Don't we all dread job interviews? Inasmuch as we want to ace each interview that comes, there are times when we fumble with our words, say the wrong things in front of the interviewer or worse, fail to do an in-depth research about the employer. When you want a job so bad, you just cannot make any of these gaffes which will compromise your chances of bagging the job. It is not enough to rehearse answers to possible questions that may arise or dress yourself up in your best power suit. You have to do more than that.
Here are some tips that will help you in acing that interview:
1. Who will conduct the interview?
If possible, ask the HR manager about the person/persons who will conduct the interview. Is it going to be the operations head? The VP? The CEO? Knowing who you will be up against with during the interview will allow you to condition your mind and prepare yourself for potential questions which would presumably delve with the specifics of the job you are applying for.
2. What is the employer's core business?
You can get this information from the company's website. Check out the "About Us" link and read the current press releases. Familiarize yourself with the company's products and services. These information are also found in the company's annual report.
3. Who are the competition?
It doesn't end with the knowledge of the company's products. You have to know their competitors and how the company stacks up against their peers in the market.
4. Answering difficult questions.
List all potential questions, the difficult ones specifically, and practice your responses. Possible questions that may come up include situations relating to handling conflicts at work and your management style.
Doing the above steps in addition to the basics e.g. looking great and knowing the details of your resume, will put you ahead of the pack.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Interview Preparation: Doing More Than The Basics
Labels: Career advice, Interview tips
Posted by Mari at 7/20/2009
3 comments:
If I may also add, if a tough job market like the present, it would also behoove a candidate (especially one who has been out of work for months) to be prepared to respond to questions like what has he/she been doing with his/her time since he/she lost her job. A candidate's response to that question will also provide a prospective employer a lot of insight into a candidate's qualities as a person.
You are right in that a candidate really needs to do more than the basics when preparing for an interview. A well prepared candidate is a very confident candidate.
Also, don't wear too much perfume or cologne. It's a downer based on my experience.
I always make it a habit to ask the credentials of who is interviewing me in case he/she doesn't tell me. Methinks there is nothing wrong with it and it gives me the opportunity to strategize my responses properly.
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