askST Jobs: What should I prepare before a remote or in-person job interview?

In this series, workforce correspondent Calvin Young offers practical answers to candid questions about tackling workplace challenges and advancing your career.

Q: What should I prepare before a job interview, whether remote or in person?

A: Interviews can vary for different companies and positions.

First, applicants should read the job requirements and company culture. If possible, do a quick search on the hiring manager or recruiter so you know exactly who you’re meeting.

The next thing you need to do is figure out how to tell your story.

To do this, rehearse potential questions. These can be hypothetical based on candidate research about the company or even reaching out to peers who are already familiar with the company or the role, says JobStreet Singapore managing director Chew Siew Mee, adding: “Preparing simple guidelines to these questions will ensure ensure that candidates are equipped with the answers to succeed in their interview.”

There are online resources that job seekers can use to improve their interview skills. On JobStreet’s career advice page, for example, candidates can get tips and tricks on how to do well in interviews, things to look out for and how they should present themselves as confident candidates for the role.

Whether it’s a remote or in-person interview, be careful that your answers don’t seem rehearsed when speaking to the hiring manager, says Ms. Florence Ip, senior talent acquisition manager at Indeed.

“Although you may feel nervous during an interview, try to show your personality so the employer can learn more about you and introduce you to the role alongside current employees.

“Remember to smile, engage with the interviewer and, if you feel it’s appropriate, share personal information such as your family or hobbies.”

Try to answer the given questions with examples.

“Even with yes or no questions, you can still provide the employer with specific situations you’ve been in before that demonstrate your skills and experience,” adds Ms Ip.

“Let the hiring manager know how your skills or decisions in this situation helped your previous employer.”

It’s probably also a good idea to prepare some questions to ask the interviewer, including clarifying certain expectations and finding out what the work culture is like. The trick here is to make the interview seem like a two-way conversation.

Don’t forget to dress the part of the day – and this also applies to virtual interviews. Some businesses have a more formal dress code, while others, such as start-ups, prefer more casual outfits.