6 Things You Have to Know Before An Interview
Posted June 24, 2013 & filed under Interviewing, Job Search
Any experienced job seeker will tell you to never go into a job interview without having done all of the proper research. It would be akin to taking a road trip without any preparation – no luggage, no hotel reservations, and no points of interest – except for plugging the coordinates into a GPS seconds before you put the key in the ignition. Sure, you might physically make it to the end but will you have done anything worthwhile in your autopilot? So, when you are preparing for a successful interview, there are certain things you need to know in advance.
1.) The Company’s Values. You can better navigate interview questions if you have comprehensive knowledge of the company values. Companies place different weight on different personality traits, so any foreknowledge you can collect about their values can maximize the potency of your responses. For example, if one of the company’s valued pillars is a sharp attention-to-detail, you need to calibrate your response to highlight your proficiency in that area. Every anecdote should be a vehicle for hammering those points home.
2.) Your Interviewer’s Name. Long before you arrive at an interview, you should have the interviewer’s name committed to memory. In fact, you should know that person’s name before you even send off your application. This may require a bit of research. Search LinkedIn for the hiring manager, talent acquisition specialist, or department head. Call the company to find out who will run your interview. Take any logical steps needed to familiarize yourself with the person who will essentially decide your fate.
3.) Job Responsibilities. Have more than just a cursory understanding of what a person in this position will do. To appropriately prepare, you should know the day-to-day activities by heart and have a firm grasp of how you can make the most of your time in this position. Determine how you can make a difference while performing these duties and make that vision plain to your interviewer.
4.) The Company’s Interview Process. How many separate interviews will you have to complete? Will you be interviewed by one person or by a committee? Is a technical test part of the whole process? If you don’t know, find out. Nothing is worse than being blindsided by these types of surprises during the midst of the interview itself.
5.) Obstacles Facing the Business. Though finding out this information may take some effort, it will pay off. Companies want someone who can do more than provide a temporary balm to persistent problems. They want someone who is always in search of new solutions and never waits for the answer to just present itself. If you can show that you are proactively hunting down answers long before your first day, your chances of success can increase substantially.
6.) The Company Culture. Last but not least, you should know if the company is a good cultural fit for you. Is this position going to suit your needs or will you be drawn away by another case of job search wanderlust? Research the atmosphere, the upward mobility, the benefits, and anything else that would encourage you to or deter you from taking a position.
By James Walsh
