Plan properly. Conduct your homework so that you can field any specific questions about the company that you are applying to. Study the detail about the company so that you can rapidly furnish any answer with details about the company’s financial dealings or product news. Don’t just look enthusiastic about joining the company and then fall on your sword when they realise that it’s all a show.
Here are a few places you can find some useful information:
The company’s website will share a range of useful information. You should understand how the company wants to be viewed and ensure that you reflect that in your dealings with them. Study the market that the company operates within and what products and services they are looking to promote. Appreciate and reflect the company’s tone and culture in your written and spoken communications. Study the annual report and any of the communication department’s press statements.
As you filter all this info, consider how the role you’re going for links to the department’s mission. You may as well be inclined to employ the site’s search bar to discover more about the individual or panel members who will be interviewing you.
Spend a bit of time using the internet to learn whatever you can about the company. Google News will give you all of the latest information about the company. You might be able to gather some interesting facts by using Google to drill into the major employees.
Google yourself, just in case members of the selection panel are using the internet to investigate you.
Industry sources – It’s not just information about the company you need – you should also have a good background knowledge of the industry so you can impress at the interview. Browse through business publications and websites to see what they are writing about your potential employer and their industry. Have a look on the newsstands at the big magazine retailers – there’s an amazing list of publications out there.
Look through back issues of trade publications – either online or at your local library. You can even obtain some journals for free on their websites.
If you work in the same industry as the company – then use your contacts to ask around about the company you are looking to join.
Preparing yourself – Schedule sufficient time for proper interview preparation. This is an area that you could start to steal a march on your competitors. You must prepare for your interview just as intensely as you prepared for your examinations.
A few ideas:
Organise a practice interview with a friend firing the common question that are likely to come your way in an interview.
Ensure that you have noted the time, date and location of the interview. Know the names of the interviewees too.
Decide how you will get there and when you need to set off to arrive in good time, anticipating any delays. Do a dummy run if necessary.
Dress powerfully so that you will perform powerfully. Plan what you will wear in advance.
Don’t take anything with you to the interview that is not essential. Focus on your purpose and don’t have too many distractions to worry about.
Place all of your important papers and certificates into a folder. Prepare yourself so that you don’t have unnecessary worries on the day.
Go to the toilet before the interview…
Be methodical – Sit down and quietly study your CV. Note down all of the elements of your work record and achievements that you want the interview panel to learn. Ask yourself a series of what, why, where, when, who and how questions to gather the detail about your candidacy.
Make it easy for the interviewer to hire you. Relate all of elements of your resume to the job description.
Remember, one of the most common interview questions is “Tell me about yourself.” Prepare a balanced and succinct answer to this question, not a life history. Keep it businesslike and don’t stray into personal feelings or family relationships. Avoid anything to do with politics or religion like the plague. Interviewers use this question to learn about your personal qualities, not your achievements – they should already have those from your CV.
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