Your CV got you in the door. The interview is where the employer decides whether they can picture you in the job. That picture is built on small things: arriving on time, knowing what the business does, and answering the question that was asked.
Prepare three things the night before. Read whatever you can find about the company, even a shop’s Facebook page. Practise saying, in under a minute, who you are and why you want this particular job. And plan the route so you arrive fifteen minutes early, not fifteen minutes late.
Expect the usual questions. “Tell me about yourself” is not your life story; it is your training, one thing you have done, and what you want next. “What are your weaknesses?” wants honesty plus a fix: “I rush, so I now check my work twice.” “Why should we hire you?” is your chance to match what they need with what you can do.
No experience is not the same as nothing to say. Talk about the clean-up you organised, the shop you helped run, the youth group whose accounts you keep. Employers hire attitude and reliability first and train the rest.
At the end, ask one question. “What does a good first month look like in this role?” shows you are already thinking about doing the job well. Then follow up. A short message the next day thanking them for their time is rare, and rare is remembered.
We run mock interviews and employability sessions for young people in Kibera. If you have one coming up, come and practise with us first.
