Preparing for a job interview is best done in small parts in the days and weeks leading up to an interview. But the night before an interview is often the time where all of it comes together. It’s your last shot at doing research on your prospective employer, fine tuning your responses to common questions, and planning out what you’re going to wear to make a good impression.
In that spirit, here are seven things to do the night before a job interview.
1. Create an interview cheat sheet.
Many people get overwhelmed by the amount of information they have in their heads. The solution? Jot your key points down on paper, using keywords to summarize thoughts you have (for example, if you want to make sure you mention during the interview that you mentored 30 interns at your last job, you might want to just write INTERNS on the paper — your brain will connect the dots). The key is for the cheat sheet to have the most relevant information so that you can discretely glance down on it before or even during your interview. Be sure to all of your heavy research in the days prior, using sites such as Comparably to determine what the culture is like and what you can expect to be paid.
2. Review your own resume.
Many people forget to spend time reviewing their own resume and credentials before a job interview. The reason this step is so important is that it allows you to create an articulate, engaging story line about your own career path. You don’t want to stumble over silly things like the dates of when you worked where, so take a few minutes to re-learn your own history.
3. Double-check the interview location (and the nearest coffee shop).
This is a biggie — you don’t want to mess your interview up by showing up to the wrong place. Plug the address into Google Maps, and while you’re at it, locate the nearest coffee shop. Many people find it easier to leave their house extra early to ensure they’re at the interview at least 15 minutes early; but if you’re too early, that could also be bad. Drive to a coffee shop near the company instead and you’ll be able to time your arrival more precisely.
Related: The Top 25 Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
4. Put your interview clothes together in one place.
You may know what you want to wear, but if you don’t put it all in one place, you’re gearing yourself up for a challenging morning. Not only does putting all of your interview clothes in one area save you the headache of searching for a missing item in the morning, but it also gives you the opportunity to see if any of your clothes need some maintenance (ironing, spot-cleaning, etc). If you wait until the morning to remove a mark on your blouse, you may end up walking into your interview with a big wet stain, which will certainly weigh on your confidence.
5. Eat something “safe.”
This may sound funny, but it’s true — the night before an interview isn’t the time to check out the new restaurant to the street. You want to stick to food that agrees with you so as to minimize your chance of having stomach discomfort the day of an interview. Not everything is in your control, but playing it safe as you can can give you some peace of mind.
6. Watch TV, go for a run, or do something else that gives you a sense of enjoyment.
The night before an interview doesn’t have to be all work, no play. In fact, research shows that laughing can help ease anxiety, so do something that makes you laugh — watch your favorite comedy or chat with a good friend. If you like to exercise, do that. The key is to reduce your tension and do something fun.
7. Call it quits early.
Generally, you want to get in bed early the night before an interview. You may not fall asleep right away (body clocks are funny that way), but you do want to make sure you’re relaxing and not rushing to bed at 1 a.m. Feeling refreshed in the morning will make a huge difference in your performance during the interview.
