Thurn Partners have pulled together some top tips on preparing for your first in-person interview!
How to prepare for your first in-person interview post-pandemic?
An in-person interview is a great opportunity for you to meet the team and get the feel of the company culture. You might not have done many in-person interviews given the past two years of the pandemic, so here are some top tips on how to prepare in order to give the best impression of yourself.
Before the interview:
- Confirm the dress code for the interview. Our office dress code is smart business attire (but you don’t need to be wearing a suit or equivalent!). Make sure you dress appropriately but also comfortably. The room temperature might vary, so ensure you have layers in case the air conditioning is very strong.
- Check the route to the office. We have included the address and details on how to get to the office. Make sure you check in advance if there are any disruptions on your route and aim to arrive at least 15 mins earlier. There are usually plenty of cafes around most offices where you can grab a quick bite if you arrive really early.
- Prepare some questions for the interviewers. Some ideas include asking about the company history, company culture, the wider industry or your interviewer’s background. You can look up company’s employees on company’s LinkedIn page. We recommend you come up with at least five questions for each interviewer.
- Reflect on the feedback from the previous rounds and be prepared to talk about what you have learnt throughout the process.
During the interview:
- Consider your body language & eye contact. Small things like a handshake can play a key role in forming first impressions. The same applies to maintaining eye contact with your interviewer.
- Take notes if you want to. But let your interviewer know that you will be taking notes throughout. Pen & paper are better than taking notes on your phone or a laptop.
- Give specific examples when answering questions, even if you use the same experiences to draw from.
- Make sure you have water or another drink to sip on during the interview. You will be offered water or a hot beverage when arriving in the office, but feel free to ask for extra water throughout the day.
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