How to Prepare for an Interview in the Indian Sports Industry
Ghostwrote a series of posts for the CEO of SporJo, a company working in sports recruitment. Published here.
Photo: Amtec/Flickr/Creative Commons (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)
You have got the call from the HR department. They liked your CV. You have passed with flying colors on your first conversation. Now they want you to meet the boss for an interview.
Here is how to prepare for an interview in the Indian sports industry.
Read up
Read up as much as you can about the company. Scour every inch of their website, and scroll through their digital media presence. Companies spend a lot of time and money on their websites and digital media channels. The money is spent on making sure their messaging and content is in tune with the ethos and principles of their company. Learn as much as you can about them.
Why?
Because your answers at the interview should be in sync with what they stand for and who they are looking for to fill that position.
Research the industry
Spend time researching the industry the company works in. Yes, everyone you are applying to is part of the Indian sports industry. But which vertical industry is the company you are applying to part of? Are they a professional team? Research on the latest business deals in professional sport in India. Are they a data analytics company? Research the latest tools and technologies used in sports analytics around the globe and in India. Are they a sports event management company? Research the biggest sports events of the past year and how they impacted the Indian sports industry.
The more research you have done, the clearer your thoughts and your answers will be.
Mock-It-Up
This is an important step. Ask a friend, a family member, or maybe even a mentor to help you with a mock interview. Spend a couple of hours thinking up of the various questions you might be asked. Repeat this process a few times to get your answers clear and on point.
Plan Your Day
Do not be late. And in order to not be late, you have to plan your interview day. What time will you wake up (in case it is a morning interview)? Make sure you have had a timely meal. What mode of transport will you take? If you are taking your own transport, make sure your vehicle is working and that it has enough gas. If you are heading by public transport, find out the timings of the bus, train, or metro you will be taking. If you are heading by cab or an autorickshaw, research in advance how long it will take to reach the company’s office at that time of the day.
Aim to be at the company’s office at least 15 minutes prior to your interview.
What to wear?
Be very presentable. Make sure your clothes are clean and ironed. Make sure your hair is in place and well-groomed. Wear subtle, neutral colors as far as possible. You may have a personality that can carry off wild, bright colors — there will be a better time to showcase those clothes after the formal interview.
Here at Sporjo we have built a process that addresses every little element of your journey towards getting a job and building a carer in the Indian sports industry, including helping you prepare for your interviews.
To know more about what we do, and how we can add value to you, sign here to register with us.
Let us get you started today!