Academic History And Employment Information
You need to discuss your academic history as well as your employment history. For example, if you were educated until the university level, you need to explain where you reached your education to your potential employers. The potential employers are eager to learn more about your academic qualifications. There are other places where you have been employed to tackle different tasks. Let them know you have certain experiences and it will be easy for them to employ you. When you research around well, it will be easy for you to know the possible questions they can ask from where you will stay prepared to tackle them.
Use The Company’s Product
Regardless of the role you are interviewing for, always use the company’s product before the first interview. It is better if you use it a few times since you will represent this product or service if you’re hired. Learn about the various features and how customers view the product. Demonstrate your knowledge during the interview to impress the hiring manager.
Learn About Your Interviewers And The Company
It is important to get an understanding of the company and the interviewer’s role in the organization. Learning this information can help you feel more confident in the interview. Study the company’s website, recent press releases and social media posts to understand its goals, and determine how your experience makes you the best fit. Search specifically for its mission statement and overall objectives so you can talk about them with the interviewer.
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Put Search Engines And Youtube To Work Gathering Important Information About The Organization
This is where you see how well the party line on the website relates to what the rest of the world thinks. Reality about an employer could be quite different than what the website tells you, depending on the quality of the website and/or the quality of the organization.
If you have product or service names, use a search engine to see what is being written, said, and videoed about the products or services. Dig in past the first couple of pages of results.
Look for product or service reviews.
Look for happy and unhappy customers and the reasons for both. Look for the names of competing organizations and competing products or services. Be very careful in your sharing of what you have found. The smartest thing may be to use the information as a basis for asking questions and observing what is happening when you are there. Also, use these reviews to direct further research.
To find those reviews, do a search on review and review. Keep the quotation marks, for your search, but replace what is in the brackets with the term specified.
Collect information about the organization and its competitors:
These searches will enable you to find out what the rest of the world says about them and how well they do what they do. As usual with online reviews, understand that angry people write reviews more often than happy ones, so you will most likely be seeing the most negative opinions, not usually a balanced representation of how well they operate.
Before The Interview: Research The Company
- It might be important to first determine if you are a good fit for the position and company. Review the required skills and expectations carefully.
- The interviewer will expect that you have taken the time to read about their company. Most likely, you will be asked questions relating to the company and its culture. BE PREPARED!
- Be familiar with the corporate web page. Your knowledge of the company will come in handy during the interview.
- Research and compose a list of questions about the companys services, products, and philosophies.
- *Examples: What is unique about them? Who are their competitors? Who are the key people? What is the structure? What are the target markets? What is their mission and goals? Etc.
- Write down several reasons you would like to work for that company.
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Preparing For An Interview
Preparing for an interview primarily means taking time to thoughtfully consider your goals and qualifications relative to the position and employer. To accomplish this, you should perform research on the company and carefully review the job description to understand why you would be a good fit. Lets look at the steps to preparing for an interview.
On The Day Of Your Job Interview
Before leaving: Give yourself time in the morning to review your resume and notes, and run through specific points you wish to make. Ensure you leave early enough to arrive at the interview a few minutes ahead of time.
Final tips: While a morning coffee can help make you more alert, it might be wise to avoid having too many as you dont want to be jittery during the interview. When you arrive at the interview, give yourself a final once-over: tidy yourself up , turn your mobile phone to silent, and take a few deep breaths. When you meet the interviewer, greet them by name and dont forget to smile!
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Practice Your Answers To The Most Common Interview Questions:
If you dont know what these are, do your research and find out or see one of my other articles. Youll want to have your answers ready and practice them. You should always be able to answer Tell me about yourself and Why do you think you would be great for this job? The employer doesnt know, so its up to you to sell it.
Dont completely memorize your answers so they come out rehearsed, but have a clear idea of what you are going to say. When you are asked, you want your answer to come out intelligently and naturally. Be open to other questions as well and really know what you can offer to the company.
Understand Behavioural Competency And Situational Interview Questions
When preparing for a job interview, you should next make sure you understand how to answer job interview questions. To get to the motivations and working style of a potential employee, interviewers often turn to behavioural, competency, and situational interview questions to understand your behaviours and establish your core skills and competencies relevant to the role, such as teamwork, creativity and innovation, decision making ability, business awareness or conflict resolution.Behavioural and competency based interview questions usually begin with, Tell me about a time when or Give me an example of an occasion when Both behavioural and competency based interviewing are based on the idea that past behaviour can predict future action.
Sample competency based interview questions and behavioural based interview questions include
- Describe a situation in which you didnt meet your stated goal. How did you handle it?
- Describe a situation in which you took the initiative to change a process or system and make it better. How did you identify the problem? How did you go about instituting change?
- Describe a time when you were required to use your analytical skills to make an informed decision.
- Tell me about a time when you used your creativity to solve a problem.
Sample situational interview questions include:
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Prepare Answers To Common Interview Questions
There is no way to predict what you will be asked during an interview, but there are some questions that are often brought up. Plan your answers for these questions as this will give your confidence a boost and make you feel you can be successful. Here are some of those frequently asked questions :
- Why do you want to work here?: This is where your effort to learn about the company and its products and services will help you. You can answer this question by mentioning the aspects of the company that interest you and how the company’s business activities are aligned with your career goals.
- What interests you about this role?: This question is your opening to highlight the skills that make you a worthy candidate for this role. You have already reviewed the job description, and you are aware of the skills that you possess and the skills that the employer wants in an ideal candidate. Focus on those skills in your answer and convey why you feel you are the right person for this job.
- What are your strengths?: This is another opportunity for you to talk about your qualification and your skills. Make this answer a bit personal and highlight attributes and qualities that would help you connect with the interviewers and, at the same time, also convey your strengths.
Do More Than Just Basic Research
Don’t just research the company. Research its people — especially the people you may possibly meet when you interview. It’s standard practice to visit the LinkedIn page of the hiring manager.
Then keep going. Find out what’s new most companies have a page on their website dedicated to press releases and events. Then do a Google search to find any recent news.
And be sure to pay close attention to the company’s culture, mission, and values. Many companies are looking for candidates who fit their culture, which means they expect you to be able to talk about how you will fit well within the culture.
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Get Your Interview Clothes Ready
Don’t wait until the last minute to make sure your interview clothes are ready. Have an interview outfit ready to wear at all times, so you don’t have to think about what you’re going to wear while you’re scrambling to get ready for a job interview.
Regardless of the type of job you’re interviewing for, that first impression should be a great one. When dressing for an interview for a professional position, dress accordingly in business attire.
If you’re applying for a job in a more casual environment, such as a store or restaurant, it’s still important to be neat, tidy, and well-groomed, and to present a positive image to the employer.
It is also important to think about your makeup and accessories when dressing for an interview.
What Are Three Positive Things Your Last Boss Would Say About You
It’s time to pull out your old performance appraisals and boss’s quotes to answer the question, “What are three positive things your last boss would say about you?”. This is a great way to brag about yourself through someone else’s words: “My boss has told me that I am the best designer he has ever had. He knows he can rely on me, and he likes my sense of humor.”
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Study Your Resume And Know Everything About It:
Any work experience or skills you have listed on your resume are fair game to talk about during the interview. Your resume is all the interviewer has to go by in order to get to know you. They may pick things out from it and ask you to elaborate. Even though you may have a previous job listed that was many years ago, the interviewer may ask you to explain what you did at that job and you are responsible for providing an answer. This is one step you absolutely wont want to skip on how to prepare for a job interview.
Go Beyond The Common Interview Questions
Yes, the job search is intimidating, but reviewing interview questions and answers in advance is one way to calm your nerves and boost your confidence. Are you looking for more ways to stand apart from the competition? Set up a free profile with Monster and we can send you career advice, workplace insights, and more job interview tips directly to your inbox. It’s a quick and easy way to stay one step ahead.
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Prepare Some Questions To Ask The Interviewer
An interview shouldnt be an interrogation. It should be a two-way street. So, you should ask the interviewer questions as well.
Here are a few great questions to ask at an interview:
- What will my day-to-day activities include?
- What will I be expected to accomplish in the first month after being hired?
- Can you tell me more about the company culture?
- Can you tell me more about my team and the people Ill be working with?
- What are the companys upcoming plans, and how can I help you achieve them?
Dont ask questions that have simple yes/no answers, but rather ones which will elicit longer, more detailed responses. Also, avoid any interview questions about money or compensationyou dont want to turn them off!
If youre going to an internship interview, ask questions about the internship program and whether it may turn into a full position upon completion.
What Men Should Wear To A Job Interview
- Clothing: Put on a clean crisp suit. Wear a clean, freshly ironed, long sleeve white shirt and clean jacket. Be sure to have freshly pressed pants.
- Tie: Accessorise with a modest tie. Add a traditional business tie hung to the beltline. Make sure your belt is matched to the colour of your shoes and the buckle is not too prominent.
- Colours: Wear a business shirt of a solid colour, preferably white. Complete the outfit with a dark blue, black or charcoal two or three-piece suit. Make sure your tie is subtle in colour and design.
- Shoes: Wear shoes that have been polished and make sure they are clean. Try to match the colour of your socks to your suit.
- Accessories: Wear a conservative belt and tie. Watches should be conservative with a link or leather band. Minimise your hand luggage – limit to just a leather purse or briefcase if possible. When it comes to perfume and aftershave, less is best. The last thing you want is to be remembered for your cologne and not your answers.
- Tattoos and piercings: Be sure to cover your tattoos and remove facial piercings.
A professional outfit can help you make a strong first impression on a hiring manager, but dont forget your body language. Exhibit good posture and maintain a pleasant, open expression on your face. Ultimately you want the hiring manager to picture you in the role and visualise you in their team.
Take a look at our job interview tips hub for more interview tips and advice.
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What To Wear To A Job Interview
When it comes to a job interview, first impressions count and being able to dress to impress will go a long way to help secure your dream job. Although it might seem quite natural to put on your best suit, skirt or dress for the interview as though you already work there, there are more elements to take into consideration. You want to look ready to step into the role youre seeking. Being able to answer questions and concentrate during an interview is important, so wear an outfit you feel comfortable in. Be sure to check the weather the night before and have a couple of outfits ready just in case the day looks like it might be hot or cold.
Our tips on how to dress for an interview will help you make a good impression and give you confidence when answering questions.
Ask The Right Questions
Many employers would give you the chance to ask questions about the company and the position. It is a good idea to prepare these questions in advance so that the interviewers get the impression that you have taken the time to research the company and are also aware of what the position entails. Some questions that you could ask include:
- What qualities do your most successful employees have?
- What are the steps in your hiring process?
- What type of in-house training programs do you offer?
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Ask For The Next Steps
After the interview, it is better to ask your recruiter, hiring manager or interviewer about what you should expect in the following week. They will possibly send you a follow-up email with your interview results and a request for additional requirements like a reference list, an assignment or another interview.
Why Are You Looking For A Job Or Why Are You Looking For A Different Job
This question might seem innocuous, but this is how interviewers weed out the people who are either a) just looking for any job b) were fired from their last position or c) might have a high turnover rate, meaning you wont be sticking around for too long. Focus on the positives and be specific. Think about why you are looking for a job: did you just graduate and this will be your first real job? Are you switching career paths? Are you leaving a current job for this one?
If you are currently working somewhere, you should also be prepared to answer, why do you want to leave your current job for this one?
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Perform Research On The Company And Role
Researching the company youre applying to is an important part of preparing for an interview. Not only will it help provide context for your interview conversations, but it will also help you when preparing thoughtful questions for your interviewers.
Researching the company and role as much as possible will give you an edge over the competition. Not only that, but fully preparing for an interview will help you remain calm so that you can be at your best. Here are a few things you should know before you walk into your interview:
Research the product or service:Even if the role isn’t directly related to the company’s product or service, you’re still looking to be part of the team. It’s important to learn all you can about the product or service the company produces and promotes. You don’t necessarily need to understand each and every detail, especially if it’s a technical product, and you’re interviewing for a non-technical position, but you should have a basic understanding of the main products or services the company offers.
If possible, request a sample of the product to familiarize yourself with the customers perspective. The more you can tell them about the product from both a company and customer standpoint, the better you’ll perform in your interview.
