Being prepared a day before the interview

Planning for a job interview 24 hours prior is crucial, how do you make most of the time available to you.

Exhibit 6:1 Checklist 24 hours prior to the job interview

Agenda	Check
Formal attire
Leave application
Document folder
Stationery kit
Plan your schedule on the interview day
Plan your route
Pre- reads
Plan your meals
Sleep well the night before

1. Formal attire for a job interview

Although this is very simple but can leave a lasting impression on the recruiter.

• Decide what you plan to wear a day before your interview. This will really depend on the position you are applying for but business formals is the best choose.
• Male: suit or shirt with tie
• Woman: suit or formal dress
• Choose a colour for your attire wisely
• It should be washed and ironed a day before the interview.

• Leave application

Have you taken permission or excused yourself from work or any important obligation? The last thing would be, you have an important project deadline and everyone is looking for you and calling you endlessly. Clear you time for the interview.

• Organize your document folder

You should have a document folder ready for your interview, it should contain all of these, some of these or additionally any other documents as per the recruiter’s requirements:

• Copies of your recent resume
• Copy of the job application
• Copy of your reference list
• Reference or recommendation letters
• Copy of 2 passport photographs unless the recruiter has specified otherwise
• Educational qualification documents
• Past work experience documents
• Identity cards
• Any other documents if specified by the recruiter.

• Essentially carry a paper and pen

It is important to carry sheet (s) of paper and a pen(s) to the interview. You may think, what do I need to write? But sometimes recruiters ask you write, although they may provide you the required stationery, but you don’t want to go un-prepared.

• Plan your schedule for the interview

Depending on the interview time slot, you will have to plan your day so that you can reach the interview venue at least 30 minutes prior to the interview slot to avoid any last-minute glitches.

• Plan your route to the interview

The recruiter would have shared details regarding the venue for the job interview, ensure you have checked:

• the route to the venue
• the time you will take to reach the venue
• the mode of transport you will use
• the frequency of the mode of transport
• How many minutes will it take?
• How far is it?
• Do you need to travel to another city for the interview?
• Have you booked your tickets? Do you have a copy of the tickets?

• Read the pre reads
• Read your resume
• Read your job application copy
• Read the research you have done on the company
• Read the job description/ role and responsibilities
• Read the notes you have made during the pre-preparation
• Check the profile of the interview panel or recruiters if this information is shared with you. The common platform to get relevant information about these individuals will be LinkedIn, a professional platform.
• Check out the latest news of the prospective company in which the interview is being held.
• Check out the latest trends in the field you are applying the job.

• Confirmation from the recruiter

Now this is important, usually the recruiter writes back a confirmation a day before the interview. If not, you could send the recruiter a polite follow up email stating ‘Look forward to meeting you tomorrow at _____ interview slot_____ at ____ interview venue______.

• Plan your meals

You may need to plan your meals if the interview time slot is mid-day. You don’t want to land up at the interview venue hungry and exhausted. It may be helpful to just carry a small snack in your bag as sometimes it may be very unpredictable, and you may have to wait for a particular interview panel member.

1. Sleep on time the night before the interview

Get plenty of sleep on the night prior to the interview, it is important to get your 8 hours of sleep. If you are well rested, it will help you think faster, be relaxed and confident.