AUTHOR: David M. Young
Go “above and beyond” and do what your competition is not doing…WIN THE JOB OFFER BEFORE YOU GET TO THE INTERVIEW BY THOROUGHLY PREPARING.
We have discussed some basics of research for an interview. There are also some basic things you can do prior to the interview that will demonstrate you are prepared, capable, and the best candidate for the job. Some of this is repetitive, but combined with the other items, will make sure you are ready. Will this take time? YES…but this is your career. You don’t walk into a test without studying. If you do, you increase your chance of a low score. Your objective in the interview is to walk away with an offer, or move to the next steps in the interview. You want them saying yes. Only then if you are not interested, would you say no. Never “burn a bridge” in an interview.
So what else can you do:
- Have your elevator speech ready – combine personal with professional…don’t just go over your resume. Try to make a connection. Volunteer as much personal info (hobbies, etc.) as you feel comfortable.
- Do company research: Website, 10k, news articles, etc.
- Go over your own resume – helps in standard interview to explain job transitions and chronological history (never, ever bad mouth a former employer.)
- Write down accomplishments and achievements (may come to mind as your going over your work history)…they don’t all have to be within work category. This is one of the only ways to prepare for a behavioral interview.
- Be prepared to provide one failure if asked – state what you learned from it or how you overcame it.
- Write down three or four strengths. (What’s your greatest strength? Why should we hire you? What skills do you bring to the table?) Make sure that you have an example for each one.
- Be prepared with one weakness – Turn it into a positive. Be honest.
- Motivations, Likes, Dislikes, Goals (only time goals are bad are if they’re inconsistent with what company wants.)
- Always brush up on any specific technical skills that may be needed.
- Be prepared to ask questions: They may ask you if you have any (you better if they do!) or there may be an opportunity you can take near the end of the interview.
- Company questions: (have some prepared from your research) Growth plans, culture, mgmt style, questions that show you did your homework.
- Position specific questions: What will I be doing 1 year from now? What does it take to succeed here? What is the career path?
- Interviewer specific questions: What brought you to the company and what has kept you here? What do you like/dislike about company? What made you successful? What’s your mgmt style?