Job interviews are a nerve-wracking process. No matter how confident you are in your ability to do the job you're applying for, there is always a sense of pressure when you're trying to persuade an employer that you're worth hiring. This can be particularly gruelling in the science industry because of the high competition and technical knowledge required.
However, as with all interviews, there are a few things that can help you to feel better prepared for your science job interview. Here at Hyper Recruitment Solutions, we link talented and passionate individuals with the latest opportunities in the science sector, but we can also help to prepare you for the process.
With that said, here's some advice on how to impress during a science job interview:
Research the job
The most important part of preparing for any job interview is research. Before you walk into that room, you should have a good idea of who your potential employers are and what the job entails.
Go back over the job listing and go online to learn more about the company. If it's on their website, it's definitely something you should know.
Before you go to the interview, find out:
- What does the company do?
- When was it established? How did it get to where it is?
- Who are their competitors?
- What are the company values?
You should also think about why you specifically want to work for this company. The interviewer(s) will want to know this as well.
Prepare for the questions they're likely to ask
We specified 'science' on purpose here. In most if not all science job interviews, the employer will want to know what kind of knowledge you have about the field in which you're hoping to work. You should be prepared to answer questions about the industry, research you have carried out or been involved in, and what you expect to do within this role.
Employers want workers who are passionate about what they do, so be sure to sell yourself as someone with a high interest in both the role and the industry at large.
Of course, you should also prepare for the all the standard interview questions that we've all come to dread. Take a look at our list of the most common interview questions and make sure you're prepared to answer each one. The key is to come up with unique answers that make you stand out from other applicants - just make sure this is in a positive way!
Dress to impress
Although your appearance is not what will ultimately determine whether or not you get the job, it is important to try and make a professional first impression. Showing that you've made an effort to look the part at an interview is always a positive thing, and dressing sharp can also give you a big confidence boost!
A nice outfit won't get you the job by itself, but dressing poorly for an interview could well ensure that you don't get the job. We all judge people on how they look, but worse still, your potential employer may take sloppy presentation as sign of how little you care about impressing them. If you're unsure of how to dress, read our job interview dress code advice here.
Plan ahead
You can only prepare so much, and of course you can't control everything. Nevertheless, it's worth planning ahead to give yourself your best possible chance of success; this should, in turn, calm your nerves down a bit.
Planning your journey to the job interview is a particularly important step. You should plan to be early (but not too early); take traffic into account, and if something does go wrong, be prepared to call and explain that you may be late. Hopefully, you've taken this possibility into account so that you will never be too late for your science job interview.
if you have any other questions about how to prepare for an interview, we would be more than happy to help. Contact us today so we can help get you prepared!
