Preparing for a Job Interview

27 September 2009 785 views No Comment

Congratulations on your upcoming job interview! You have jumped through all the different hoops to land a job interview. Now it is time to put you’re “A” game on. Once the excitement of landing a job interview fades, you might start wondering what you need to do in order to get the job. This is normal. Just about everyone goes through this.

Tips for Job Interviews:
Research – You should research and learn about the current position and the company that you are interviewing with. This can include looking at the job requirements and finding points that you can expand on. Most companies will give you a list of people you will be interviewing with. This is your chance to step up your game. Do a Google search on each person who will interview you. This will give you several taking points to discuss during the interview. They will likely be flattered that you took the time to find out information about them. Also research the company. Look at what they are doing. Are they making headlines? Do they have a blog you can read? This will help you understand the company and give you even more talking points!

Be Prepared – When you enter your interview, you want to be as well prepared as you can. You should have a few printed copies of your resume on hand. Be ready to be hand them out during your interview. You can step it up by having your resume in individual folders and on nice resume paper. Linen or cotton resume paper usually leaves the best impression. Just make sure to stick with professional colors. You might stand out with hot pink paper, but you will stand out for the wrong reasons! Make sure that you have completed any applications or information the company has requested.

Dress Code – Choosing the right outfit for your interview can be tricky. Here are a few tips on dressing for an interview. First, if you are working with a recruiter, there is no harm in asking their opinion on the company’s dress code! Second, you can Google the company and see what type of atmosphere they have. Sometimes, you can find pictures of the employees or the facilities. Finally, if you’re still unsure, scout out the area. Dress to the 9’s and show up 30 minutes to one hour early. See what others are wearing. If you have on a tie and you see that most people don’t, you can leave the tie in the car.

Practice – Practice makes perfect! Try rehearsing job interview questions with a friend or family member. This will help you prepare for the hard to answer questions and help you stay sharp. It will also give you additional confidence when you are in the actual interview.

There are a few things you can do to prepare for an interview. The most important tip is to stay relaxed during your interview! If the answer to a hard question doesn’t come to you right away, don’t be afraid to collect yourself.

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