The night before an interview
It's completely normal to feel anxious the night before an interview. In fact, many people find that the anticipation can be the hardest part. But with the right preparation, you can turn that anxiety into confidence. Here are some tips on what to do—and what not to do—the night before your big day.
1. Review the Job Description and Company
Spend some time revisiting the job description and researching the company. Make sure you understand the key responsibilities of the role and how your skills align with them. Look into the company’s values, culture, and recent news. This will not only help you feel more prepared but also enable you to tailor your answers to show why you’re a great fit.
Remember the job title as written on the job description. Check if the company has been in the news for anything and make a note of it. And this news item is particularly related to your role, it may be a good subject candidate to ask a question about at the end of the interview.
2. Plan Your Journey
Whether your interview is in person or online, planning is crucial. If you’re attending in person, check the route, the traffic at that time of day, and parking options. If it's online, ensure your technology is ready. Test your internet connection, microphone, and camera, and make sure you have the correct login details.
3. Prepare Your Outfit
Decide on your outfit the night before. Choose something professional and comfortable that makes you feel confident. Lay it out so that you’re not rushing around in the morning. This small step can save you time and reduce stress.
It is also normal to feel confused about what to wear among so many options. My advice that I share with our clients is do not try anything new. The reason being the fit could be different or a button could break etc. You do not want additional sources of stress. I would suggest that you stick to something you are comfortable in and that is interview-appropriate. Suit, jacket, tie, jeans - they are all fine as long as you know what is an acceptable interview attire in the company you are interviewing at.
It is a general advice to err on the side of caution. It just means that it is better to over-prepare than otherwise.
4. Review Your Notes, But Don’t Overdo It
It’s important to review your key points, but don’t spend the entire evening cramming. This can increase anxiety and leave you feeling overwhelmed. Instead, focus on the highlights: your strengths, the key points you want to convey, and any questions you plan to ask the interviewer.
5. Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Sleep is essential for your brain to function at its best. Avoid staying up late to prepare; you’re unlikely to absorb much information anyway. Instead, wind down early, avoid screens, and create a relaxing bedtime routine. A well-rested mind will help you think clearly and respond confidently during the interview.
It is generally advisable not to indulge in anything that could potentially affect a good night's sleep the night before the interview. From my personal experience I can tell you that trying out food that's too hot (AKA spicy), traveling long distances to reach home very late (happens if you went on a long road trip) and intense sports sessions for a long period. All these things eat into the time you would rather spend unwinding and beginning to fall asleep on time the night before an interview.
Oh, your favourite sports team could be playing on the TV pretty late in the night. It would take a lot of self discipline to quench that thirst to watch and go to bed, but you know the priorities. After the interview, you could watch highlights or even replay the match.
6. Practice Relaxation Techniques
If you’re feeling particularly anxious, try some relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or light exercise. These can help calm your nerves and improve your focus.
Especially, if you are into meditation, it could be a game changer the night before an interview to make you feel relaxed. Or, if you are a walker, no better time to walk a bit before you go to bed. Walking falls under light exercise. Do not make the mistake I made once when I had such an intense workout at the gym late in the evening I didn't fall asleep till early morning and I didn't feel fresh at all during the interview at 10 AM. If you usually work out during the evening, it is possible you are already accustomed but if you usually work out during the mornings, do not change the routine just on the day that matters.
7. Avoid Last-Minute Changes
It can be tempting to tweak your resume, change your answers, or rethink your entire strategy. Resist this urge. Trust in the preparation you’ve already done. Last-minute changes can lead to confusion and make you feel less prepared.
Quite simply, the resume you submitted already and that got you the interview shall not be changed, unless you made a material mistake accidentally. If it is a small grammatical or spell error, chances are no one noticed it. It may not be worth the effort to correct it and organize a couple of printed copies of your corrected resume late in the night. If you do, there is a good chance you are going to panic and that will show up in the interview.
Instead, familiarize yourself with your resume, especially the quantified results because they are some of the finer details we don't exactly memorize.
8. Visualize Success
Take a few minutes to visualize yourself succeeding in the interview. Imagine walking in with confidence, answering questions clearly, and leaving with a sense of accomplishment. This positive visualization can boost your confidence and set the tone for a successful interview.
One tip that is worth sharing is instead of visualizing the whole interview process, you might want to visualize just the beginning part of the interview. Things like what would you say as you enter the room, how would you greet the interviewer, how would you respond if they spoke about a recent event - e.g. a soccer match or how your country is doing in olympics? Visualizing with specific details in mind and for a small section of the interview are much easier and can help you face the interview process with confidence as you would feel well prepared.
9. Prepare for the Unexpected
While you can’t predict everything, you can prepare for the unexpected. Think about how you’ll handle a tough question or a technical glitch in an online interview. Having a plan in place can make you feel more in control.
If you are going to use public transport, which sometimes gets impacted because of rain etc, plan ahead of time for back up options. Someone from your family or a friend could be informed in advance, usually the night before so they are available just in case you need. If you think it usually takes 30 min to get to the interview location, maybe plan for 60 min to get there. After all, being on time is being early.
10. Have Everything Ready
Make sure you have everything you need for the interview ready to go. This includes your resume, a notepad and pen, any documents the interviewer requested, and a bottle of water. If it’s an online interview, ensure your devices are charged and your workspace is tidy.
For sure, keep a note pad, a pen and a couple of printed copies of your resume. Recruiters and hiring managers could be busier than usual on your interview day and may show up to the interview without a copy of resume in hand. Handing over a copy of resume will set you up very nicely as someone who came prepared; moreover, giving someone something always gives us a feeling of satisfaction, which will show up in your confidence.
Conclusion
The night before an interview can be nerve-wracking, but it’s also an opportunity to set yourself up for success. By preparing thoughtfully and giving yourself time to relax, you can walk into your interview feeling confident and ready to impress.