Preparing for a Job Interview, Part One

So you've landed a job interview - congratulations!  What do you do next?  Following are some tips to help you to get ready to ace your interview.

1)  Research the company thoroughly.  Your interviewer will appreciate the fact that you have spent considerable time preparing for the interview.  In addition, your research will help you to determine appropriate questions to ask during the interview. Click here for one of my earlier posts about researching potential employers. 

2)  Find out the name or names of your interviewers.  Ask what their titles are, and get their contact information in advance so that you can send a thank you note immediately following your interview.  Do some research on these individuals by reading their bios on the company website and by googling them.  Check with your online network to see if you have friends and colleagues in common. The information that you obtain may help you to create a connection with your interviewer, and will demonstrate once again that you have done your homework. 

3)  Consider how you will answer your interviewer's questions.  Ultimately, your answers should demonstrate why you are the best person for the job.  Following are some links to articles about answering questions in interviews.  These may help you to anticipate some questions that you will likely encounter, but please be sure to make the answers your own.

How to Answer 23 of the Most Common Interview Questions  

Answering 6 Common Interview Questions 

Answers to the Seven Toughest Interview Questions   

Comments

[Geoff Brown]

You can rehearse a job interview conversation for free at http://www.talksmith.net. It's aimed at students with Asperger's Syndrome (high-functioning autism or ASD), but you'd be surprised how many people fall into the same kinds of social mistakes. Like saying too little -- or going on too long, etc. etc.

[Jenna Schrock]

This only covers the more technical aspects of the interview, which is actually good as far as preparation is concerned. Researching about the company will make the interviewer see that you are zealous about the job and that you know what you're saying. In line with the last statement, physical appearance must also be congruent to your know-how. Dress properly, and don't neglect the basics of grooming - combing, brushing, and the like.