A pen and a notebook with your questions.
After the interview
Send a short thank-you email the same day, repeating why you are a good fit. If you have not heard back by the date they gave you, a polite follow-up is fine.
Avoid: arriving late without calling, speaking badly about a previous employer, and answering “no” when asked if you have questions.