Essential Tips To Avoid Being Over-Prepared For An Interview

Updated 5 February 2023

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While proper preparation is essential before a job interview, some people may over-prepare to such an extent that they cannot relax on the day of the interview. It may prevent them from giving authentic answers during the interview and limit their success. By understanding the importance of a reasonable approach to interview preparation, you can find more appropriate methods to get the outcome you desire. In this article, we discover what being over-prepared for an interview means, explain the ways people over-prepare for interviews and discuss strategies for appropriate interview preparation to increase your chances of getting the job.

What Does Being Over-Prepared For An Interview Mean?

Being over-prepared for an interview means being over-zealous and overly meticulous about preparing for all possible aspects of the interview. You assume that you can influence how the interview will go and get the outcome you expect. You want to present yourself as the perfect candidate in front of the interviewers. The problem with this approach is that there are a lot of variables that are beyond your control.

For example, the interviewers might ask you questions that you did not expect and for which you did not prepare. They might not respond as you thought they would to your interview answers. Instead, a better approach would be to understand the job requirements, research the job duties and review your abilities. That may enable you to be more natural and confident in your interactions with the interviewers. You can discuss your experiences, be flexible if you encounter unexpected questions and make an overall good impression.

What Are The Ways In Which You Can Over-Prepare For Interviews?

The ways in which you might over-prepare for interviews include the following:

Memorising information: While it is advisable to research the employer and the responsibilities of the available position before the interview, you are over-preparing if you attempt to memorise all the details.
Scripting interview answers: Compiling lists of frequently asked interview questions is good practice for interview preparation, but scripting answers to recite word-to-word during the interview is over-preparation. It can also make you come across as robotic rather than authentic and is not likely to make a good impression.
Studying specific interview practices: Finding out about an employer's particular interview process can help you prepare for the interview, but it is over-preparation if you spend hours gathering details. A lot of it may not be necessary and it could only heighten your anxiety level.
Staying up late preparing the night before the interview: It is important to get sufficient sleep the night before, so that you are well-rested and alert during the interview. Staying up late to prepare for the interview is over-preparation, and it could tire you, make you drowsy and inattentive and that could lower your chances of success.
Arriving too early at the interview venue: It is appropriate to reach the venue around 10 to 20 minutes before the interview, but you are over-preparing if you go one or two hours earlier. Aside from requiring to wait a long time, it could make you overthink what types of questions you are likely to encounter during the interview. You could become more nervous and anxious, and that might impact your interview performance.

How To Limit Interview Over-Preparation

You may be able to limit your habit of over-preparing for job interviews by following these suggestions:

1. Review your career chronology

It is advisable to take the time to go over your career chronology to date. Familiarise yourself again with the specifics of the work positions held so far. Review your educational qualifications, skills, and abilities. Consider the work achievements you are most proud of, the work issues you have struggled with, the steps you have taken to overcome setbacks and the things you have learned in the industry.

When you know your career experiences inside out, you may find it easier to use this knowledge to make reasonable responses to all interview questions. You may be able to adapt easily and calmly to multiple interview scenarios, present yourself well and demonstrate your suitability for the available position.

2. Start your interview preparation early

The best way to avoid the over-preparation issue is to start practising for your interview as early as possible. You could begin as soon as you have sent off your job application. That can give you enough time to internalise all the job-related information you need. Familiarise yourself with the job requirements and match these with your abilities and experiences.

Chalk out a schedule and plan on practising for no more than an hour daily. Practising in small amounts can ensure that you do not stress yourself with the interview preparation process. Instead, you can become confident in your knowledge and remain calm and relaxed on the day of the interview.

3. Plan for the interview situation

Planning ahead to handle the interview situation can help you feel calm and in control when you arrive for the interview. Find out where the interview is going to take place, calculate the time it can take to reach there from your location and decide on the transportation mode to use on the day of the interview. If possible, visit the venue before the interview to familiarise yourself with its layout. Plan on arriving there at least 20 minutes before the interview starts.

Select an appropriate outfit to wear for the interview and make sure it is clean and ironed. Make a list of the things you might need for the interview, such as copies of your resume, credentials, passport, pen and notepad. Put these things in the bag you are taking to the interview so that you do not forget anything.

4. Research different types of interview questions

Research the general types of questions that interviewers usually ask for your role and also compile a list of the specific ones they might ask. Prepare sample responses, but instead of memorising them, try to understand why interviewers ask these questions and what is the common theme in most of them. For example, you might notice that a lot of the questions are concerned with problem-solving skills. You can then think of the different work situations in the past that required you to take a problem-solving approach and the strategies you employed to resolve the issues.

You can use these experiences as guidance to make unscripted responses. That way, you can remain flexible and adapt as is necessary to the scenario during the interview.

5. Learn universal interviewing techniques

Learning universal interviewing techniques can help you prepare well for different types of interviews, such as behavioural interviews, competency-based interviews, group interviews, and panel interviews. Be positive about your career outlook and go to the interview with the intention of receiving a job offer. During the interview, be approachable, likeable and enthusiastic and make it clear to the interviewer that you are interested in the job.

Aside from demonstrating with your behaviour that you are easy to get along with and are likely to be a good team player, convince the interviewer that you can deliver results by addressing their expectations and requirements. Be open about the skills, abilities and experience you can bring to the position. Have specific, well-mapped-out goals for the foreseeable future that can let them know that you are serious about your career and plan to advance in it. Prepare and ask intelligent, well-thought-out questions about the position and the company. Research the salary range for your role for successful salary negotiation.

6. Work on building your confidence

Being confident, comfortable and interested during a job interview can help you make a good impression on the interviewers and may increase your chances of getting the job. You can build your confidence by focusing on the positive aspects of your career history and work experiences. Practice discussing your qualifications, knowledge, skills, abilities and achievements with your family, friends, neighbours and acquaintances. Be proud of the work you have done.

Work on developing a good posture, making effective eye contact and being attentive to the person you are conversing with. Body language is a good indicator of confidence, so learning to control it can improve your chances of interview success.

7. List meaningful experiences and career milestones

When you walk into an interview understanding what the employer wants and knowing how you can fulfil their requirements, you are more likely to receive a job offer. Preparing a list of your meaningful work experiences and career milestones can help with this. Whether you are facing behavioural, situational or any other types of interview questions, you can adapt your responses to them with the information you have internalised. You can also provide concrete and verifiable examples of your workplace success during your discussions with the interviewers. That can eliminate the need for preparing and memorising scripted answers.