Job Hunter's Tip of the Week #17 -
Help! I have a job interview tomorrow, what should I do to prepare?
Having an interview is your one opportunity to shine for the prospective employer. This is your due or dies moment. There is no room for error if you want to walk away being the candidate they remember. So what do you do?
Here are 5 tips for preparing for an interview:
1. Find out as much as you can about the company and the position you are interviewing for. Check out the internet or you local library for information about the company and their product/purpose/goals. Know as much as you can about the position and be able to relate your skills and qualifications to the job description.
2. Prepare yourself to answer any questions they might ask you. If there is a question you’re hoping they don’t ask, you can almost be sure they will ask it. So be prepared to answer tough questions about yourself, like “what are you weaknesses” or “why did you not work for a period of time”. With a good solid answer already in your memory banks, you’re sure to answer those questions with confidence and a positive spin that will make you look great. You can find loads of sample interview questions on the internet, so start searching!
3. Practice your handshake. Find a friend you trust (who can handle sweaty palms) and who will be honest, and try out your shake on them. Practice until you have found the point where you’re not too soft and you’re breaking their hand!
4. Decide what you’re going to wear. Don’t wait until an hour before the interview to get you’re clothes out, and realize that your best dress shirt is in the wash. Plan what you’re going to wear as soon as you get the call, and check it over for any stains, tears, loose buttons, or things in your pockets that might embarrass you if you accidentally pull them out during the interview. Rule of thumb on what to wear? Always dress conservatively. If you can find out how people dress at the company, then match that or slightly better. If they wear uniforms, error on the side of caution and wear business attire.
5. Prepare your materials and references. It’s highly recommended that you bring a few copies of your resume with you to the interview. It is a real boost for you if you can hand one over to the interviewer, who has suddenly misplaced the one he or she had! Make sure you have a pen and notebook, incase they want to give you follow up information. Bring any certificates/awards/reference letters that are applicable to this position. Get your references ready. Type up the contact information for your references, unless you have already included them on you’re resume. Let your references know that you have been called for an interview and that you’re hoping they will be getting a reference check call in the near future. Let them know what the position is and who it is for, so they too can prepare themselves to answer questions.
Next week’s article will focus on the actual interview and how to be successful during a somewhat stressful event!
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