Interviewing Preparation & Research

Preparation and research are the first step to any job search and an interview.  Interviewers and/or recruiters have interviewed countless numbers of people and they can't be fooled. Avoid getting a courtesy 'thanks for applying' letter by doing your preparation and research!

Research First

Research the company through it's website, web searches, news articles, friends and family with knowledge of the company, current employees, promotional materials, etc..

Do not waste your time or that of the interviewer. Lack of knowledge and understanding about the position and the company hiring for that position is easily identified and annoying. Don’t waste their time or yours!

Ask questions directly of the person setting up the interview. Some appropriate research questions would be:

1. Who will I be meeting with? (Or talking to?)
2. Any suggestions on how to prepare?
3. Should I expect a particular type of interview format?
4. Where are you located? (Map it)
5. What is the easiest way to get there (if you are unfamiliar with the area)?

Note: Do not ask inappropriate questions such as about pay levels or confidential company information. Also, be aware who you a speaking with and their level at the company.

Other General Preparation

If you work in a specialized field with a lot of acronyms and it’s own terminology, review some of this information prior to going on an interview - - no matter how spectacular you think your memory might be.

Know Where Your Going - Print off a map for interview day. Make sure you have clear directions to the interview location. This is a good time to determine how long your average commute would be and if it is within an acceptable distance to your home.

Know What You Want - Think long and hard about what you want to do. You may think you need ‘any job’, but in reality obtaining a position that isn’t the right fit could hurt you in the long run. 

Be Concise - Rambling on is one of the most common blunders.  Really listen to the question, answer the question, and answer it concisely.  Do not go off on a tangent. Give a complete answer, but don’t’ go on and on, repeating yourself within your statement. 

Be Thoughtful - Do not be afraid of ‘THE SILENCE’.  A genuine pause to reflect and gather your thoughts before you speak will make you appear as the thoughtful, carefully spoken person that you are!

Provide Examples - It's one thing to say you can do something; it's another to give examples of things you have done. You should prepare a list of examples of the work you've done or these may already be on your resume.  You should anticipate the questions a recruiter's going to ask based on the requirement of the role.

For example, if a job posting states that you must have the ability to manage projects, think of recent project you’ve managed. When the question is asked, answer with specifics, not in generalities. You could say, ‘Yes, I've done that before. Here's an example of a time I successfully managed a project…'.

Be Honest - It is not in your best interest or the interest of the hiring company to have you dance around difficult questions or portray yourself as something you are not.  If you don't have a skill, just state it. Don't try to cover it up by talking and giving examples that aren't relevant. You're much better off saying you don't have that skill but perhaps you do have some related skills, and you're happy to tell them about that if they like. You could also simply state, “I do not have direct experience doing that, but I have done similar things that I believe have prepared me for this position.”  Or  “I am a very hard-worker and a quick learner. I am completely up to the challenge.”

Keep Your Guard Up - Is your interviewer making jokes or telling you what seems like personal things about him? He’s not a very straight-laced or serious guys? Wrong. He wants you to think he is your friend. He thinks if he puts you at ease, you’ll tell him everything! Don’t mess up. Keep your guard up. This is still an interview and you should always act in a professional manner, even if the interviewer is not. This is not the time to impress them with your wild party stories, social schedule, popularity, or impressive extracurricular activities. Keep focused on the job at hand and always maintain your professionalism.

Practice, Practice, Practice