How to Prepare for an Interview
So you’ve landed the interview with your dream company – what’s next? There are several actions that need to take place prior to your interview.
Research the company before your interview
This is arguable one of the most important tasks you must perform prior to the interview. Companies are not looking for someone who has the skills that meet the job requirements. What they want is someone that will be an overall perfect fit for the department and the organization. Saying that you want to work for XYZ Inc. because it looks like a cool and fun company won’t cut it.
At one point in time, you’ve worked on a school project where one person had to make the rest of the team’s life much harder than it really should’ve been. The worst part about it is that none of you even had a say of who could be on the team! On the other hand, when you’re interviewing for a job, the company you are applying for does have a say. Companies don’t want to hire someone that isn’t a right fit for the job. They want someone that is a perfect fit for the position, and more importantly, a perfect fit for the company. To them, it’s an investment. Researching the company that you’ll be interviewing for, identifying the similarities between yourself and the company’s vision/mission statement, and verbally exposing these similarities to the interviewers will make you a much more attractive candidate.
Know the Ins and Outs of your Resume
You should not only be able to recite your resume, but you should also have detailed examples that can support each bullet on your resume. It’s very common for people to forget the job they had 5-10 years ago, and focus primarily on the most previous position they’ve held. Keep in mind that any job you list on your resume opens the door for the interviewer to ask you questions about any historic positions if he or she chooses to. Ask yourself if you can fluidly walk through every section of your resume, and support it with thorough examples. If not, you’ve got some homework to do.
Mock Interviews
Instead of playing Cowboys and Indians with your friends, try playing Interviewer and Interviewee. Mock interviews are extremely helpful when you’re getting ready to interview for a job. Go online and research questions asked during interviews (industry and job specific), and execute as many mock interviews it takes until you get comfortable with the questions. Not only does it simulate the interrogation vibe, but it also will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses. If you want to take it up a notch, wear your suit while performing these mocks.
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Category: Interviews
