“The door of opportunity is wide open if you are prepared.” In a crowded job market, and an unemployment rate over 9% as of July 2011, this is truer than ever. But in order to get the job, you have to not only be prepared, but to do so in a way that makes you shine on the interview.
So how do you do that? The secret to having an edge is not to show up empty-handed.
Instead:
Bring Back-up Notes. As recommended by career coach Dieter Hertling in his career search strategies 2.0 webinar, bring an “interview Bible” with you – a professional looking notebook with tabs that allow you to readily access your resume, industries you’ve worked in, and other key sections. The interview, he maintains, should not be treated as a test of your memory.
Why should you do this?
- Bringing notes will show that you are conscientious, serious about the interview, and have taken the time to prepare.
- Having your notes at hand will make it less likely that, because of interview jitters or for other reasons, you forget to mention something important. And having back-up will make you less nervous to begin with.
Make sure your notes include:
- Information about the Company. Before the interview, you should find out everything you can about the company and its employees. Start with their website, learn their history, their mission statement/vision, their presentations and publications, what industries they focus on, who their competitors are, and anything else you can learn about them.
- Information about the Employees. Go on LinkedIn and social media sites to learn as much as you can. You may have things in common with your interviewer or other principal player in the company that you could leverage in the interview.
Bring a "Snapshot" Presentation of Your Skills
- This should be a PowerPoint presentation or other visually arresting format that is big on graphics and small on words. It should show, at a glance, what your skills and accomplishments are.
- Ideally, the presentation should apply your know-how to the "problem" or "need" presented by the job vacancy. A 30, 60, or 90 day plan of action is one way to go. Spelling out needs and possible solutions is another, less formal approach. How far you can go with this depends on your knowledge of the company and the position.
Other Interview Tips
In addition to bringing the right materials to the interview, consider these other tips to enhancing your success in the interview:
- Do a Mock Interview Beforehand. Enlist the help of a career coach, friend or family member or someone in your industry. Have your interviewer ask you key questions (e.g., “why do you want to work for this company?”) as well as others you feel might be asked about this particular job. Videotape yourself and see how you look and sound. That feedback alone is a great way to improve your interview skills!
- Learn to " toot your own horn " with confidence---which is something that some people have to work at! Create and then practice a brief description of what you do and your value--something you could deliver to someone at a party or other social event.
- Question the Interviewer. A job interview is not simply a test of how persuasive you can be as a candidate for the job. It’s also a way for you to learn about the company and whether you think the job is right for you. The more you treat the interview as a two-way dialogue, the more you will come across as a strong (and more desirable) candidate rather than someone desperate for a job.
Given today’s challenging job market, it’s more important than ever to ace the interview. Being prepared is critical. The secret to being prepared is to come armed with back-up notes and a compelling presentation of your skills and value to the company. You will not only impress your interviewer, but make you feel more confident as well.
Sources:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
www.emprovegroup.com (career search strategies webinar)
Elizabeth Harrington - Poet, Freelance Writer, Marketing Research Professional, Blogger (www.allaboutqualitative.com)
