Do you actually prepare for interviews?

[MsMooon]

I’ve noticed a lot of people talk about preparing for interviews, but honestly, I don’t put much effort into it and still manage to get job offers. I’m curious—do others actually prepare? Or is it just me who thinks all the prep is overrated?

AIBU for feeling this way, or is there a secret to landing jobs without all the fuss?

I do but I’m a teacher and I read the school policies and current directives (not in UK)
Ensure I know the current terminology and up to date strategies in my field

I think the important thing is to research the company /organisation as fully as possible. In previous interviews I've been asked to describe the work of the company in detail, and in another I was asked to give feedback on the annual report, and in another to describe how I would create a strategy for a certain programme. If I hadn't done any planning then I wouldn't have been able to answer any of those questions.

I suppose it depends what level job you're applying for and how different it is from your current role.

Depends what job people are applying for and depends what the skills required are.

Depends how long ago their last interview was.

Depends how confident there are at interviews.

I interview people regularly and while I don't spot them all, you can tell some people don't bother preparing and you can tell some who definitely did.

I definitely research the company, partly because I mark people down in interviews if they clearly haven't. I tend to look at the people interviewing me on LinkedIn too. I wouldn't say I do hours of prep though.

I do because I work in a civil service department and the questions will be linked to particular success profiles/behaviours and need to be answered in a very specific way. I didn't in a previous industry.

I do but last time when they asked me I did have to refer to my notes! Still got the job though!

Yes. I have some stock examples of things I can adapt to questions like, "can you give an example of when you helped improve things for your department," but I'm a sys admin, and I often get a techy test, too, so I might cram a bit on commands/procedures referred to in the job spec if it's a week area. I at least like to know what the different stuff they mention does, like is it storage or networking or messaging - I don't think I've ever had experience of 100% of the different technical skills mentioned for the various techy jobs I've applied for over the years.

I also go over my CV and LinkedIn to remind myself about what they know about me. I remember sitting I an interview for my first post-uni job about 30 years ago, and they said, "you mention this in your CV, so can you tell us..." and while I was answering it, I was mostly thinking, "I don't remember writing that..." (got the job, though.)

Mind you, at an interview a few years ago, there were things I really hadn't written, about technical areas I had(n't) covered. I might have been able to blag it if I'd cared but I had already decided by that point I wouldn't touch it if offered, so I was just very honest instead. And did not use that recruitment consultant again.

And I make sure I've got an outfit to wear I'll be comfortable in, including any ironjng if needed, and know where to go and how long to get there, by whichever transport I'll be using.

Oh, and the job I'm currently in, I had to submit a sample of a script I'd written beforehand. I've also helped a friend with materials he was preparing for a lesson he had to teach for a teaching job, and I have helped another friend refine and practise a presentation - you have to prepare for some interviews.

I interview regularly and it drives me crazy when people haven't even bothered to look at the company website. Also, I think people to better if they have used the job spec to think of possible questions and then give evidence of how have used a skill/knowledge in a previous role. I would say prep is essential if you want the job.

I suppose it depends what level job you’re interviewing for, but I always do.

I research the organization (I’m in the public sector), look for any press releases, current priorities or major changes in leadership. Those are all important as regards deciding if you want to work somewhere anyway, surely?

I also make sure I have some solid examples in my head in a SMART format.

Yes, I make sure I am fluent in all the points I want to hit.

Well it kinda depends on whether you’re applying for a minimum wage job in a chippy, or as the Medical Director of a huge hospital, yes?

I think the higher level the job is, the less likely you are to be able to blag your way through it.

The majority of candidates for professional or higher paid jobs will have prepared very thoroughly for that specific interview and for that specific role.

I always read a company or department's most recent mission statement and business plan so I can answer questions in a way that would benefit those. I try to use similar language and mindset in the interview. It works.

Always. When I used to interview I expected the candidate to be able to tell me why they wanted to work for my company, and why this specific job. So they needed to find out about both.

I have also had a lot of competency based interviews so I try to predict what I might be asked to demonstrate and thing of examples for those behaviours. Much better than trying to remember on the spot.

Always. Interviews make me feel incredibly nervous. I’d feel even worse if I hadn’t bothered to prepare for them.

I've always had to prepare either a presentation or a microteach (FE lecturer), but also get asked questions on specific aspects of the role (for example student retention, safeguarding against specific local issues) to which my answers would have been thin and generic if I hadn't researched into their policies and procedures, as well as geographical issues that the college are targeting.

That being said, we have a serious recruitment and staff crisis at the moment, so you could probably send a chimp in to interview and it would be given the job.

As others have said, it depends on a few factors whether it is necessary, beneficial or pointless.