For many people, no matter how long they have been in their careers, interviews are never fun.
I often challenge my clients to think of the interviewing process as a meeting or an exchange of information.
Sort of like, I check you out and you check me out and see if we are a right fit for each other.
Spend time researching the organization and position you are interviewing for
Go beyond what you find on the internet. Talk to current or former employees about their experiences and impressions of the company, study the company’s products and services, industry trends, target market and any other key information.
Are there any new trends in the industry?
Prepare specific examples of how your skills and experience are a strong fit for company’s needs
Practice answering directed questions about your experience, education, and skills and how they relate to the position at hand.
Being prepared to draw colorations between your experience and the needs of the organization is one of the most important interviewing skills you will need.
Identify your strengths and value proposition
Be prepared to talk about your value to employers beyond your experience, qualifications and leadership strengths.
Basically, be able to clearly articulate why they should hire you and why they need you on their team.
Determine your deal breakers with the job and/or company
So many times in interviews, candidates focus on their energy and efforts on impressing the interviewers that they fail to think about intelligent questions to ask.
Think about some of your deal breakers with accepting a new job.
These are just a few examples of questions to ask, but remember in the interviewing process, you should be evaluating the company and the position as much as they are evaluating you.
Relax and remember to breathe! I always recommend that my clients shift their perception of interviewing. See it as an important meeting with an exchange of information…where both sides get to decide if there’s a good fit.