With the economy tanking like it has over the past year, there are lots of people who are out looking for work. Whether you are looking because you recently got laid off, fear you might get laid off, or just looking for your first job, there are some things you can do prepare yourself for the all important job interview. Here are some tips for how to prepare for a job interview.
1 – Research the company. This is very important because it sets the stage for most of the other preparation steps. You’ll need to find out what they do, what the culture is like, and maybe even some key people in the organization. Prospective employers want to see that an applicant can take the initiative to find out about their company. Once you have a good grasp of the company, you can tailor your responses to fit what they are looking for. This shows them that you’re interested in them specifically, and are not just randomly shooting resumes everywhere hoping you get lucky (even though this might be the case).
2 – Practice talking to an audience. Before you even glance at common questions, you need to get in the habit of talking in front of someone. This can be with a partner or even just to the mirror. You need to get comfortable talking and getting feedback about any nervous habits you might have. A partner will be able to point these out to you, and watching yourself in the mirror will serve the same purpose.
3 – Prepare for common questions. Most job interviews will have some common questions that they will use to gage everyone on a level playing field. Some common ones that I’ve personally seen are: – Tell me about yourself – What are your strengths/weaknesses – Why are you interested in our company – Tell me something about you that is not on your resume – What makes you stand out from the rest of our applicants These are important questions to know how to answer. The next tip will help you with the best way to give an answer.
4 – Think of anecdotes to answer questions. Anecdotes are very important to an employer because it gives a better picture of who the applicant is. Anyone can answer ‘I’m hard working’, but it’s entirely different to have a story (hopefully entertaining) that illustrates that point. If they ask you why they should hire you, tell them your strengths, and then wrap it up by telling them a story that illustrates that strength. These will help you stand out to an employer.
5 – Dress appropriately for the interview. This doesn’t mean go out and by a suit. If the company is a more casual place that loves innovation, maybe business casual would be more appropriate. My favorite story about this is a friend of mine who lives in California. He was interviewing for a PE Firm and showed up to the interview in business casual (no tie) when every other candidate was decked out in a full suit. When the interviewer came out, he looked at my friend, and then everyone else and said “You’ll notice that we’re more casual on the West Coast.” Oh, and he got the job. Just a couple of tips. Remember to polish your responses and think of any interesting stories to help you prove your points.
It’s a tough environment out there, but there are jobs, and with some hard work you’ll be able to find one. There is no substitution for preparation, as you will find in our list of tips for how to prepare for a job interview. Good Luck.
Related posts:
- How to Prepare for a Behavioral Interview
- How to Dress for a Job Interview as a Man
- How a Women Should Dress for an Interview
- How to Conduct a Job Interview
- How to Prepare for Retirement
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