GO GET THAT JOB!
The actions that you take before a job interview, or lack thereof, can be extremely influential on the outcome of the job interview and the overall outcome of your job application process.
People often decide to “wing it” while trusting themselves and their natural charm or abilities. This is a very big mistake, to say the least. Being well-prepared for your job interview is a sign of a professional and is cardinal to your success. Let’s survey the actions that are suggested to any person preparing for their upcoming job interview:
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Action #1:
Revisit the job positing to make a list of repeated ideas and values, the minimum requirements, maximal requirements, timeline, etc.
Action #2:
Revisit the employer’s website and learn as much as possible about them. Who are they? Who is in leadership positions? What is their strategic plan (especially if interviewing for an executive position)? What are their values? How did they start? Why do they do what they do? Salary ranges for the same job or similar jobs, do they have any big project/service being launched soon or that has been just launched? What are their colors? What is their slogan/moto? What is their logo? Where are they located? What is their physical location about?
Action #3:
Make a checklist of all their minimal and preferred requirements/qualifications for a candidate, and analyze which you meet completely all the way to do not meet. Do not assume that you meet all requirements simply because they have invited you to a job interview.
Action #4:
Addressing the checklist from #3 above, prepare pointers that show how you meet and to which extent each of the employer’s requirements. In a way, you are preparing the “evidence” that you meet the employer’s requirements.
Action #5:
Study the reviews online (on the internet) regarding this employer. Try and connect to some or all of these reviews in a way that you could verbally include in your interview answers. In other words, search for things people wrote in their reviews that you can use in your own answers. Especially focus on the good and why it makes you want to work for this specific employer.
Action #6:
Research what are the most common questions asked in your field of expertise and profession. Then prepare your answers.
Action #7:
In a respectful way, research your hiring committee members if you know who they are and what they do for this employer. Use every legal and ethical resource possible, including their social media. Find out what is important to them, what are their passions, what do they do in their spare time. Analyze and make a list of what they have in common with you.
Action #8:
Research their Human Resources department’s website pages for any information on the hiring process, this position, their benefits, etc.
Action #9:
Watch videos and read articles on professional interviewing (just like you are reading this one right now…), buy a book about interviewing and read it in full.
Action #10:
Update your resume/CV accordingly. Check if you can update your submitted resume/CV or not. If not, have hard-copies of your most updated resume/CV ready with you (just in case an opportunity raises during the job interview itself).
Action #11:
Make a list of what you have achieved since you have applied for the job that could impress them. Be sure to bring it up during the interview.
Action #12:
Practice, practice, practice!
Using family, friends and colleagues, create mock job interviews and practice them. When you practice, take it seriously as if it were the actual job interview. That’s right, dress up for your mock interview, do everything you should do for the real job interview. This is important to get you in the right mind-set and mood while practicing. Similar to an athlete before a decisive game, your practice will determine the outcome of “the match” (job interview).
Action #13:
Feedback, feedback, feedback!
Get feedback from as many people as possible. The more executive the job you are applying for, the more important it is to get feedback and practice. It is so important that it is advised to hire an HR company or experts of sort to conduct the mock interview with you and give you feedback.
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Action #14:
There are multiple websites dedicated to mock interviews that you could use. These include InterviewBit, Pramp, InterviewBuddy, Gainlo, Interviewing, Technical Mock Interview, Prepbunk, and My Interview Practice.
Action #15:
Though this possibly the most difficult action to take, record yourself and critique yourself while practicing for your job interview.
Learn what to do and what not to do during your job interview – Visit the article titled “How to Interview – During the Job Interview”
Last, but not at all least – good luck!
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