You only have one chance to leave a first impression when you meet someone for the first time. When you are interviewing for a new job, preparing for the interview will help determine your probability of success. In the current economic conditions, even college graduates are having a hard time finding a career after a solid education. Just like studying for your last final in Algebra, being prepared will ensure your success in an interview.
Tip 1: Research the company
An employer can easily tell if you know nothing about the organization. If you don’t know about the organization, the employer can assume that you have either blindly been applying for several over positions at other companies or you simply didn’t care enough to do your homework.
In this day in age, it is very easy to find out about an organization. One great resource is www.glassdoor.com. There is extremely valuable information about an organization including history, product/services, employee reviews, salary, etc. Virtually all organizations have a company web site that has information about its culture, vision, mission, and other pertinent information. This information is usually found under the “About Us” section.
Social media is another medium that you can find information about a company, You can become a fan on Facebook or a follower on Twitter to learn about the company and see how they handle their customer relations. Linkedin is a great professional social media tool and you may find out that a connection actually works . This is a great opportunity to find out firsthand from a current employee what is important to the organization.
Tip 2: Match the job description to your skills
This is really a two-part step. You must read the job description very carefully and pick out key words like “detail oriented”, “result-driver”, and “organized” to pick away what the actual job will entail. It is also where your social connections via Linkedin or job reviews on www.glassdoor.com can come in handy. Using these tools, you can learn about the organization from people who have worked there. This could be invaluable information that you can use to your advantage during your interview.
Once you have a good understanding of what the employer is looking for, you can then match up your skills with their needs. A good way to prepare for this is to write down the key abilities, skills, etc. that the employee is looking for and writing down underneath each skill, an example (story) of how you have used each particular trait in previous positions. This question will most probably be asked in your interview. Also, please save your time and the employers time by not applying to jobs where your skills don’t match what they are looking for.
Tip 3: Prepare your portfolio
Investing in a good quality binder to keep copies of your resume, references, awards, list of questions, and notepad will be worth the money. Although in most cases, an employer will already have a copy for your information, it will show them you are an organized individual when you come prepared to supply it. Ensure that you have each document in filed in an organized manner so you can quickly reference it during your conversation. Otherwise it may cause you to become a bit nervous when you are fumbling through your portfolio to extract the necessary documents.
Tip 4: What not to bring….
It is important that you keep unnecessary items in at your home or in your vehicle during an interview. Chewing gum during an interview is distracting and unprofessional, so discard it before the interview. Do not bring your cell phone will you to your interview under any circumstances. Even if you leave it on silent or vibrate, it is a source of distraction. Truly, the only items that you should carry with you to the interview is your portfolio and your car keys.
Tip 5: Get directions and plan your route
If your interview is during peak traffic hours, make sure you plan to leave your house accordingly. It is nerve-racking to be stuck in traffic or an accident that causes you to be late for an interview. A good rule of thumb is to plan your arrival ten minutes prior to the interview. GPS on phones is reliable, but not without error. You should look up directions via Google maps or Mapquest, especially if you are unfamiliar with the area. If the interview location is a bit tricky to find, don’t hesitate to ask and write down directions during your conversation with your potential employer prior to the interview.
Tip 6: Dress for success
No matter what the position is that you are applying for or what the company culture is, dressing professionally is necessary. Other than the unlikelihood that the employer specifies otherwise, a business professional outfit is appropriate in almost every situation. Be aware of strong cologne, perfumes, hair spray, and other smells. Any such product should be used sparingly as to not distract the interviewer. Details are important so make sure your shoes are dirt-free and shiny and your clothes are ironed and laundered. Makeup and jewelry should be kept to a minimum.
Tip 7: Practice!!!
There are plenty of sources on the internet that you can find in regard to what kind of questions to expect and examples of answers to give (including our site :)). Its important to study these questions and know how you will answer many of them. Another great tool is to role-play an interview. While many people may feel uncomfortable pretending to be at an interview, this can make the real thing a whole lot easier. Have a family member, friend, or someone you are comfortable with to practice with. Its important to not only practice the question and answer portion, but to include the introduction and ending as well.
Tip 8: Prepare – Your new career depends on it
Get a friend or family member to help you prepare for your interview through role-plays. Practice answering questions that you may be asked. This may feel awkward, but through this practice, you will feel a lot more comfortable during the actual interview.
Make sure you have a clear idea of what the position entails before setting foot in the door to your interview. At this point of the process, you should have had the opportunity to ask some questions to clarify what you will be doing on a day to day basis. By knowing what they are looking for, you can focus on matching your own skills to the position.
You should also research the company itself. Basic facts such as what the company sells, how long they have been in operation, and any recent milestones is all available on the internet. In fact, you may be asked during your interview what you know about the organization. This is a great opportunity to dazzle them with your knowledge or show your way out the door because you didn’t take the time to know your facts.
Tip 9 : Time to wait for that callback
You should be well on your way to an exciting new position. You have the skills and the experience that make you a great fit to the organization. You have used these tips and tricks to make you the front-runner. So congratulations, you can kick up your shoes and end your job hunt…for now!
Tip 10: Stuff To Bring To an Interview
For somebody who has been in the joblessness cold for a long time, getting an interview is one of the best things. Finally, the interview comes, and all the interviewers want to impress the panel, whatever it takes. Surely, it takes quite some tact and effort to please interviewees these days. How you present yourself is vital, but there are things that are relevant to consider as you enter the interview room.
- Enough Resume Copies
First of all, never forget to take copies of your resume to the interview. By now, the panel has your resume but do not assume this. By estimation, you might want to have at least 10 copies of the resume to give to those who will be present. As the interviewers ask all those hard questions, you may be required to refer to the resume. Therefore, carry along another copy for your own use. Of course, this does not mean you place it on the table and read it like a novel. There are things you may not know off head for instance the specific dates of employment so the resume copy will help a lot.
- Provide References
Resume references are sometimes the deal breakers when it comes to getting that job. Some time, the company will not ask for those references. However, it shows how serious you are about the job when you provide the references before you are asked.
Carrying these items to the interview room will play a huge role in determining whether you get that job.
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