When you are preparing to take a test, you usually don't know what exact questions will be asked, but you do know the content and topics that will be covered in the exam. So you spend at least a few hours, maybe days, studying because you want to get an "A". Usually, the level of confidence you have going in to take the test is relatively in proportion to the amount of studying you did.
Well, the same is true for the interview. We generally don't know the questions ahead of time, but in a typical interview there are some common questions, basic topics and areas of interest that the interviewer(s) will want to know about:
- How your professional and educational background fits the position you are applying for. This is where the employer usually asks, "Tell me about yourself."
- Why you are interested in the position and working for their organization in particular.
- Will you be able to handle the responsibilities, tasks, and challenges associated with the position. Have you demonstrated this in your past experience?
- Will you be a reliable employee? (usually not asked directly, but rather inferred from responses to other questions).
- Do you live up to your resume?
- Are there any areas of concern that may hinder your job performance (usually not asked, but inferred from your responses to other questions).
- How well you match with the company/organization culture.
There are many common questions covering these topics that you should become familiar with. For a list go to http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/CareerBytes/Articles.aspx .
Also, think about possible questions that may be specific to your job field or position, for example, "What is your teaching style?".
2. Do your research.
Lucky for us, the Internet has made it very easy for job seekers to find information on employers. The vast majority of organizations have websites with loads of information that is very useful in helping to prepare for an interview. When checking out a company website look for the following types of information:- What is the organization? Is it a corporation, private or public company, non-profit organization etc. What is the size, how many employees are on staff?
- What is their mission, goals, and values?
- What products or services do they provide?
- What populations, clients or customers do they serve?
- Where are they located?
- Read your job description again, look for clues as to the type of person they are interested in hiring.
- How does the position you are applying for fit into the organizational structure?
- What other positions are currently available?
- Check out pictures or bios of the people who work there. If your lucky, you'll find information on the person who'll be interviewing you. This is a great way to put a face to the name and may help to put you at ease.
3. Create Questions.
When an employer asks, "Do you have any questions for me?", you had better respond with a 'yes'. If you fail to ask questions, this may come across as a lack of interest on your part. Nothing turns off an employer more than someone who is not enthusiastic about the job. By utilizing what you have gleaned from their website, create thoughtful questions to ask in the interview (and please, nothing relating to salary or benefits!). This demonstrates your interest and shows that you have taken the initiative and effort to learn about their organization. As a general guideline, I suggest preparing about 6 questions, that way if a few are answered by the interviewer prior to asking you for questions, you'll still have some left over to ask.
4. Practice makes perfect.
After you have come up with answers to the questions that are likely to be in the interview, practice what you want to say and how you say it. It may seem a little embarrassing or funny at first, but look at yourself in the mirror as you go over your responses. The point of this is not to memorize your answers, but rather to become comfortable answering questions about yourself so that on interview day, the words don't get stuck in your throat.
If you can, recruit a friend* to act as the interviewer. That way you can practice answering questions in front of someone else (this is especially helpful for nervous interviewers and shy people). Your friend can then give you feedback on how well you answered the questions as well as body language and other observations.
*Or contact me! I'll be happy to conduct a mock interview with you.
5. Dress Rehearsal
Prior to the big day, I highly suggest that you do a couple of things:
- Map quest the location of the interview and do a dry run. Whether you plan on driving or taking other types of transportation, this will allow you to get a good idea of how much travel time you'll need (don't forget to keep traffic and weather in mind), and what the parking situation and other factors are.
- Pick out what you are going to wear and try it on. If you are using an old suit, you don't want any surprises the morning of the interview (it used to fit... 2 years ago). Make sure that you are comfortable and feel good with what you are wearing. A good suit and great shoes can really put you in the right frame of mind. When in doubt, go with conservative, professional attire.
- Organize a portfolio with paper for note taking, and copies of your resume and list of references printed on good paper. Also, include a list of your previous employers including name, address and phone number to refer to when filling out the application.
6. Get Excited!
Believe it or not, your attitude going into the interview will impact how you perform and also how the interviewer sees you. Experienced interviewers can pick up on bad vibes and usually know when someone is only interested in a pay check. While most jobs are not perfect, you need to focus on the positive and make yourself excited about the job opportunity. Your enthusiasm will show through and employers will want to hire you. In the end, you want the ball to be in your court - you can always reject a job offer, if you feel the job isn't for you.
Good Luck! - Jessica
