Tips to prepare for a job interview

Preparing for a job interview?

The Interview is a chance for??a Dialogue -Not an interrogation?

Ok now you have an interview-how do you get prepared so you’re feeling confident?

Let’s set the stage:

The purpose of the interview is for the hiring company to understand more about your background and your capabilities to see if you are a good fit for the job, they have open.?

Step 1:

You need to learn about the company.?

Begin your research by going to their website to understand what they do, and who their clients are. If it’s a public company you should listen to the quarterly analyst meeting to see what management is saying about their direction and what the stock analysts are asking about. You can also go to the stock services and read the summary report on the company and learn about its biggest competitors. Other ideas are to go to LinkedIn and find out the names of your connections who work at the company or who used to work there. Reach out and ask them what they think of the company, and do they think you might be a good fit.??You can go to places like Glassdoor but remember most of the comments will be negative, so consider the context before you put all your faith in what you read.?

Step 2:

Learn about the industry

If you are new to the industry, find out what the industry association and largest publications in the industry say are the industry trends. You can also look at places like Gartner and Forrester to find out what the industry analysts are saying.?

Step 3:

Learn about the people you are interviewing?

Then go to LinkedIn to learn about the backgrounds of the people you are talking to.??Write down what you have in common with each interviewer. Be sure if you are talking to the HR who is the primary screener for the job, do your best to engage them.??The HR people don’t have your technical skills so be sure to speak in everyday English when you talk to them. It’s fine to “talk shop” with the hiring manager but not with the initial screener.?

Step 4:

Prepare your list of questions?

Since you know what kind of job you are looking for, and what culture is important to you have a prepared list of questions to help you explore the things that are important. Write down these questions in advance so you have them.?

For example:?

Tell me how you celebrate wins with your team??

Describe your ‘best” employee and what makes them so great??

What are the key metrics for success in this role??

Step 5:

Practice your interviewing skills

There are a ton of “common” interviewing questions that most interviews ask. Print out the questions and think about your answers in advance. The more time you spend thinking about the answer, the more likely you are to perform well.

Of course, the most common question -which is also the most difficult is “Tell me about yourself”. Don’t wait for this question-write out your answer in advance and practice it. You may use your cell phone to capture your response so you can review it and improve it.?

Step 6:?

Prepare for the on-camera interview?

If your interview is via Zoom or MS Teams be sure that you have plenty of light so people can easily see you. If you don’t have enough light consider using a lamp from another room or moving towards a window. Check your speakers to be sure they are on-it’s your choice if you want to use headphones, iPod, or just speak into your computer. If possible, go online with a friend and ask them for feedback-can they see you and hear you?

Wear clothing that is appropriate for the job. In general, don’t overdo your makeup or clothing. The first impression is important and you want to be seen as someone who is “smart” and “capable”.

Step 7

After the interview, you will be asked if you have any questions.

Please do not ask a question that you could easily look up via google or their website. Do ask questions that show you understand the company and its goals.?

Step 8:

Write a personal thank you?

Write a personal thank you to everyone you interview with. Be sure to take good notes so your thank you note speaks to something specific you discussed with that person. Don't forget to express your interest in the job.?

In summary:?

Prepare so you are ready to show the interviewers that you are the most qualified candidate for their job.?

If you need help improving your interviewing skills, reach out to a career coach who can help you.?

Darcy Bevelacqua, CEO, Successworkscx, www.Successworkscx.com