Prepare – prepare and prepare some more
Preparation is the one thing that will make you outshine your competition. The more prepared you are for the interview, the more relaxed and confident you will be and the better you will do. Preparation is the key!
- Do not wait until the last minute to prepare.
- It’s a good idea to go on a few interviews you don’t care about, just to develop some confidence.
Get a feel for how it goes and what to expect.
- Know who you will be meeting with and try to research them (i.e. Google & LinkedIn searches).
- Research the company and go beyond the superficial history (About Us, Management Team, etc.)
- Dig into what they have been doing, what news is out there about them, read their financials, etc. Tune into their social media communities. Try to understand how the position you have applied for fits into the organization, and how you could fit in the company’s culture. (See GATHERING INFORMATION Card)
- Research the industry for trends, challenges and opportunities, current news, etc.
- Prepare your 30 and 60 second pitches, as well as your 2 minute “commercial”.
- Be prepared to answer interview questions (go to www.quintcareers.com for a list of 150 possible questions). (See REHEARSE TOUGH Q&As Card)
- Print out several copies of your resume for the day of your interview.
- Prepare your clothing the day before.
- Practice your answers using the PAR format: State the Problem, what Action you took and what was the Result.
- Prepare your reference sheet in case you are asked for one.
- Include mock interviews/role playing in your preparation.