Preparing for the Interview

In today's competitive job market, you absolutely cannot go into an interview blindly. It's important that you are prepared. Much like the players on your favorite sports teams, you need to practice and take necessary steps before going to the big game! Read on to learn tips on how to ''score'' the job at your next interview.

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The Call

When you get the call to set up the interview, be very calm and professional. (Save the whoo-hooos until after you get off the phone.) Be sure to write down the date and time, so that there is no question at all as to when you should be there. It's okay to ask for the address and directions if you're not familiar with where the interview will take place. This also shows that you pay attention to detail. Finally, before you hang up, ask if you should bring anything to the interview. Plan on taking a copy of your resume, regardless, but some potential employers also like to see portfolios of your work, if applicable to the job you're applying for.

Do Your Homework!

The last thing that you should ask during the interview is ''What does your company do?'' Potential employers expect that if you have enough interest in their company, that you'll do the necessary research. Look online at the company's website, and at any relevant websites. (Just be sure that the websites are credible. Sourcing Wikipedia in your interview may not be the best way to show that you've done your homework.) Take notes while you're researching on what areas you find especially interesting, as well as what you think that you could do to enhance their company. It's also important to know how old (or young) the business is.

Ask Around

It's good to ask friends, family, and acquaintances what they know about the company, and their products (if applicable). This will help you get a feel for where the business stands with the public. For example: if they are well-known, if they need more marketing, if they have a negative reputation, etc.

Practice, Practice, Practice!

Practice your interview. It never hurts to write down a list of questions to practice your interview skills with. Of course there's the cliché: ''Tell me about yourself'', ''What are your weaknesses and strengths?'', ''Where do you see yourself in 10 years?'', etc. Be prepared to answer these too, because you just never know. You can also enlist the help of your friends or co-workers. Have them think of some questions, do a mock interview, and have them rate you afterwards.

See the following articles for more information:


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