INTERVIEW PREPARATION
Are You Ready for Your Interview?
Interviews can be nerve-wracking but with a little preparation, you can confidently position yourself for hiring.
Congratulations! Your resume got you invited for an interview. You are obviously experienced and qualified for the job.
Now to negotiate the obstacles of the interview process, which has changed due to technology and hiring practices. Interviewing is essentially a two-step process: screening and selection.
Don’t show up without a plan. Be prepared to have the hiring manager visualize you in the position.
The question is, how can you stand out from the other candidates and get a mutually agreeable offer that suits your needs and the company’s needs?
Interview Preparation, Strategy & Mindset
Be prepared to demonstrate that you understand the company’s challenges and the expectations of the job, and you are fully competent to address them.
Approach with the mindset that the interview is a two-way exchange. The company is interviewing you, and you are interviewing the company. You are willing to make the full commitment if this the right place for you.
Both preparation and mindset will sufficiently calm any nervousness. Often the scenario makes you feel you are being judged, subject to rejection. Nothing is further from the truth. You and the company are both seeking a productive match.
The company is screening for risks. You must show that you are not only a safe bet but an asset who can readily contribute to their mission and bottom-line.
If you are nervous, say you are nervous; acknowledgment is the first step in building confidence. Stepping out of your comfort zone is scary but know that people do it all the time and are able to triumph. Few people interview often. That is easy to fix.
Many people stumble when asked the question, “tell me about yourself.” Another easy fix.
Most people minimize doing research and gathering business/industry intelligence, which is the first step toward getting the job you want. While it is another easy fix, it will require effort on your part.
Don’t try to “wing it” and think you can simply charm your way in, although personality and fit does come into play.
Sure, you can give yourself a pep talk, but interview preparation requires a much more comprehensive strategy.
Thanks to technology, companies employ several cost-saving techniques before getting to an in-person meeting. You can expect to encounter one or more of these situations:
- Telephone interview set up by appointment – first-level screening
- Video interview with a person or digitally recorded session of programmed questions
The challenge for human relations professionals, hiring managers, and their assistants is to hire the best candidate for the position. It’s not personal!
