Interviewing

For a successful interview, there are four important areas you need to work on in preparing for your interview. These four areas: 1. Knowledge of yourself, 2. Knowledge of the company, 3. Preparing for the interview, and 4. Keeping organized

1. Knowledge of yourself

We start with four main questions. Section two, "Determining your interest" can help you evaluate these questions. Additional assistance in understanding your self can be provided with an appointment.

• What are my interests? The next step to this question is- "How do my interests fit with the job requirements?"
• What are my strengths? How do my strengths relate to the job?
• How does my personality fit with the job and company environment?
• How do my values fit with the company culture?



2. Knowledge of the company

Researching the company for will provided essential information in preparing for a successful interview. How to begin this research and what are you looking for?

• The first step is looking on the company's website.
• What are the job requirements? How does this job fit within the company structure?
• Research the mission and vision. You are looking for "Key Statements" that you can use as language in your interview.
• How do you connect with the company's culture?
• Has the company been in the news?



3. Preparing for the interview

Understanding your transferable skills and soft skills can help you formulate answers to interview questions.

(Before Interview)
• Day before the interview – Preparing Professional Attire.
• Prepare for typical interview questions:
  1. Tell me about yourself
  2. Strengths questions
  3. Weakness questions
  4. Behavior based questions – Using SARS method
  5. Prepare questions for the interviewer.
• Prepare your SARS responses.
• Formulate responses to interview questions to show your transferable and soft skills.

(Day of the Interview)
• First Impressions are important! Arrive 10 minutes before the interview.
• The interview starts the minute you are in the parking lot. This means leave cellphone in the car, be pleasant in the waiting room.
• If the interview offers you water, TAKE it! You will need it. The water can give you a moment to think about a question as you take a sip.
• Ask for business cards at the end of the interview so you can follow up with a Thank you letter.
• Begin and end with a solid handshake and smile.



4. Keeping organized

Keeping a tracking system can help you manage your job search activities.

• Tracking system and Weekly Action Item worksheets.

Interview Checklist

          Be prepared & practice

• Know how you fit in the organization.
• Being prepared and practicing helps with confidence in the interview.

          Be on time

• Arrive at your destination and check in 10 minutes early.
• If you do not know where you are going, do a dry run in advance.
• Always leave home earlier than you think necessary.

          Know yourself; your strengths, skills, and goals

• Assess your strengths, skills, and goals.
• Prepare specific examples to discuss your strengths, skills and experience.

          Research the company

• What are the company's most important products and services?
• Which customers do they serve, and what problems do they solve for them?
• Who heads the company/department in which you would be working?

          Complete a practice Interview with the typical questions asked in an interview

• Review typical questions asked in the interview.
• Practice examples of show and proof stories/ and behavior basic questions:
  • S = Situation, (background set the scene)
  • A= Action, (what you did, skills used, behaviors, characteristics)
  • R= Result, (outcome, what happened)

          Prepare questions for the employer

          Dress appropriately for the interview

          Bring professional items

• Professional and organized binder: black, brown or deep blue.
• Extra resumes.
• Copies of reference sheet; make certain you have current titles and phone numbers.
• Paper and pen to take notes.
• Questions for the interviewer prepared ahead of time.

          Follow up after the interview

• Thank you note (hand written or email).
• Phone contact.