7 Things You Should Do the Night Before a Job Interview - Walrath Recruiting, Inc.

7 Things You Should Do the Night Before a Job Interview - Walrath Recruiting, Inc. Its impossible to not be excited when you finally land an interview. However, it can be hard to differentiate the excitement from the stress and nervousness. Being nervous for the opportunity can sometimes cause you to forget things, or to not be prepared the morning of. With that in mind weve put together this handy list of tasks you can do the night before to prepare. Follow these steps and youll have much less to worry about the morning of your job interview! 1. Check Your Fuel Gauge It may seem simplistic, but make sure you have gas in your tank the night before. Having to go out of your way to find a gas station in the morning is a great way to start your morning on a bad note. Job interviews are already stressful enough, the last thing you need is something silly adding stress to that day. The night before, make sure you check your fuel gauge to ensure you have enough to get you to the interview. Its not a bad idea to check the weather too. Knowing about any inclement weather will help you determine how early you should leave. 2. Write Down the Address of Your Interview Planning ahead will, in most cases, save you from a headache the next day. This is especially true for driving. Make sure you write down any pertinent details about the location of your interview. Jot down the address, floor number, room number, and anything else that will help you get where you need to go. If you use a GPS, you may want to program it in the night before, to make sure you dont have any problems. That way you can just punch it in from your history the morning of. 3. Print Copies of Your Resume In an ideal world, interviewers would print their own copies of your resume before an interview. Unfortunately this usually isnt the case. It then falls to you to bring a few extra copies to the interview. Make sure you print them the night before! Realizing that your printer needs a new black in cartridge that morning would put you in quite a bind. If youre wondering how many to print, it largely depends on the type of interview. If you are just meeting with one person, bring 4 copies. However, if you are meeting with multiple people or have a panel interview, bring anywhere from 10-15. It may seem like overkill, but its always better to have more than less. Besides, they should all fit comfortably fit in a portfolio or folder you can bring along. 4. Gather Your Materials There are few things you should always bring to a job interview. One of those items is the aforementioned copies of your resume. Additionally, you should also have a folder/portfolio, notepad, and a few working pens. Bringing these items ensures that you are fully prepared to take notes, and securely store any documents you are given at the interview. Theres nothing worse than running through the house trying to find your leather portfolio, or another essential items before you leave. Put it all in one place, so you can quickly pack up before leaving. 5. Get Your Interview Outfit Ready When attending a job interview, its always important to dress for success. It would be unfortunate to realize your best suit hasnt been ironed in months as you put it on. Figure out what you will be wearing to the interview, and lay it out neatly so you can easily get dressed in the morning. That way you also notice any stains, creases, and holes in the clothing before youre on your way to the interview. 6. Set An Earlier Alarm When you set your alarm for the next day, make sure you give yourself a little extra time in the morning. This will let you comfortably gather everything you need, and get put together before heading out the door. Rushing out the door is when things get forgotten. Also, you may want to consider getting a small bite to eat, even if you arent a breakfast person. Theres nothing quite as awkward as a loudly growling stomach during a job interview in a quiet room. 7. Give Yourself Enough Time to Sleep The National Sleep Foundations recommends that Young Adults (14-17 years) and Adults (26-64 years) get anywhere from 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Do your best to get at least 7 hours the night before your job interview. Most interviewers find it off putting if you constantly yawn during the interview. Coordinate your sleep schedule, and go to bed earlier than usual if you have to. Most importantly, stay away from bright screens before you go to bed. Research has shown that white light generated from televisions and phones keep us from getting to sleep. To relax, consider reading a book, or having some tea (without caffeine in it). With this list completed, you should be all ready to go for your job interview! At this point, youve done everything you can to prepare. Look over the job description and any notes, and dont let your nerves get the best of you! Having everything lined up for your job interview the day before should eliminate a lot of the typical stress associated with that day. We hope these tips keep your stress level down for your next job interview!