Preparing for Interviews-Script

Introduction

“Hi my name is Alfred Sesay, I’ll be your host as we go over ‘how to get prepare for a job intervirw and
what exactly that entitles. “

“Today we’ll be uncovering and discussing the difference between a good interview vs a ga great one:
Knowing yourself and the Job you’re applying for, Understanding the company, Proper attire and
etiquette, and key talking points.”

“Imagine you’re entering a room and in that room there’s a person. And that person is the only thing
standing between you and the opportunity of a lifetime. Weather it’s a career job, part time job, or even
a seasonal job, your performance before and during the interview determine the outcome of weather
you start next week or get a rejection letter. That’s a pretty scary thought.”

“An interview is a structed conversation where one participant ask quesiton and the other provides
answers. With just that definition alone, interviews don’t seem that bad so what’s the big deal? Well an
interview is a lot more complex than that.”

“Lets treat an interview like a baseball game real quick. I’m the guy that determines if the ball is strike or
not and you’re the person who hits the ball (I know they have namaes but I don’t watch baseball). Now
lets say walk in with sandals expect for dress shoes, that’s strike one. You don’t greet me with a
handshake before sitting down, that’s strike two. You have terrible posture and you’re not making
constant eye contact, that’s strike three. You already out and you haven’t even made it to actually
interview.”

“You might thinking to yourself, ‘hey that’s unfair,” or, ‘What do you mean I’m out, I still haven’t finished
my interview?’ And you would be correct in assessment. But the thing with that is that an interviewer
has to meet with hundreds or maybe even thoundsadns of people every year. So they have to be able to
get through everyone as quickly as possible. So like in our example, even if you do the rest of the
interview perfectly, your first impression left a bad taste in their mouth which could lead them to view
you as unfit for the job. Now this isn’t to say that you can’t get the job, Every interviewer does things a
little differently, but you should be mindful of that.”

“Muhammed Ali once said, “To be a great champion, you must believe you are the best. If you’re not,
pretend that you are.’ When you’re entering a job interview, go in the their with the mindset that you
already got the job. Even if you’re not entirely sure, sell that idea with your confidence. Candidates that
believe in themselves and their abilities more times likely to get hired. You don’t have to be cocky or
arrogant. You have to showcase your strengths and potential. Float like a butterfly, answer questions
with precision, and leave them thinking.”
Know yourself
The journey towards self-discovery is an important step that goes beyond the individual, impacting
relationships, goals, and perspectives. Knowing yourself and what your capable of can impact how well
you perform in an interview. Understanding your strengths and acknowledging your weaknesses is the
greatest guide when it comes to navigating the interview landscape.

One of the most common questions you’ll hear in any interview is, “tell me about yourself.” This is an
invitation to give a brief overview of who you are professionally. Its not about boasting but its about
understanding what makes you unique. You should be able to tell them what makes you the perfect fit
for the job without coming off as pretentions

Here are 3 basketball players and their sterngths and weaknesses. They all have strengths and
weaknesses that make them bad is some sitatuins and better in most. But even with the shear
difference In strengths and weaknesses, there able to erpfrom at the top level in their filed. There able
to do this because they understand what they’re capable of

This can also translate into interviews. Knowing what your good or what you can improve can have a
major impact on your interviews. Some ways you can understand yourself is by writing a journal about
your daily thoughts, feelings, and experiences. This helps you anazlays any pmatterns you might notice
and any insights into your values and priorities

You could also get feedback from any of your family members, friends, coworkers, profresors, etc.
Sometimes other people can see aspects of you that you might overlook. Be open minded to
construtctive critism

I also recommend using some self assesemtns tools that could hel you out: are a few examples of some
of them and what they can do. Remember these assements don’t definitely define. Think of them as a
srating point to help you reflect and develop as a person

Research the company

Researching a company before an interview is like bringing a umbrella when the weather channel says
its going to rain-its just good preparation. Knowing about the company beforehand helps you
understand who they are and what they’re about, it also shows your employer that your serious about
the position.

One of the best places to find information is through a company’s website. Most company websites
have a ‘About Us’ section where you learn about there culture, values, and recent achievements

Some other sources you can use are news articles and social media. Having access to these souces gives
option to view events happening in real time or atelact as recent as today. Its like like having a two way
between you and the company itself

Doing as much research as possible makes it easir for you to tailor your responses to the questions.
Share what you know and what you’ve learned about the company. Prove to the company what they’re
about and what they stand for.
Craft your narrative
Whenever your talking you want to sound like the most interesting person in that room. The power of a
narrative not only captivates your audience, it also elataves you. Crafting an engaging story that
seamlessly transitions from beginning to end is the best way to compel your employer.

Your narrative should have a begging, middle, and end. The beginning should grab your attention and
never let you go. Your narrative should set the stage and captivate your audience where they’re
beeginig to hear more.

The middle is the meat and potatoes of your narrative.It should go over your expierncs and the results of
your efforts. Paint a vivid picture for your audience, go over your past struggles and your future plans.
Its not just about retelling your story, its about relevance and proving to interviewers that you’re
sustainable for the role.

The ending should be your grandstanding climax and the culmination of your narrative. Your goals,
milestons, and triumps, everything that you’ve been building up to should be conclude. The ending
should paint a vivid picture for your aubnidnce and leave a lasting impression.

Crafting a narrative isn’t just reteling your lifestory, Embrace the power of story telling and create
something that both powerful and professional.

Dress for success

Now that you know how to talk the talk, its time to walk the walk. Your appearance for an interview is
just as important as your etiquette for one. You wouldn’t want to show up in pajamas for a cooperate
job or smell like fish for a library job. Your outward is the fist thing your employer is going to see
whenever you walk into the interview. And depending what you look like, it can make or break the
interview

Your attire should match the job you’re applying for. The clothing you wear should convey a message. If
you’re wearing jeans and a hoodie, your telling employees “hey I didn’t really prepare for this interview
and I kind of just got out of bed” but if you’re wearing a suit or dress, you’re telling your employer “Hey
I’m a diligent person and I’m here to work”. You can still wear casual outfits but that all depends on the
environment.

A pleasant smell can be memorable, but a overpowering one can be unpleasant. Personal hygiene and
subtle fragrance can enhance your overall presentation. Making sure clean, weather your shower or
bathe, can help boost your smell. Using deodorant and cologne/perfume can also enhance your smell.
Make sure not to over do it cause a strong smell can often be distracting or unflattering.

Just like having the right outfit and having the right smell, you want to have the right look too. Grooming
is the art self care. It more than just maintaining a clean appearance, its about presenting the best
version of yourself. Hair, skincare , and facial grooming are all individuals pieces when put together
show your truest self.
Mastering Non-verbal communication
Body language and eye contact play crucial role in communication. The way you sit or stand, the
gestures you make-they all contribute to the narrative that is you. SO lets talk about postive body
language

Smileing, firm handsake, open posture, nodding are all good examples of positive body langeue, These
factors convey information abour confidence, attentives, and over all demnaor. They play a key role in
shaping the interviewrs intital impressions of you. Before you even speak, your body will provde cues
about your personality and attitude.

Eye contact is the most or one of the most important of showing your body language. Estbaling amdn
maininting eye contact is like extending a hand in the world of communication. It shows that connected
with the intericewer and actively engaged with what they are saying. It also show that your interested in
wahts going on, the lack of it can be seen as designated or distracted

Always make sure to be mindful of your body language and maintaining appropriate eye contact can
significantly enhance your performance in interview. Practice positive non verbal cues to leave a lasting
impression

Handling Tough Questions

Now that we talked about what to do before an interview, lets start talking about what could happen
during one. There might be a time in the interview where your asked a question you don’t really have an
answer for. Freezing up and pondering about the question won’t look good for you. An interviewer
might ask a tough question not cause they expect a right answer, but to see how you deal with it. They
want to test how you react under pressure and in tough situations

Start off by trying to understand the question. And if your having trouble, done be afraid to ask for
clarification. Use your creativity and experience to Organize your thoughts to before answering the
question, The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is a good method for approaching a
question.

Make sure to take your time. You don’t have to answer away. Taking a moment to collect your thoughts
and coming up with an answer is not only good for your response, but can be seen as a good thing by
interviewers. Rushing into an answer might lead to a less coherent response. But don’t take too long to
the point where it slows down the moment of the interview.

And if you don’t have a response to the question, just be honest. Admitting it rather than bluffing shows
interviewers that your transport and have integrity. Not knowing the answer doesn’t automatically
invalidate your candidacy. Interviewers can tell when your being authentic or not, they’ll find your
honest admirable

Here are some examples of some questions you might be asked in your interview. Come up with your
own responses to these questions and remember to make sure the answer reflects who you are.

Post interview etiquette

You’ve finished the actual interview, now you just need to follow up with the company. It recommended
you give it a 2-3 days before leaving message just in case you get the job in that time frame. When
crafting your message you want to show your gratitude. Thank them for the opportunity to the
interview and show some appreciation for the interview’s time and consideration. This demonstrates to
the interviewr that you’re interested in the job and reinforces your engagement in the position. The
message isn’t just formality, its another opprotuinty to leave a lasting impression.

PRACtice
Now that you’ve learned everything you need to prepare for an interview, now you just need to practice
practice practice. Partake in mock interviews to iron out the kink. Pay ateention to your posters and
your tone. If you got friend or family member that could help you out, you can ask them to help you out.
Treat this time as your personal training ground and as a means to refine yourself when the real deal
comes. You won’t just be prepared, but polised and ready to shine

Conclusion

In conclusion, preparing for a job interview is a comprehensive process that involves understanding the
nuances of a successful interaction. From knowing yourself and the job you're applying for to
researching the company, crafting a compelling narrative, dressing appropriately, mastering non-verbal
communication, handling tough questions, and practicing diligently, every step plays a crucial role in
shaping the outcome of the interview. Remember, it's not just about answering questions; it's about
creating a positive and lasting impression. Approach each interview with the mindset of a champion,
exuding confidence and showcasing your unique strengths. And don't forget, the journey doesn't end
with the interview; practicing post-interview etiquette and following up with gratitude can leave a
favorable mark on the potential employer. So, go ahead, prepare thoroughly, and step into the interview
room with the confidence of someone who is not just prepared but polished and ready to shine.