Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - 1. Do Your Homework
The key to success before any interview is preparation — and that means looking up important information about the company beforehand.
“Research the position, company and interviewers ahead of time. Understand the organisation's mission, vision and values; its products and services; its recent news and current initiatives. Google the company and peruse its website. Read its press releases and white papers. See what former employees said on Glassdoor. Look up the interviewers on LinkedIn. Speak to friends and colleagues at the company,” recommends Christopher Lee, founder of consulting firm Purpose Redeemed. “These days, there are many ways to learn about employers, so there's no excuse not to do your due diligence.”
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2. Practice (Out Loud!)
No excuses — rehearsing answers to potential interview questions beforehand is by far the best way to get the jitters out and focus on what you really want to communicate.
“Ample preparation is a vastly understated interview hack that will set you apart from the competition,” says Jaime Chapman, founder & CEO of Begin Within. “To practice, create a 30-second response to the inevitable interview question: ‘Tell me about yourself.’ Also, sort the top 15 – 20 asked interview questions into categories such as: Job Specific Technical Skills, Problem Solving, Leadership Skills, Teamwork, etc. and formulate at least one story for each category.”
Glassdoor even sifted through our interview reviews to identify the 50 most commonly-asked interview questions — turn there for ideas!
3. Share Your Story
As Chapman mentions, nearly every interview you’ll ever have will start out with “Tell me about yourself” — so it pays to make sure that you have a succinct, compelling answer that sets you apart from the rest of the competition.
“Who are you? Where have you been, and where are you trying to go? How does the current role fit into that story? Often job seekers, in interviews as on their resumes, present themselves as a collection of disparate skills, degrees and prior experience — that is, without much forethought of how the pieces fit together. That is a mistake,” Lee says. “Instead, connect the dots for those interviewing you. Likewise, what are your own values and interests, and how do they align with the organisation's? The better you know yourself, the better you can determine whether this is the right move, and the better you can articulate why you're the perfect candidate.”
4. Provide Evidence & Data
Many times, candidates will talk about their strengths — innovation, critical thinking, communication — without backing it up with proof, leaving employers wondering whether it’s just lip service. So when mentioning highlights like these, always make sure you provide supporting anecdotes and metrics.
“It’s one thing to mention your leadership skills; it’s completely different to mention your leadership skills and then discuss how you led a team of 35 individuals in developing a three-year strategic plan,” says Dr. Heather Rothbauer-Wanish, owner of Feather Communications, a company that helps jobseekers with CVs and cover letters. “Be specific and provide quantitative information when possible.”